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The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Open Water Adds to Winter Chill - Part 2
While taking photos this afternoon of the snow ice on various objects near the Native Village of Unalakleet, which was on the approximate order of 4 minutes and with very little wind (playground, grass, powerlines), my hands were cold due to the "wetness" in the air and the ambient air temperature.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Amid warm winter, scientists say Alaska sea ice conditions are ‘shockingly bad’
That hurts coastal communities that hunt on the ice. But colder weather may be coming, at least to some portions of Alaska. Ice should be hugging the coast near the village of Gambell, perched on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea, said Mayor Susan Apassingok, on Tuesday. But ice isn't there.
Pacific Ocean-Bering Sea, East Coast, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Alaska gets federal disaster help after North Slope storm
A September storm caused damage in Utqiagvik, and Gov. Bill Walker declared a disaster there last month.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Weather extremes now surpassing the realm of natural possibilities | Watching Our Water Ways
Environmental reporter Christopher Dunagan discusses the challenges of protecting Puget Sound and all things water-related. Weather extremes now surpassing the realm of natural possibilities
Puget Sound, Washington, United States
Kitsap Sun

Port Heiden loses road access to safe harbor and old village
Port Heiden’s road to its harbor and old village site is crumbling into the sea and the lake on the other side of it will likely breach soon. “The road is basically gone. [Erosion]’s cut right half into the road,” said Scott Anderson, the Native Village of Port Heiden’s Tribal Environmental Director.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Officials are still scrambling to fix a rail link to Canada’s deepwater Arctic port
Seven months after flooding damage to a rail link cut off land access from southern Canada to Churchill. Manitoba — Canada's only deepwater Arctic port — government and business officials are still trying to find a permanent solution.
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Arctic Today

Researchers find high levels of microplastics on Norway’s Arctic coast
Eastern Finnmark, on the coast of the Barents Sea has always proved to be the cleanest of all areas of testing in the North Atlantic. But not so any more.
Hasvik, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
Arctic Today

How Global Warming Fueled Five Extreme Weather Events
Scientists analyzed 27 extreme weather events from 2016 and found that global warming was a “significant driver” for most of them. We look at five cases.
The New York Times

Arctic saw 2nd warmest year, smallest winter sea ice coverage on record in 2017 | NOAA
A NOAA-sponsored report shows that the warming trend transforming the Arctic persisted in 2017, resulting in the second warmest air temperatures, above average ocean temperatures, loss of sea ice, and a range of human, ocean and ecosystem effects.
Arctic Region, World
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Houston Ship Channel And Galveston Bay Digging Out After Harvey | WAMU
The sediment and muddy freshwater that spilled into these Texas bodies of water are causing problems for the shipping and oyster industries.
Houston, Texas, United States
WAMU

Ahousaht Harbor: Swimming Hole Monitoring
Ahousaht, British Columbia, Canada

Chordgrass (Spartina sp.) eradication at Goose Spit
Goose Spit Regional Park, Comox, British Columbia, Canada
Hilary Blackman, Colin Robinson, Tom Okey, Cory Frank, Laura Loucks

In Newtok, residents worry the encroaching river will destroy a way of life
When the river takes the first houses, the village could start to scatter. And Newtok’s blend of the modern and traditional could erode away with the land.
Newtok, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Rachel Waldholz, Alaska's Energy Desk - Anchorage

Sea life beneath Antarctic ice shelf is changing, and warming may be why
In dives to the seafloor, scientists have noticed big differences in only a few years.
McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Washington Post

Coral Found Following November Storm
Red coral observed near Port Heiden along the Bering Sea coast.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States

Unalakleet's Fall Storm Aftermath 11/09
Using a hand-held Garmin Montana 650t unit, I took photos of the tideline in three areas.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Foggy Fall of 2017 in Noorvik
Many foggy days in Noorvik during the fall of 2017.
Noorvik, Alaska, United States

Unalakleet's Fall Storm Aftermath
I documented my tracks using the Garmin unit adjusting the track setting to log about every 5 feet, which was saved as a GPS Exchange (GPX) Format. From there, I imported the information into Google Earth Desktop as a KML track.
Unalakleet, Alaska, United States

Walker declares disaster for September storm
The North Slope Borough will have access to help with recovery efforts for the autumn storm that pummeled the coastline earlier this year, causing more than a million dollars worth of damage.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States

Second storm batters western coastline
The recent storm brought water levels up to the lagoon bank by town. Along the Chukchi Coast, storm surge and tides were expected to raise sea levels four to six feet above the normal high tide line, the weather service noted.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Arctic Sounder

Environment ministers on Barents coast to discuss Arctic sea safety and climate change
Visiting Vardø near Norway’s maritime border to Russia, the ministers will learn about Arctic sea traffic safety management.
Vardø, Finnmark Fylke, Norway
The Independent Barents Observer

After the Storm
A recent storm in Norton Sound has increased coastal erosion affecting community transportation.
Shishmaref, Alaska, United States

As Oceans Warm, the World’s Kelp Forests Begin to Disappear
Tasmania, Australia
Yale Environment 360

What's That We're Hearing? Sea Otters in the Salish Sea?
Guided Sea Kayak Tours & Eco-Resort Accommodation in Desolation Sound, British Columbia, Canada. Take the tour of a lifetime!
Cortez Island, British Columbia, Canada
BC Seakayak

Alaska Gov. Walker declares disaster after costly fall storm on North Slope
The declaration gives the far-north community of Utqiagvik access to state money to help repair damaged infrastructure like roads.
Utqiaġvik, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Storm causes flooding, erosion across Northwest Alaska
"Yesterday we came over to do an assessment of the high-water flood storm," said Northwest Arctic Borough Deputy Director of Public Services Dickie Moto, who grew up in Deering. "They lost a lot of ground on the front and on the back side of town because of the high water and rough seas.
Deering, Alaska, United States
Alaska Dispatch News

Fish Return to Akhiok Bay
Akhiok residents report that fish have returned to Akhiok Bay since the outfall was repaired/extended further into the ocean
Akhiok, Alaska, United States

Autumn storm that battered Utqiaġvik coastline caused more than $10 million in damage
The storm began Sept. 28 and continued for several days. A handful of Utqiaġvik’s roads were damaged or destroyed, and the community's freshwater source was nearly compromised.
Alaska Dispatch News

Aftermath of the Storm
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Storm Surge
A strong storm impacting NW Alaska with high winds and sea level rise (over 6 ft) caused localized flooding in Kotzebue.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States

Pacific Communities Building Resilience in the Face of Climate Change
SUVA, Fiji, Nov 8 2017 (IPS) - In the Pacific, climate change is an ever-present threat, undermining human rights, livelihoods, and security. Pacific Islanders are working with courage and resolve to build the resilience of their communities and to catalyse international actions towards ending global carbon pollution. While the Pacific has contributed almost nothing to the causes of climate change, the region is determined to lead the world towards a more just and sustainable future. And while often labelled as ‘small island states’, Pacific Island countries are more accurately characterised as ‘large oceans states’ as they are custodians of vast tracts of ocean, to which their economies, culture, identities and livelihoods are inextricably tied.
Suva, Central, Fiji
ReliefWeb

400 turtles found mysteriously dead off El Salvador coast
Hundreds of endangered dead sea turtles have been found floating off El Salvador's Pacific coast under mysterious circumstances, with authorities unable to determine what caused their demise.
La Libertad, La Libertad, El Salvador
The Weather Network

Fiji brings first-hand experience with effects of climate change to UN summit
Fiji and other Pacific island nations are vulnerable to rising seas that have flooded villages and forced residents to abandon their homes.
Vunidogoloa Village, Northern, Fiji
Toronto Star

Polar bears in Churchill face bleak future, researchers warn
Shorter periods of sea ice on Hudson Bay as a result of climate change translate into fewer polar bears in Churchill region.
Churchill Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
CBC News

Octopus invasion on Welsh beach blamed on effects of recent storms
An incredibly rare octopus invasion may have been caused by recent storms. Storm Ophelia, quickly followed by Storm Brian caused huge waves and storm surges as gusts of up to 80 mph hit the Welsh coast.
New Quay, Wales, United Kingdom
The Telegraph

How debris from rockets launched far away is a risk to Inuit food security
The North Water Polynya, between Nunavut and Greenland, is one of the Arctic’s most biologically productive areas — and an important part of the food supply for nearby Inuit communities.
Pikialasorsuaq North Water, North Baffin Bay
Arctic Today
Tiff-Annie Kenny, University of Ottawa, Tad Lemieux, Carleton University

What dolphin diets reveal about climate change's effects off the California coast
Scientists studying dolphins dining off the California coastline have found that the marine food web is starting to look a little threadbare. The length of food chains in that web appears to have gotten shorter in response to environmental changes — such as those caused by El Niño events.
California Bight
latimes.com

Fall storms now regularly batter Alaska’s Arctic coastal villages — but don’t always qualify for disaster funds
Disaster funds are reserved for single events, and storms that collectively cause much damage aren't often individually large enough to count as disasters.
Arctic Now

Penguin disaster as just two chicks survive from colony of 40,000
‘Catastrophic breeding event’ leads to demands for a marine protected area to be set up in East Antarctica
Petril Island
the Guardian

Why homes along Arctic coastline are at risk of falling into the ocean
"All it would take is one or two big storms and these houses you see behind me would be gravely at risk."
Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada
CBC Radio
The Current's Liz Hoath and CBC's Briar Stewart.

Huge, 'mysterious' hole appears in sea ice near Antarctica
There’s a giant hole in Antarctica and scientists aren’t sure why. The hole, which was detected about a month ago, is roughly 30,000 square miles or the size of the state of Maine. It's the largest hole spotted in the Weddell Sea since the 1970s, scientists say.
King Haakon VII Sea, Southern Ocean, East Antarctica
USA Today

Flood warnings in effect for Alaska’s Bering Sea coastline
Waters were expected to reach their highest levels Monday night and into Tuesday.
Bering Sea, Alaska

Stinger jellyfish swarms wipe out farmed salmon in west of Ireland
Killary Harbour, Ireland
The Irish Times

Autumn storm batters northern coastline
Cleanup and recovery from the recent storm that battered the North Slope coastline may carry a price tag exceeding $10 million.
Arctic Sounder

"Glowing" Tomcod (Microgadus proximus) in the dark - plankton?
I notice fluorescent glowing in the dark: happens to be the tomcods I caught the other day.
Chevak, Alaska, United States

The biggest ever invasion of potentially fatal jellyfish-like creatures ever recorded in the UK thought to have been brought there by recent hurricanes
An invasion of potentially fatal jellyfish-like creatures on Britain's shores is the biggest ever recorded in the UK. The P...
United Kingdom

This "flock of sheep" was actually an unprecedented gathering of polar bears
Zoom in on this supposed image of sheep on a hillside and you'll be in for quite the surprise.
Wrangel Island
MNN - Mother Nature Network

King-of-the-salmon (Trachipterus altivelis) stranded on beach
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) in Auke Bay
California sea lions are rare but occasionally show up in Southeast Alaska and have been documented in other parts of Alaska as well.
Juneau, Alaska, United States

Plastic waste now polluting Arctic Ocean, scientists find
Plastic waste in the ocean is now so widespread it is polluting remote ice floes in the Arctic, scientists have discovered.
Arctic Ocean
The Telegraph

Cleanup indicates Valdez spill bigger than initially thought
According to Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, approximately 400 gallons of an oily water mix had been recovered from the Port of Valdez as of Saturday night.
Valdez, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Elizabeth Harball, Alaska's Energy Desk - Anchorage

Alaska could become climate change refuge for tropical fish
Researchers from the University of Washington used 80 years of data to figure out how much warming fish could withstand. They discovered fish in the tropics are already living in water at the upper end of their threshold.
Gulf of Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media
Elizabeth Jenkins, Alaska's Energy Desk - Juneau

Hurricane Maria’s aftermath: ‘There will be no food in Puerto Rico’
In a matter of hours, Hurricane Maria wiped out about 80 percent of the crop value in Puerto Rico — making it one of the costliest storms to hit the island’s agriculture industry.
Yabucoa, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Frances Robles, Luis Ferre-Sadurni, The New York Times

Hurricane Maria Makes Landfall in Dominica as Other Islands Brace for Potential Disaster
Hurricane Maria barreled through the islands that curve through the Caribbean.
Dominican Republic, Caribbean
The New York Times

Disappearance of right whales from winter breeding grounds a mystery
Scientists are at a loss to explain one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.
South Atlantic States Continental Shelf
CBC News

For first time in 300 years, Barbuda is empty
When Hurricane Irma ravaged the Caribbean island of Barbuda, the storm left it uninhabitable." And, now, for the first time in 300 years, no one lives there.
Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda
CNN
Joe Sterling and Cassandra Santiago, CNN

As Alaska Thaws, Everything Changes
HEALY, ALASKA—Bitter winters still dominate life in the Alaskan interior, but a practiced eye can spot the signs of a warming climate, particularly in the ground. Beneath the rolling fields of tussock scattered just north of the Alaska Range, what was once permanently frozen is starting to thaw. The impacts could ripple across the planet.
Gizmodo

Record numbers of Portuguese man o' war wash up on Cornish coast
Record numbers of the potentially-fatal Portuguese man o' war have washed up on the Cornish coast, according to conservationists.
Perranporth, England, United Kingdom
BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Atlantic salmon arrive in French Creek -- Not in a good way!
Atlantic salmon, believed to be part of a cohort that escaped from a U.S.-based fish farm on Aug. 19, are being hauled in by anglers fishing out of French Creek on mid-Vancouver Island. Cameron Whe…
French Creek, British Columbia, Canada
Fisherynation.com

Day of reckoning for marine invaders
For centuries, marine species have moved around either by hitching ride on the hulls of ships or as stowaways in ballast water. In many instances, species have been deliberately introduced for aquaculture or other commercial purposes.
United Kingdom
Phys.org

Giant Wrymouth (Cryptacanthodes giganteusin)
Jakolof Bay, Alaska, United States
Kris Holderied, Stephen Payton, Mandy Lindeberg

Lummi Nation fishermen catch an estimated 20,000 Atlantic salmon following fish farm collapse
It's unclear how many Atlantic salmon escaped from the pen. The Lummi Nation says tribal fishermen have removed 20,000 from the Puget Sound. Washington state officials says Cooke Aquaculture has recovered 120,000 fish from the pen and that more are still inside.
Cypress Island, Washington, United States
CBC News

How Climate Change Likely Heightened Harvey’s Fury
Several factors have conspired to make Hurricane Harvey so destructive in Texas, and warming temperatures are likely part of the problem.
Houston, Texas, United States
National Geographic

Hurricane Harvey was fueled by record heat in the Gulf of Mexico
Study calculates energy Harvey took from the ocean, shows human role.
Gulf of Mexico
Ars Technica

'Historic Devastation' ahead from Hurricane Harvey
The remnants of Harvey re-intensified into a hurricane on Thursday, and it may become a major hurricane by Friday.
Corpus Christi, Texas, United States
The Weather Network

B.C.'s coastal sea star population in increasingly hot water
Biologist Jackie Hilderling says four years of decline in B.C.'s sea star population is due to climate change warming local waters and making the animals susceptible to sea star-associated densovirus.
British Columbia, Canada

More escaped Atlantic salmon show up off Washington, no reports from B.C. waters
Point Williams, Washington, United States
Vancouver Sun

'Environmental Nightmare' After Thousands Of Atlantic Salmon Escape Fish Farm
Officials blame the failure of a pen near Washington's Cypress Island on high tides caused by the eclipse, but that is being questioned. Fishing boats are scrambling to catch as many as possible.
Deepwater Bay, Washington, United States
NPR.org

Spill of farmed Atlantic salmon near San Juan Islands much bigger than first estimates
A fish farm was destroyed after the Atlantic salmon escape, with Cooke Aquaculture calling it a “salvage operation.” Scientists debunked the statement from Cooke that “exceptionally high tides and currents coinciding with this week’s solar eclipse” caused the damage.
Cypress Island, Washington, United States
The Seattle Times

Atlantic salmon escape U.S. fish farm near B.C. waters
Local Indigenous community says the invasive species could devastate fishing industry in the area
Cypress Island, Washington, United States
The Globe and Mail

Disturbing New Footage Shows Diseased, Deformed Salmon in B.C. Fish Farms
New footage released to DeSmog Canada shows deformed and disfigured salmon at two salmon farms on the B.C. coast — just as British Columbia reels from news of the escape of up to 305,000 Atlantic farmed salmon from a Washington salmon pen. Wild salmon advocate and fisheries biologist Alexandra Morton said she was shocked by the footage. “I was shocked and frankly disgusted,” Morton told DeSmog Canada. “These fish have open sores, sea lice, blisters all over their skin and a disturbing number of them are going blind.” Morton said the footage also gives an indication of what is now travelling through Pacific waters after the escape of potentially hundreds of thousands of farmed Atlantic salmon in the San Juan Islands just east of Victoria. Atlantic salmon are considered invasive in Pacific waters.
Broughton Island
DeSmog Canada

Environmentalists question eclipse explanation for huge salmon dump
Did Monday's eclipse play a role in a huge Atlantic salmon spill from a fish farm in the San Juans? The company says yes. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is urging the public to catch as many of the fish as possible, with no limit on size or number. The fish are about 10 pounds each. No one will know how many escaped until harvesting is completed.
Skagit County, Washington, United States
KGW8 NEWS

Please go fishing, Washington state says after farmed Atlantic salmon escape broken net
Thousands of farmed Atlantic salmon were accidentally released into the waters between Anacortes and the San Juan Islands, and officials are asking people to catch as many as possible. Tribal fishers, concerned about native salmon populations, call the accident “a devastation.”
The Seattle Times

Up to 305,000 invasive adult Atlantic salmon escape fish farm in San Juan Islands
There were 305,000, 10 lb Atlantic salmon when the pen at the fish farm in the San Juan Islands burst open on Saturday.
Anacortes, Washington, United States
Daily Hive

Please go fishing, Washington state says after farmed Atlantic salmon escape broken net
It's open season on Atlantic salmon as the public is urged to help mop up a salmon spill from an imploded net pen holding 305,000 fish at a Cooke Aquaculture fish farm near Cypress Island.

What British Columbians can do in the aftermath of the Atlantic salmon farm spill
There could be a major ecological impact to the coastal waters stretching from British Columbia to Oregon after an Atlantic salmon farm near the San Juan Islands, just east of Victoria, accidentally spilled thousands of live fish into local waters.
Anacortes, Washington, United States
Daily Hive

Thousands of Atlantic salmon escape fish farm near Victoria after nets damaged
Thousands of Atlantic salmon have escaped into Pacific waters east of Victoria after a net pen was damaged. The company is blaming high tides, but the tides weren't unusual.

Loss of sea ice leads walruses to early appearance in Alaska
Hundreds of Pacific walruses came ashore to a barrier island on Alaska's northwest coast, the earliest appearance of the animals in a phenomenon tied to climate warming and diminished Arctic Ocean sea ice.
Point Lay, Alaska, United States

'It had to be done': Hot weather forces pleasurable dip in the Arctic Ocean
Temperatures neared 22 C in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, on the weekend. Hot enough for a sweet summer swim.
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada

Arctic waters get long-sought protection after Ottawa, Inuit group reach agreement
An Inuit group and the federal government are creating a national marine conservation area in Lancaster Sound that will be – by far – Canada’s largest
Lancaster Sound, Canada
The Globe and Mail

Global ocean circulation appears to be collapsing due to warming
Researchers have found a correlation between melting Arctic sea ice and changes in the planet's largest water circulation system that could lead to the collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).
North Atlantic Ocean
Digital Journal

Horned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata) - Smith Island, Puget Sound
Horned Puffin sighted near Smith Island in the Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, WA.
Oak Harbor, Washington, United States

New Jersey-Size Dead Zone Is Largest Ever in Gulf of Mexico
Scientists report the latest data from the Upper Gulf of Mexico, and the results aren’t good.
Northern Gulf of Mexico
National Geographic

Climate change before your eyes: Seas rise and trees die
Savannah River, United States
ABC News

Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) off Masset, Haida Gwaii
near Masset, Haida Gwaii

Meat industry blamed for largest-ever dead zone in Gulf of Mexico
A new report shows toxins from suppliers to companies like Tyson Foods are pouring into waterways, causing marine life to leave or die
the Guardian

Stranded Carcass Identified as Bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) Whale
Carcass largely decomposed and difficult to identify.
North of Point Romanof, between Kotlik and Stebbins, Alaska, United States
William Murphy Jr., Kathy Burek Huntington, Gay Sheffield

First record of bottlenose dolphins in Canadian Pacific waters
Authors of a recent Marine Biodiveristy Records publication describe a very special and surprising sighting of bottlenose dolphins in British Columbian waters: is this the first record of a long series to come?
South of Delwood Seamounts
On Biology

Does the Caribbean have a shark problem?
Caribbean Sea
Virgin

Heavier Rainfall Will Increase Water Pollution in the Future
Researchers anticipate harmful nitrogen outputs to increase as a result of precipitation changes.
New York Bight
National Geographic

Pumpkin the great white shark feasting in Nova Scotia's Minas Basin
Minas Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada

Plastic Garbage Patch Bigger Than Mexico Found in Pacific
South Pacific Ocean Gyre

Stinging 'floating terror' spotted in Nova Scotia waters
The colourful Portuguese man-of-war is more commonly seen in warmer waters. Their painful stings can be fatal to some.
Crystal Crescent Beach, Nova Scotia

Weird Jelly on Tube Worms
Tube-Dwelling Worms on Seldovia Beach
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Beach Sand - Coastal Erosion
We are losing coastline due to erosion and this is a sad sight to witness.
Hooper Bay, Alaska, United States
Sandra Hill, Jacquelyn Overbeck, Mary Mullan

The Arctic is full of mercury, and scientists think they know how it's getting there
The remote Arctic tundra may seem like the last place on Earth human pollution should be causing a problem — yet it’s filled with mercury contamination.
Toolik Field Station, Alaska, United States
The Washington Post

These birds are trapped between predators and rising sea levels
Which is worse: getting eaten, or drowning? Read on.
Georgia salt marshes
Popular Science

Emptied tide pools tell the story of Kachemak Bay’s disrupted ecosystem
Beach walks this summer find many familiar creatures absent. This changing natural world demands attention and caring.
Bear Cove, Alaska, United States

A trillion-ton iceberg the size of Delaware is about to break off Antarctica
Scientists are divided about the impact of climate change on this particular break in Antarctica's ice shelf.
Weddell Sea, Antarctica
ChicagoTribune.com

Unidentified Marine Mammal
We could not figure out the what type of sea mammal it is.
Kivalina, Alaska, United States
Gay Sheffield, Kathy Burek Huntington, Janet Mitchell

Killer whales are stalking boats and stealing their fish
Pods of killer whales are stalking the boats of Alaska fishermen and stealing their halibut catches, leaving the men with no fish and thousands of gallons of fuel wasted trying to flee.
It’s not...
Bering Sea
The Verge

Millions of tropical sea creatures invade waters off B.C. coast

Phytoplankton Have Turned The Bosphorus A Stunning Turquoise
When conditions are right, phytoplankton populations can grow explosively. And the ones blooming in the Black Sea right now are reflective, turning the usually dark water bright and milky.
Karakoy Neighborhood, Istanbul, Turkey
NPR.org

Squid Found in Seldovia Bay
Squid are occasionally found in the area, but not very often.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Bizarre, Glowing Sea Creatures Bloom in the Pacific
Tropical, tube-shaped animals called pyrosomes, known as "fire bodies,"; appear by the millions off the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. No one knows why.
Gulf of Alaska, United States

Climate change researchers cancel expedition after climate change makes conditions too dangerous
A team of scientists had to abandon an expedition from Quebec City to Churchill, Man., on Sunday because of hazardous ice conditions caused by climate change.
Strait of Belle Isle, Newfoundland, Canada

Worm Species Found During Beluga Hunt
Several dozen worms were observed during a Beluga hunt in Norton Bay.
Norton Bay, Alaska, United States

Risk of profuse blue-green algae blooms in Gulf of Finland
The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) has warned that the Gulf of Finland faces the risk of earlier and larger than usual blue-green algae blooms this summer – weather permitting. The environment agency says high levels of phosphorous have the potential to feed abundant toxic algal growths.
Gulf of Finland, Suoim, Finland
Yle Uutiset

Oceanfloor Craters Hint of Potential Arctic Methane Explosions in the Future
Hundreds of craters caused by methane explosions were discovered underneath Barents sea. Further research finds evidence that the violent explosions could happen again in the future.
Barrents Sea
Tech Times

Erosion Could Drain Lake at Anytime
Goldfish Lake near Port Heiden is on the verge of draining into the Bering Sea.
Port Heiden, Alaska, United States
Chris Maio, Jacquelyn Overbeck, Mike Brubaker, Richard Buzard, Scott Anderson, Susan Flensburg, Erica Lujan, Moses Tcheripanoff

Video: Savoonga residents describe changes in spring sea ice
As spring walrus hunting season gets underway, residents of St. Lawrence Island talk about sea ice changes and how they affect the village.
Savoonga, Alaska, United States

Melting sea ice causing 'eco-anxiety' in remote Labrador community
The annual ice melt in Canada's North is occurring earlier and earlier, and some researchers say that and other climate-related changes are affecting the mental health of populations in Inuit communities. CBC's Sabrina Fabian reports from Rigolet, Labrador.
Rigolet, Labrador Canada

Marea Roja en costas de Ensenada
Salvavidas, pescadores y funcionarios de gobierno dicen que nunca se había presentado este fenómeno en esta zona.
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Southern California fisherman catches rare giant fish
Shawn Steward of Oxnard, Calif., had a once-in-a-lifetime catch last week in the Channel Islands. Steward caught a 90-pound opah, which is very rare to this area.
Channel Islands, California
Fox News

Fast Sea Ice Movement

Overfishing is killing climate-resistant coral found in Mozambique
Quirimbas National Park, Mozambique
Mail Online

38 million pieces of plastic waste found on uninhabited South Pacific island
Henderson Island
the Guardian

Extraordinary levels of pollutants found in 10km deep Mariana trench
Mariana Trench

Polar bears shift from seals to bird eggs as Arctic ice melts
The habitat overlap of polar bears and their main prey, ringed seals, is disappearing and the bears are instead getting closer to nesting birds.
Svalbard, Norway
New Scientist

This Giant Dead Sea Creature Washed Up On An Island, And It's Freaking Everyone Out
Pulau Seram, Maluku, Indonesia
The Huffington Post

Salinity and leopard shark mortality in San Francisco Bay
San Francisco, California, United States

World’s Oceans Experiencing Significant Decline In Dissolved Oxygen
CleanTechnica

Leopard sharks dying by the hundreds in San Francisco Bay
Alameda, California, United States
SFGate

U.S. Native Coastal Communities Moving Due to Change Climate Change
La Push, Washington
Colorlines

Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) spawning along west Seattle shoreline
West Seattle Beaches, Washington, United States

Sharks Are Dying By the Hundreds in San Francisco Bay -
Foster City, California, United States
Bay Nature

Biologist: Orca attacks on gray whales up in California bay
Monterey Bay
ABC News

Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) in Port Moody Arm
Port Moody Arm, British Columbia, Canada

Parasite on a Hooligan's (Thaleichthys pacificus) Gill
A parasitic copepod- similar to or possibly *Salmincola*.
Lutak Inlet, Alaska, United States

California Sea Level Could Rise 10 Feet By End Of This Century
San Bruno, California, United States
The Huffington Post

VIMS: Chesapeake Bay sees another record year in underwater grass abundance
Chesapeake Bay, United States
dailypress.com

Transient orcas spotted off Vashon Island
Multiple groups of transient killer whales were spotted in the waters off Vashon Island Friday, according to the Vashon Hydrophone Project’s Ann Stateler (“Orca Annie”).
Vashon Island, Washington, United States
Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Canada's 'Iceberg Alley' Is Spectacular This Year For A Sad Reason
Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada
The Huffington Post

Iceberg Alley: Newfoundland's new tourist attraction
Over 600 icebergs have already floated into the North Atlantic this year, compared to an average of 687 over the whole season. Experts believe that this year’s bumper crop is down to strong counter-clockwise winds, as well as global warming.
Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada
INDEPENDENT

Scientists have discovered vast systems of flowing water in Antarctica. And that worries them.
Nansen Ice Sheet, Antarctica
Washington Post

Receding glacier causes immense Canadian river to vanish in four days
Kaskawulsh Glacier, Yukon Territories, Canada

A new crack in one of Greenland's largest glaciers
Petermann Glacier, Greenland
CNN

At-risk countries worry what 'America first' means for climate change
Bairiki Village, Gilbert Islands, Kiribati
Public Radio International

Great Barrier Reef hit by severe coral bleaching — study
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
NBC News

Reef restoration underway to restore native oyster populations
Victoria's biggest-ever reef restoration project is underway, in attempt to restore the once abundant populations of native oysters in Port Philip Bay.
ABC News

Ice Shelf Off of St George Island
Coastline along town had sheets of ice pushed against it, maybe 20 to 30 yards deep, this has not happened since 2012, 5 years ago.
Saint George, Alaska, United States

Herring spawn on eelgrass
Coal Port, Delta, British Columbia, Canada

Herring spawn near Lily Point
Near Lily Point, Point Roberts, Washington, United States

Open Water Adds to Winter Chill - Part 1
Unusually wet winter weather activity observed. Traveling in early February (AFE) disrupted travel due to weather conditions.

How the Great Barrier Reef is responding to global warming. (Hint: not well)
Global warming has likely caused permanent damage to the world's largest coral reef, according to a new report in the journal Nature.
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
latimes.com

Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) near Vancouver
Sturgeon Bank Wildlife Management Area, British Columbia, Canada

Archaeologists say they've found the campsite used by survivors of legendary 'doomed' ship
Kruzof Island, Alaska, United States

Bloated Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) in Harbor
Sick and bloated sea lion may have been caused by eating rotten fish, noted state DVM.
Seldovia, Alaska, United States

Manila Clam (Venerupis philippinarum) Die-Off
Manila Clam (*Venerupis philippinarum*) Die-off observed - possibly related to freezing temperatures.
Lummi Bay, Bellingham, Washington (Lummi Nation), United States

WATCH: Rare Sunfish observed in the waters near Bella Bella
Seaforth Channel, British Columbia, Canada
Global News

10 snowmobilers die in thinly frozen lakes in mild Northeast
Albany, New York, United States
Fox News

New whale species discovered in Sri Lankan waters
Accidentally running into a whole new species of whale on the job? For marine biologist, conservationist and educator Asha de Vos, who’s a specialist in Sri Lankan blue whales, it’s all in a day’s…
Sri Lanka
TED Fellows

Movimientos inusuales de la marea en El Cuyo, Yucatán
El Cuyo, Yucatán, Mexico

Winds challenging Finland’s icebreakers despite record low Baltic ice
Meteorologist Niko Tollman of the Finnish Meteorology Institute confirms that counting up the number of stormy days this past month made January one of the windiest first months of the year over sea areas since 1994.
Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland
Yle

People of the sea ice see cracks forming
In Nain, a coastal village in Newfoundland and Labrador, the approximately 1,400 residents rely on sea ice for transportation and traditional activities.
Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Hakai Magazine

Ice of Change - Amid Waterfowl Sightings
No sea ice; hunters say it should not be like this today.
Diomede, Alaska, United States

At Herschel Island, history is eroding
Herschel Island has seen a lot of people come and go. The Inuvialuit have used the place, known as Qikiqtaruk in Inuvialuktun, for at least 1,000 years.
Herschel Island, Yukon Territory, Canada
Yukon News

New Year's storm pummels Bering Strait, St. Lawrence Island
A series of low pressure systems swept through western and northwestern Alaska beginning December 28 until things calmed down on January 2, leaving sections of villages without power and communicat
Bering Sea, Western Alaska
The Nome Nugget

Newtok asks: Can the U.S. deal with slow motion climate disasters?
Newtok, Alaska, United States

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