Posts by Heather McFarland
Southern Ocean acidification puts marine organisms at risk
New research indicates that acidification of the Southern Ocean will cause a layer of water to form below the surface that corrodes the shells of some sea snails, an outcome that could disrupt marine food webs. University of Colorado Boulder and University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers collaborated on the study, which was published today in…
Arctic change is impacting lower latitudes
A new, short article written for the public compiles evidence that the footprint of Arctic change is expanding. “People in other places may not have a full understanding that as the Arctic becomes disrupted the number of social and environmental systems in lower latitudes that are affected is growing,” said co-author Amy Lovecraft from the…
Translating weather for Alaska’s Iditarod sled dog race
Image courtesy of Krista Heeringa An Iditarod sled dog team travels along a frozen river. The man who interprets weather data for Alaska will provide daily forecasts for the 2019 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is slated to share current weather updates and historic…
Data manager/analyst position opening
The UAF International Arctic Research Center (IARC) and the Scenarios Network for Alaska + Arctic Planning (SNAP) seek a Data Manager/Analyst to help develop an Arctic Data Collaborative to highlight and apply high impact datasets to solve real world issues. You will contribute to projects aimed at helping the nation and the world understand and…
IARC researcher receives prestigious award
John Walsh was recently honored with the Walter Orr Roberts Lecturer award for his contributions to the atmospheric sciences. Walsh, the chief scientist at the International Arctic Research Center, has dedicated his career to evaluating climate change impacts in the Arctic. The Walter Orr Roberts lecturer is chosen annually based on nominations. According to the…
Understanding Bering Sea changes requires new partnerships
University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists presented their work at the American Geophysical Union’s fall meeting in Washington D.C. last week. Here are some research highlights from the world’s largest Earth and space science meeting. Later freeze-up. Warmer surface water. Shifting walrus diets. Less cold water to serve as refuge for young fish. Changing pollock distribution.…
Wind and wave modeling supports energy infrastructure in Alaska
University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists presented their work at the American Geophysical Union’s fall meeting in Washington D.C. last week. Here are some research highlights from the world’s largest Earth and space science meeting. University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist Peter Bieniek is predicting wind speed to guide development of a potential oil and gas project…
Science and art illustrate changing marine Arctic ecosystem
A recent study led by University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists Claudine Hauri and Seth Danielson is combining art and science to characterize the Chukchi Sea, a rapidly changing ecosystem off northwestern Alaska. The Chukchi Ecosystem Observatory is the first Arctic monitoring site to continuously and simultaneously measure a large suite of biological, chemical and physical characteristics of…
Researcher patents new method of tracking taxable infrastructure
University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher Keith Cunningham has created a tool that urban planners and tax assessors can use to detect infrastructure changes. Property taxes are assessed based in part on the size of structures. Cunningham’s remote sensing method, which was patented last month, can alleviate the need to physically survey buildings to detect changes…
New newsletter explores community-based observations of Arctic change
IARC’s Alaska Arctic Observatory & Knowledge Hub is excited to share their winter 2018 newsletter. Read about AAOKH’s work supporting community-based observations of changes in the seasonal cycle in Alaska’s Arctic. This inaugural edition of AAOKH News focuses on current observations and tools, the steering group and how to get involved. The newsletter was distributed…