The Northern Climate Observer

The Northern
Climate Observer

Another seabird mystery? Starting in 2014, emaciated seabirds began to show up on the beaches of the Bering Strait, and then in other areas of Western Alaska. At first puffins, murres and shearwaters dominated, but soon there were others - fulmars, auklets, kittiwakes and gulls washing up by the tens of thousands. Seabirds are important indicators of ocean health. Having die-offs of so many species over such an expansive area was a signal that something was very wrong. Likely causes include warming ocean temperatures, the loss of the deep-water "cold pool," harmful algal blooms, and a decrease in forage fish. The die-offs in the region continue to this day, but the cause remains something of a mystery. Last week a similar, albeit much smaller event was reported in Eastern Iceland - close to 300 birds found on area beaches. It sounds all too familiar. Birds washing up on beaches, dying of starvation. An extended period of stormy weather may be one of the drivers. In the background, however, are signals of ecosystem change just like here in Alaska. Warming ocean temperatures, new types of fish (see article), marine mammal die-offs, and big changes in commercial fish harvests. You can see a rollup of LEO Network articles about Iceland here along with a stats view showing a list of the types of events since 2013. The most common categories are die-offs of marine mammals and seabirds. We just collect the stories; maybe you can connect the dots. Mike Brubaker - Editor

	Seabirds were not killed by flu Djupivogur, East, Iceland Alexander Elliott / RÚV / January 20, 2022 Close to 300 birds were found during a sweep of East Fjords beaches. No sign of bird flu was found in samples from dead seabirds. It is thought likely the birds died of hunger, as most were very thin. No widespread seabird deaths have been reported in any other region at this time. Read article on RÚV
	Sprat: New Fish Species Breeding Off Iceland’s Coast Westfjords, Iceland Ragnar Tómas / Iceland Review / January 24, 2022 Researchers have confirmed that the fish species sprat is spawning in Icelandic waters, according to a new report from Iceland’s Marine and Freshwater Research Institute. Sprat has been found in significant numbers off the south and west coast and spawned near Ísafjarðardjúp fjord in the Westfjords last year. Read article on Iceland Review
	As Caucasian Glaciers Melt, Locals Face the Future With Stoicism Кармадонское, Пригородный район, North Ossetia-Alania, Russia Felix Light / The Moscow Times / January 20, 2022 Caucasian glaciers have lost a quarter of their surface area to climate change since the millennium. “We don’t have winters here anymore,” said Sergei Nureddinov, a guest house owner in the mountaintop village of Verkhniy Kani, gesturing to the glacier from his front yard. “The climate catastrophe is here.” Read article on The Moscow Times
	Russia's grand Arctic plan might get stuck in the ice Chukchi Sea Atle Staalesen / Eye on the Arctic / January 17, 2022 The troublesome shipping on the Northern Sea Route continues into the new year. Almost three weeks after the world's most powerful icebreaker arrived in the Chukchi Sea, none of the four vessels stuck in the area have broken out of the ice. Read article on Eye on the Arctic
	Team of biologists makes daring rescue of loons trapped in iced-in waters Lovell, Maine, United States Deirdre Fleming / Press Herald / January 23, 2022 The openings were left after ice-in started during a cold snap, but didn’t quite finish in the deepest parts of the lake, about a quarter of a mile off shore. The two loons were stuck and unable to take off, because common loons require a water “runway” to push off and get airborne. Farther up the lake, three other loons were stuck in similar fashion. Read article on Press Herald
	Atmospheric river brings record rain, swollen rivers and unstable snowpack to Juneau Juneau, Alaska, United States Jennifer Pemberton, KTOO / KTOO / January 22, 2022 The nearly 3.5 inches at the city’s official monitoring station was a daily record – the most rain that’s fallen on January 21st ever – and also a monthly record – the most rain that has ever fallen in January. Read article on KTOO
	Fox attacks two dogs in Coral Harbor Coral Harbour, Nunavut, Canada Madalyn Howitt / Nunatsiaq News / January 20, 2022 Since November, six foxes and three dogs in Nunavut have been found to be infected with rabies. Wednesday’s fox attack brings the total to seven foxes and five dogs with likely rabies infections. Read article on Nunatsiaq News
	Storm Malik and Corrie: Thousands of homes without power after weekend storms Saint Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom BBC News / January 31, 2022 Gusts of up to 85mph were recorded in parts of Scotland as Storm Malik swept across the country. Read article on BBC 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