Snow is melting sooner and coming in later on the North Slope, and that, in turn, is having an affect on other ecological variables.
Aerial surveys this September and October show the bowheads aren’t where they usually are.
It's been a challenging year for whalers in Utqiagvik. Crews started going out in September, but found the bowheads weren't appearing in their usual concentrations in the waters closer to shore. On the water Nov. 16 Panigiuq Crew landed the first whale of the season for Utqiagvik, later than many people can remember ever bringing one in before.
The flooding was caused by a weather system that moved up to the Bering Sea from the tropics, and raised water levels and dumped rain across much of western Alaska.
While industry has had to adapt to changes, many locals are still struggling to find a new normal amidst the shifting seasons.
With the average temperature hovering north of negative this winter, Utqiaġvik and much of the Arctic once again broke records with a season that didn't match up to historic expectations.
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