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Arctic: Unprecedented Arctic warmth in 2016 triggers massive decline in sea ice, snow - A new NOAA-sponsored report shows that unprecedented warming air temperature in 2016 over the Arctic contributed to a record-breaking delay in the fall sea ice freeze-up, leading to extensive melting of Greenland ice sheet and land-based snow cover.

Permafrost is thawing across the Arctic, causing northern lands to sink or change shape, according to the new Arctic Report Card. In Gates of the Arctic National Park, a bank of this lake thawed, allowing the Okokmilaga River to cut through and drain it to the sea.
Photo courtesy National Park Service

Now in its 11th year, the Arctic Report Card, released today at the annual American Geophysical Union fall meeting in San Francisco, is a peer-reviewed report that brings together the work of 61 scientists from 11 nations who report on air, ocean, land and ecosystem changes. It is a key tool used around the world to track changes in the Arctic and how those changes may affect communities, businesses and people.

“Rarely have we seen the Arctic show a clearer, stronger or more pronounced signal of persistent warming and its cascading effects on the environment than this year,” said Jeremy Mathis, director of NOAA’s Arctic Research Program. “While the science is becoming clearer, we need to improve and extend sustained observations of the Arctic that can inform sound decisions on environmental health and food security as well as emerging opportunities for commerce.”

Five University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers are among the 61 contributors to the report. They include Atmospheric Sciences Professor Uma Bhatt, Vice Chancellor for Research Larry Hinzman, Institute of Arctic Biology Researcher Martha Raynolds, IAB Professor Donald “Skip” Walker and International Arctic Research Center Chief Scientist John Walsh.

Hinzman co-authored a chapter in the report about the importance of viewing the warming Arctic as an interconnected system, rather than a series of individual changes. That integrated environment is one of the themes of the report.

Hinzman said the contents of the report aren’t surprising. Each subsequent NOAA report has showed an advancing trend toward a warmer Arctic, he said.

“We’ve been on a single trajectory - the temperatures are warming, sea ice is declining, permafrost is thawing,” Hinzman said. “That’s been the theme, year after year after year.” - More...
Tuesday PM - December 13, 2016

Arctic: Scientists see 'new Arctic' is more prone to melting and storms - Scientists in a rare and sometimes dangerous study of the Arctic have found that the region's thinning sea ice is more prone to melting and storms, threatening its role as a moderator of the planet's climate.

The researchers reached this conclusion after spending almost half a year, much of it on a ship frozen into the ice, as part of the first wintertime expedition to examine the younger, thinner sea ice that typifies the "new Arctic." They discussed their findings in the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union. -

Ketchikan: Efforts to thaw frozen pipes cause fire - Monday morning the Ketchikan Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from an outlet in a residence located near the 300 block of Deermount. On arrival crews found smoke coming from the residence and upgraded the alarm to a structure fire. The resident had evacuated the home prior to the Fire Department's arrival.

The Ketchikan Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from an outlet in a residence located near the 300 block of Deermount
Photo courtesy City of Ketchikan Fire Department

The fire was located under the structure extending up through a wall into the house. Crews used fans to remove the smoke from the middle and upper floors of the house.

No injuries to the occupant or firefighters were reported.

Units from South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department, City of Ketchikan Police Department and KPU power also provided assistance. In all, three engines, one ladder truck, two ambulances and three command units responded with thirty three (33) personnel including on and off duty paid and volunteer staff. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 13, 2016

Columns - Commentary

JEFF LUND: Risk & Reward - Life is an equation of risk and reward.

Will the benefits of this risk be worth it? I thought about this when I was looking online for stuff I wanted to convince myself I needed for Christmas. Things like a new GPS, a SPOT locator… you know, responsible toys.

In movies and books the main character is forced to move into a world of conflict. In real life, we don’t have to. Once we have achieved a level of comfort, we might not be compelled to move, challenge or change ourselves. Couch. TV. Netflix. Boom.

If for some reason we do feel compelled to recruit adventure into our routine, it provides an added zest to our existence.

Life is scary and dangerous enough as it is, but Alaskans do lots of things to make it even moreso in the name of fulfillment. We want, maybe need, to push the limits. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 13, 2016

One of the most common assaults on the First Amendment is the attempt to force public policy organizations to disclose their donors. Regardless of the intent of these laws, the effect is to subject supporters of controversial causes to harassment, or worse. This harassment makes other potential donors afraid to support organizations opposing a popular war or defending the rights of an unpopular group.

Many free speech opponents support laws and regulations forbidding activist or educational organizations from distributing factual information regarding a candidate's positions for several months before an election. The ban would apply to communications that do not endorse or oppose any candidate. These laws would result in the only sources of information on the candidate's views being the campaigns and the media.

Recently the Federal Election Commission (FEC) rejected a proposal to add language exempting books, movies, and streaming videos from its regulations. The majority of FEC commissioners apparently believe they should have the power, for example, to ban Oliver Stone's biography of Edward Snowden, since it was released two months before the election and features clips of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump discussing Snowden.

The latest, and potentially most dangerous, threat to the First Amendment is the war on "fake news." Those leading the war are using a few "viral" Internet hoaxes to justify increased government regulation ---- and even outright censorship ---- of Internet news sites. Some popular websites, such as Facebook, are not waiting for the government to force them to crack down on fake news. - More...
Tuesday PM - December 13, 2016