Climate & Environment/Science

The final research cruise of 2021 came through the region in November. Scientists onboard observed a variety of marine mammals, saw sea ice growth in real time, and found evidence of a healthy ecosystem.

Nome and Western Alaska are on track to break a few climate records this winter. Following one of the top five coldest Novembers in climate history, the region is now facing its wettest December in decades.

Salmon abundance is down and population distributions have changed, according to NOAA’s 2021 surface trawl survey. Besides focusing on salmon, the survey also examined aspects of Bering Sea life such as zooplankton, sediment, sharks, marine birds, pacific herring, capelin and saffron cod.

As of today, sea ice in the Bering Sea has covered much of the Eastern Norton Sound, along the coastline of the Seward Peninsula except for an area in front of Nome, and started forming on the southern edge of St. Lawrence Island.

This summer also featured variable temperatures with record heat in some communities in August, high water levels causing coastal erosion and even snow in early June.

A Beluga whale found unusually far south in Puget Sound earlier this month is believed to have come from a pod in the Beaufort Sea. NOAA Fisheries made the announcement this week.

Scientists have documented an increase in abundance of harmful algal blooms in the Northern Bering and Chukchi Seas. These HABs carry toxins, but scientists still aren’t sure what effect this will have on marine mammals.

For the second year in a row, Bering Strait residents are finding foreign debris on their shores — and are still looking for the source.