Spring river ice change - Unalakleet, Alaska, USA
Observation: Off the coast of Unalakleet we didn't get any Yukon River ice. Normally the river goes out and the ice comes our way. This year we did not see any of the river ice near our village. Victoria Kotongan, Native Village of Unalakleet
Sea Ice Group at the Geophysical Institute Consult: This observation was shared with Dr. Eicken, Geophysical Institute writes, "This year, the Bering Sea is significantly warmer than in past years, the maximum winter ice extent in March was the lowest recorded in the last thirty or so years. Observations by Inupiaq and Yupik ice observers in the Bering Straits region (www.arcus.org/search-program/siwo) highlight that break-up in those regions was anomalously early, with much of the shore fast ice much thinner than normal and hence melting out locally much more rapidly. While we did not look at the path of Yukon river ice, this early melt play a role, as may be differences in the way the ice is drifting after break-up." (2015-06-03) University of Alaska Fairbanks
LEO says: The average date the river ice breakup for Alakanuk has begun on the 23rd of May and coincidentally this is the same date for 2015.The number of records found, starting in 1956 to present day reported 33 recordings covering a span of about 60 years. Alakanuk is about 15 miles up from the mouth of Kwikluak Pass, and another 40 miles downriver where the one of two drainage's began and the Yukon River ends with both flowing out into Norton Sound. Source: NOAA, National Weather Service – AK Region, last years recorded date was 2014-05-11 and the earliest recorded to date is 2008-05-08. To learn more, check out the River Watch and other related programs.
LEO Community Camera Project: LEO Network time-lapse video titled, Unalakleet, Alaska - 3.11 to 5.27.2015. Climate change is causing the environment in the north to change very quickly. This project uses time lapse cameras located in northern communities to monitor change over long time periods. Typically the cameras are mounted at sites selected by local partners, and the cameras take one image per day. The images are then compiled into videos that help to evaluate important local topics and environmental indicators, such as weather, seasonal change, infrastructure, vegetation, erosion, ice conditions, water level, and so on. The LEO Community Camera Project is administered by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Center for Climate and Health. This map provides location of cameras, still images of vantage points, links to videos located on the Local Environmental Observer (LEO) Network YouTube Channel.
