Tag: climate

Local Coverage, News, Podcast

Exploring Mendenhall’s Worst Flood Yet

JUNEAU, Alaska — In early August, an outburst of glacial water from Suicide Basin flooded Juneau’s Mendenhall River, destroying one home and rendering several others uninhabitable. This was a historic flood for the Mendenhall, as the area has never experienced erosion this severe. Aaron Jacobs, Senior Service Hydrologist at the Juneau National Weather Service, said in a statement: This flooding event was historic in an … Continue reading Exploring Mendenhall’s Worst Flood Yet

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News, Opinion

Climate Change: Effects and Awareness

Anneliese MollBY ANNELIESE MOLL
For the UAS Whalesong

We live in a greenhouse. The life we see around us depends on the energy we receive from the sun. Only about half of the light from the sun that reaches the Earth passes through the atmosphere. Once it’s through it’s absorbed and radiated back up in the form of infrared heat. From there roughly 90% of the heat is absorbed by greenhouse gasses and is ultimately radiated back to the surface, which causes warming of the surface. The Earth is an average nice, life-supporting, 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue reading “Climate Change: Effects and Awareness”

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Features, News

Kelp and Global Climate Change

Anneliese MollBY ANNELIESE MOLL
For the UAS Whalesong

Kelp forests are important for a wide variety of reasons. These amazing forests provide habitats for many species of marine organisms and are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. They have a dramatic impact on the strength of currents within an area because of the drag they create with their large blades. That drag slows the water within the bed, which makes it a perfect shelter and feeding ground for many species ranging from worms and fish to sea otters and other larger marine mammals. Apex predators—in this case the most commonly thought of predator is the sea otter—play a huge role within these ecosystems because of their indirect effects on the kelp. Continue reading “Kelp and Global Climate Change”

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Features, News, Opinion

Whalefest 2015

BY ANNELIESE MOLL
For the UAS Whalesong

On November 5th, a group of students taking a ‘Discussions in Marine Mammalogy’ class went to Sitka, Alaska, to attend the 19th annual Sitka Whalefest. Unlike other years, the symposium was held on the Sheldon Jackson campus rather than the Harrigan Centennial Hall.

Many UAS students left early for the conference because they had volunteered to mentor a student from Kenai Peninsula College. When they arrived on the 5th, the UAS student mentors were introduced to their mentees and promptly set out on a whale watching tour. On this tour students and other passengers with cameras were urged to take as many fluke pictures as possible so that students could have an opportunity to practice identifying them.

At the symposium the students and their mentees attended talks that ranged from harmful algal blooms, sea ice ecology, whalefalls, bioluminescent jellyfish, to glaciers. Each day of the symposium covered a different section of the ocean. Day one was shallow apex, the second was deep edge, and the final was frozen border. Continue reading “Whalefest 2015”

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Campus Life, Opinion

Don’t be S.A.D.

BY ALEXA CHERRY
For the UAS Whalesong
Starting around this year, if you haven’t already, you may start hearing people talk about “getting sad.” This sounds perfectly normal, especially for the interim between midterms and leading up to finals. But as we descend into the winter months, and especially here in Alaska, the word “sad” might not actually mean what you think it does. The person speaking could actually be referring to the acronym S.A.D., which stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder.
“What the heck is that?” you might ask. Well, S.A.D. is a mood disorder and type of depression that occurs during the same season every year regularly. It tends to begin and end around the same times, making its occurrence fairly easy to predict, if you know that you have it, or are prone to it. In Alaska and the northern hemisphere in general, people are especially susceptible to S.A.D. because of the cold weather and the lack of daylight. Symptoms include depression, a lack of energy and needing/wanting more sleep than usual, irritability, and a change in appetite. Sometimes, you can have or get S.A.D. and not even know it – so, if you’ve been sad and grumpy and extra-sleepy recently, that might be the reason why. Continue reading “Don’t be S.A.D.”

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Features

The Alaska Climate Action Network

BY DANIELLE REDMOND
For the UAS Whalesong
This December, world leaders will be meeting in Paris for what may be humanity’s last chance to prevent catastrophic climate change!
It sounds like the plot of a cheesy action/adventure film but sometimes reality is stranger than fiction. Come explore the issue in the lead-up to Paris with three great films: “This Changes Everything,” “The Yes Men Are Revolting,” and “Merchants of Doubt.”
We’ll be hosting a FREE screening of “Merchants of Doubt” on Sunday, November 29th, just as the conference kicks off and as people around the world gather for the second People’s Climate March!
Then join us for a potluck on December 12th for “the People’s Last Word.” We’ll discuss the outcome of the conference and the road through Paris, focusing on solutions that we want to help create. Continue reading “The Alaska Climate Action Network”

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News

El Niño and Alaska

BY ANNELIESE MOLL
For the UAS Whalesong
At some point over the last few months you have most likely heard the name “El Niño” while you were listening to the radio or watching the weather portion of the news. You might have gathered that it has to do with increased amounts of rain or storm frequencies, but there is a bit more to it than just that. Continue reading “El Niño and Alaska”

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Features, News

Frogs: Dropping Like Flies

BY ANNELIESE MOLL
For the UAS Whalesong
Frogs are a surprisingly important part of many ecosystems. Their impact begins in their tadpole stage because of their ability to keep algae growth in check and by being a food source for other organisms. They are also beneficial for humans in a variety of ways. Many species of frogs eat insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies, which can carry diseases such as malaria, West Nile virus, and Lyme disease. Frogs have also played an important part in research of human medicine. Since their skin is so easily affected by chemicals they are amazing bioindicators.
Today the existence of frogs around the world is being threatened. There are 6,565 recorded species of frogs and toads, but that number is steadily falling. There are several major factors that play a part in their decline: climate change/loss of habitat, pollution, and especially Chytridiomycosis. One of the reasons that frogs are being hit particularly hard by these factors comes down to their physiology. Continue reading “Frogs: Dropping Like Flies”

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Features

The Arctic Matters

BY GRIFFIN PLUSH
For the UAS Whalesong
Recently, I attended the Global Leadership in the Arctic: Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement, and Resilience (GLACIER) Conference in Anchorage as an Arctic Youth Ambassador. Hundreds of scientists, activists, and international dignitaries gathered at the Dena’ina Center to discuss and learn about the many issues that face us in a changing Alaska and a changing Arctic.
I serve as one of five inaugural U.S. Arctic Youth Ambassadors that have brought the stories of our changing homes to world leaders. With the help of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska Geographic we met with Secretary Kerry, Secretary Jewell, Senator Murkowski, and many other leaders to bring our diverse perspectives. This program is continuing for the next two years over the course of the U.S Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Ten to fifteen more ambassadors from around the state will join us to engage with the Arctic Council. Continue reading “The Arctic Matters”

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