The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

Enlightening - We heard the amazing story from Heather Dingman, one of our LEO Network members in Barrow (now Utqiagvik) - a report of lightning strikes in the community of Atqasuk. Heather wrote: "We are concerned about changes in the weather, safety concerns related to lightning including infrastructure and risk from wildfires." It was June 26, 2013, and lightening was still an extremely rare event in the Arctic. There had been two lightning events that month, with the last striking the ground and causing a wildfire. It was crazy, un-Arctic and the first time lightening was reported as an unusual event in LEO Network. This week you can read about a similar event in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada as reported in the feature article from Nunatsiaq News. According to an article published in Arctic Today, the number of Arctic lightning strikes has tripled since 2010. You can read about the recent extreme weather in Nunavut, along with the attached lightning articles from LEO Network and Arctic Today. Also from the LEO Resilience Desk see two articles from the Anchorage Daily News, on the use of LED lights to prevent fishing bycatch, and an inspiring article about an Eagle River resident who spent the last decade building a micro-hydro project in his backyard. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	Lightning strikes shock Iqaluit Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada Nunatsiaq News / August 22, 2021 Lightning struck in Iqaluit during a storm on Sunday. Terri Lang, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s meteorologist for Nunavut, said the department's weather system did not pick up how many times lightning struck, but that it did occur in the region. Read article on Nunatsiaq News
	Rain falls at Greenland ice summit for first time on record Summit Camp, Greenland Kate Abnett / Reuters / Rain fell at the highest point on the Greenland ice sheet last week for the first time on record, another worrying sign of warming for the ice sheet already melting at an increasing rate, scientists said on Friday. Read article on Reuters
	Humpback salmon have invaded the River Teno Teno River, Norway/Finland Border Saara Seipiharju / The Independent Barents Observer / August 23, 2021 This summer, the number of humpback salmon in the River Teno, the border river between Norway and Finland, has increased enormously from last year. These salmon have been swimming near the shores, with masses of them dying in the river from exhaustion. Local people are extremely worried. Read article on The Independent Barents Observer
	‘It’s pretty dire’: Vancouver Island salmon under threat from climate change-induced droughts Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada Braela Kwan / The Narwhal / Since the initial June to July heatwave shocked the Pacific Northwest, Heim says the Tsolum River Restoration Society has observed significantly fewer fish in the river, especially in its lower portions. Many of the remaining coho, which survived the heat wave, are suffering from diseases and fin rot as a result of heat stress. Read article on The Narwhal
	Something is 'really wrong' with aggressive coyotes in Stanley Park, experts say CBC / Coyote experts are trying to solve the mystery of why the animals have become aggressive with dozens of people in Stanley Park this year. Nearly 40 reported incidents have been reported since December 2020. Read article on CBC
	Alaska biologists say wood bison reintroduced to the wild are thriving Holy Cross, Alaska, United States Mary Auld / KTOO / August 21, 2021 State biologists completed an annual survey of the Innoko-Yukon River wood bison population earlier this summer, and they say the results show the animals are doing well six years after a seed group of bison was released in the area. Read article on KTOO
	LED lights offer potential solution to chronic bycatch problem in Alaska fisheries Bering Sea Laine Welch / Anchorage Daily News / The lights require no plugs or batteries, automatically turn on underwater only when needed, and do not weaken or weigh down nets. Read article on Anchorage Daily News
	An Anchorage man spent more than a decade planning and building a micro-hydropower project in his backyard. Now, it can power more than 300 homes. Eagle River, Alaska, United States Alex Demarban / Anchorage Daily News / August 21, 2021 “This sort of became my purpose in life, to make something for my children and for humanity going forward,” said Dave Brailey, the mastermind behind the Juniper Creek Hydroelectric Project. Read article on Anchorage Daily News

The Northern Climate Observer is published by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news coverage from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events. Thank you for reading our newsletter and for paying attention to our changing world.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern Climate Observer is published weekly by the Center for Climate and Health. We track news from across the circumpolar north and provide readers with a curated roundup of climate change related events.

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Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer