The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

The Harbinger - After a solid month of rain in Southeast Alaska, the drought classification was revised from "severe" to "moderate.” It had been severe since last fall, a shocking turn of events for our beautiful temperate rain forests. The implications extended far beyond the forest canopy to salmon streams, water reservoirs, and power plants. There have been other harbingers in recent years: winter rain, dwindling snow pack, spiking algal toxins, stranded birds, and salmon dying before they could spawn are just a few examples. With each unusual event we are tempted to classify them as "one offs" or rare occurrences. But today, reoccurance along with increasing severity seem to be the rule. This summer, a handful of villages from Klawock to Chignik Lagoon experienced water shortages. The scale of drought was unprecedented, but it was not the first time, not the first signal. There have been water shortages before in southern Alaska, and drought is becoming more common around the circumpolar north. In this edition, you can read about Metlakatla and their proactive response to address new environmental realities. As we reflect on our own water security, we may also consider the risks of relying too heavily upon past conventions when gauging the likelihood that events repeat in the future. Mike Brubaker, Editor

	Metlakatla, which depends on water, has moved quickly to accommodate the realities of drought Metlakatla, Alaska, United States Elizabeth Jenkins / Alaska Public Media / November 21, 2019 Following a season of drought, the Southeast Alaska community of Metlakatla is navigating a different relationship with water, like a number of other places in the region. Read article on Alaska Public Media
	Open water replaces sea ice as the autumn norm in Western Arctic Chukchi Sea CBC / November 19, 2019 Open water has become the November norm in the Chukchi Sea northwest of Alaska. Instead of thick, years-old ice, researchers are studying waves and how they may pummel the northern Alaska coastline. Read article on CBC
	Utqiagvik celebrates first whale of season in November Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States Shady Grove Oliver / Arctic Sounder / November 19, 2019 It's been a challenging year for whalers in Utqiagvik. Crews started going out in September, but found the bowheads weren't appearing in their usual concentrations in the waters closer to shore. On the water Nov. 16 Panigiuq Crew landed the first whale of the season for Utqiagvik, later than many people can remember ever bringing one in before. Read article on Arctic Sounder
	Failing permafrost cellars signal change in Alaska whaling towns Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States Rachel D'Oro, Associated Press / Anchorage Daily News / November 25, 2019 A growing number of Arctic underground cellars are being rendered unreliable as global warming and other modern factors force changes to an ancient way of life. Read article on Anchorage Daily News
	Northern Bering Sea trawl survey shows fisheries in flux Northern Bering Sea Alaska Public Media / November 15, 2019 NOAA Fisheries' summer trawl survey shows Norton Sound red king crab are moving, Arctic cod numbers have dropped significantly, and Pacific cod are continuing to increase as the Northern Bering Sea ecosystem undergoes drastic change. Read article on Alaska Public Media
	Tofino fish farms reporting mass die-offs due to harmful algae Herbert Inlet, British Columbia, Canada Adam Chan / CTV News / November 20, 2019 Blooms are often associated with low dissolved oxygen events and warm ocean water temperatures and weather changes – all of which we are, or have been, experiencing," said Kiemele. Farm owner Cermaq says it has deployed fish protection countermeasures that have already caused conditions to improve. Read article on CTV News
	Bad weather and road salt blamed for uncharged electric buses in Umea Umeå, Västerbotten, Sweden Sveriges Radio / Radio Sweden / November 22, 2019 Fredrik Dahlborg, manager of bus manufacturer VDL, told P4 Västerbotten that a combination of the weather and road salt is the problem. Despite this, Umeå municipality say they will keep using the electric buses. Read article on Radio Sweden
	Sudden snowstorm snarled traffic, caused accidents in Kazakh capital Nur-Sulta, Kazakhstan Yelena Levkovich / The Astana Times / November 18, 2019 A severe and sudden snow storm caused traffic jams and road accidents. From Nov. 11 to Nov. 13 alone, more than 230 crashes occurred on the roads of Nur-Sultan, according to the city’s police department. Five people were injured in the accidents. Read article on The Astana Times

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