Arctic Report Card: Granddad s Arctic isn t coming back December 24th, 2020 |
The 2020 Arctic Report card, released this month by 134 researchers across Arctic nations, tells a story of change on sea and land. This past year was the second warmest in the Arctic region on record, with the second lowest sea ice extent.
Rick Thoman, climate specialist at University of Alaska Fairbanks who served as the lead editor of the report card, said neither fact came as a surprise based on the trend from years prior. Climate wise, more spectacular was the persistent warmth in Siberia, Thoman said. Extreme wildfires in 2020 in the Sakha Republic of northern Russia coincided with unparalleled warm air temperatures and record snow loss in the region.
A breathless moment of stillness before the light returns December 24th, 2020 |
On Dec. 21 at 1:02 a.m. Alaska time, this big round head of a planet tipped back, paused, then slowly nodded toward the sun.
That breathless moment of stillness is the northern hemisphere s winter solstice.
Solstice is a combination of a few Latin words, meaning sun stands still. That is somewhat true from this far-north vantage point, as well as all over the world.
Unlike all the other days of winter, on Dec. 21 we will neither lose nor gain a second of sunlight here in middle Alaska. The sun arcing over the Alaska Range to the south will follow a path that is almost precisely the same as its track on Dec. 20.
In Your Words - In Memory of Dr. Todd Radenbaugh December 24th, 2020 |
The death of Dr. Todd Radenbaugh, a highly respected colleague and my friend, at the age of 56 is a sad thing. But thinking about his life also brings another feeling inspiration. It s the type of inspiration that all of us can use to make the world a better place. He was the perfect example of somebody who thinks globally and acts locally. He was an amazing individual dedicated to serving his community.
Radenbaugh was professor of environmental science at the Bristol Bay Campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). The UAF Bristol Bay Campus is an Alaska Native Serving Institution located in the community of Dillingham in Southwest Alaska. Radenbaugh worked tirelessly to study the ecosystems of the region, strengthen the sustainability of local communities, and develop science programs for Alaska Native and rural students. After battling with cancer for a long time, he knew his last day was c
Students at Ilisaġvik College are using local and traditional knowledge to motivate their investigation of apun, or snow on the ground, in the Arctic.
The project, funded by the National Science Foundation in 2018, is a collaboration between Ilisaġvik College and the University of Michigan. Leading the work locally is Ilisaġvik s associate professor of biology and chemistry, Dr. Linda Nicholas-Figueroa. Partnered with her are Dr. Ginger Shultz and Dr. Kerri Pratt, professors at the University of Michigan.
Nicholas-Figueroa said the aim of the project is for students to understand snow chemistry as it relates to the Arctic environment and traditional knowledge.
Pleistocene Park
One Russian scientist hopes to slow the thawing of the Arctic
Sergei Zimov is a polarising figure, but the results from his Pleistocene Park seem promising so far
P
ERCHED ON top of a cliff on the northern edge of Russia, Sergei Zimov doffs his beret, letting his long grey hair tumble down his back. His eyes glow as he leans his weathered face toward the frozen ground. Under the haze of never-ending northern days, he looks like a figure lifted from the golden background of a Russian Orthodox icon.
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