Background Articles

Remnants of Typhoon Halong drove record storm surge and hurricane-force winds into Western Alaska, devastating Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta villages like Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. Officials report dozens of homes destroyed, mass rescues, widespread outages, and at least one death, with many residents sheltering and recovery efforts underway.

State fire crews began a 35-acre prescribed burn on Anchorage’s Hillside May 12 between Hilltop Ski Area and the Prospect Heights Trailhead, expecting visible smoke and temporary trail closures.

The decision worried some local scientists and experts who say the data was vital for people to be able to monitor air quality and their government’s progress in improving public health.

A new study reveals that climate change has shifted large parts of the Arctic from a carbon sink to a net carbon emitter, with up to 40% of tundra, boreal forests, and wetlands releasing more CO2 than they absorb.

Norilsk Nickel has deployed 16 automatic monitoring stations across Greater Norilsk to measure SO₂, H₂S, CO, NO₂, particulate matter, temperature, pressure and humidity, providing real-time air quality data every 20 minutes via the city’s website.

Mongolia's Cabinet has decided to implement a "Chimney-Free Zone" in Ulaanbaatar to improve air quality by banning solid fuel and promoting gas heating, alongside providing green loans and subsidies.

Alaska is experiencing rapid environmental changes, including record-high temperatures, shrinking sea ice, increased wildfires, and unusual wildlife patterns, such as the decline of salmon and the rise of snow goose populations.

Mälarenergi in Västerås, Sweden, is testing carbon capture technology to reduce emissions from its waste-to-energy plant. This initiative could significantly decrease CO2 emissions, key for addressing climate challenges.

Ki-Chul Oh discusses the severe climate change impacts in Mongolia, where the average air temperature has risen by two degrees Celsius, significantly above global averages. He highlights the efforts of the Green Asia Network in combating desertification and promoting sustainable land management in the region.

A recent study indicates that dust plays a significant role in the Arctic's climate changes, affecting how clouds form and their impact on the region's climate dynamics.

Yukon's per capita emissions have decreased, but overall emissions are rising due to population and economic growth, challenging the territory's ambitious 45% reduction goal.

Alaska's U.S. senators oppose the EPA's move to regulate and phase out leaded aviation gasoline, citing potential negative impacts on the state's travel and economy.

The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that lead emissions from small planes pose a threat to public health, potentially leading to the agency's first-ever limits on lead fuel in aviation.

Unalaska in Alaska is under an air quality advisory due to ashfall from the eruption of Mount Shishaldin on Unimak Island, with the advisory extended until Thursday.

Scientists warn that methane trapped beneath the Greenland ice sheet could intensify climate warming as the ice melts, releasing the potent greenhouse gas into the atmosphere at accelerating rates.

Wildfires in the N.W.T have emitted 97 megatonnes of carbon into the air so far this year according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. That's 277 times more than what was caused by humans in the territory back in 2021.

The temperature of asphalt and pavement and concrete and sidewalks in Arizona on a warm sunny day or summer afternoon is 180 degrees sometimes.

Clean, fresh air can be part of the draw for tourists to Canada's North — but they won't find it this week in Yellowknife due to wildfire smoke.

Wildfire smoke has been blasting much of the N.W.T. lately, with air quality advisories in nearly every community Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, much of the territory is also coping with record-breaking heat.

People in Southeast Alaska are starting to see smoke from Canada's record-breaking wildfire season — and there’s more to come. The air quality levels are still fair: hovering around 17, on a scale that goes up to 300.