Western Oregon, Southwest Washington Blanketed by ‘Severe Drought’
Western Oregon and southwest Washington have deteriorated from moderate to “severe drought” in the past week, the U.S.
Read more at Capital Press
Drought Officially Returns to Western Washington
From Capital Press by Don Jenkins:
Streams are dropping, July could be a scorcher and drought has officially returned to Western Washington.
Quantifying Relationships of Northern Fur Seals, Pollock, and Climate Change in Alaska
Since the 1990s, the population of northern fur seals in the eastern Bering Sea has declined by more than half, with no scientific consensus as to what is causing the decline.
Read more at Lenfest Ocean Program
Washington Warmed Slowest of all States Over Past 30 Years – But What Does It Mean for Climate Change?
From the Seattle Times by Gene Balk:
According to a new analysis of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data by The Associated Press (AP) the average yearly temperature in the continental U.S.
Pink Salmon Dramatically Impacting Food Web
Pink salmon abundance causes “trophic cascade” that could negatively impact other species
In a study published in Fisheries Oceanography, Sonia Dawn Batten, Greg Ruggerone and JISAO’s Ivonne Ortiz looked at 15 years of data on pink salmon abundance, as well as the abundance of zooplankton (tiny aquatic animals) and the phytoplankton on which they feed.
Copper River Experiencing Second Lowest Commercial Salmon Harvest in 50 Years
From KTUU by Sean Maguire:
The Copper River Flats is seeing the second lowest salmon commercial harvest in the past 50 years, resulting in commercial fishermen being kept from catching the prized fish for nearly two weeks.
Grant OK’d for Atmospheric and Wave Forecasting Program in Pacific
WASHINGTON — Doug Domenech, U.S. Department of the Interior assistant secretary for insular and international affairs, provided a $497,738 grant to the University of Hawaii Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research School of Ocean and Earth Science for a project to improve atmospheric and wave-forecasting through the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System.
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Shock and Thaw – Alaskan Sea Ice Just Took a Steep, Unprecedented Dive
From Scientific American by Andrea Thompson:
April should be prime walrus hunting season for the native villages that dot Alaska’s remote western coast.
Forum Focuses on How We Can Prevent Invasive Fish Species in The Great Lakes
NOAA scientist Carol Stepien will present research results at a public forum this week in Toledo on how local bait shops, anglers and the public can prevent invasive fish from accidentally being released into the Great Lakes.
See video at WGTE Public Media
Above-average Snowpack is Good News for Electric Bills, Tomato-lovers
All mountain areas of Washington state are at or above average snowfall for this time of year.
Read more at Q13 News