Polar Bears To Get Protected Area October 27, 2009
Posted by fhsukams in Science & Math Info.Tags: Alaska, polar bears
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Last week the Obama administration proposed protecting 200,000 miles in Alaska as critical habitat for polar bears. This designation could restrict off-shore gas and oil drilling. While welcomed by environmentalists, this decision is not without controversy, both for environmentalists and those opposed to limiting drilling. For more information, see the Scientific American.
Alaskan Waters Have Increased Levels of Acid August 25, 2009
Posted by fhsukams in Science & Math Info.Tags: Alaska, climate change, global warming, oceans
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Frederick Sound, Alaska
A study by Jeremy Mathis, a chemical oceanographer at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, suggests that colder Alaskan waters are absorbing greenhouse gases faster than tropical waters, turning those colder water more acidic. Oceans absorb carbon dioxide, approximately 22 million tons per day. When that carbon dioxide is dissolved in the ocean, it forms carbonic acid. According to studies, increased levels of acid have been known to increase stress hormones and slow metabolisms in certain species of ocean life. For more information on this study & its impact on Alaska, see RedOrbit.
Alaskan King Salmon Disappearing August 12, 2009
Posted by fhsukams in Science & Math Info.Tags: Alaska, salmon
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Significant numbers of Alaskan king salmon have failed to return to spawning grounds this year. This poor return by the salmon follows two years of similar low returns. Biologists speculate that the likely reason for the plummet is a current shift in the Pacific Ocean. But, they caution that there could be other reasons including: food availability, changes in river conditions, or changes in predators. Local residents blame the nets used for pollock fishing that catch large numbers of salmon by accident. For more information on the king salmon, see redOrbit.
Saturday Eruption at Mt. Redoubt April 6, 2009
Posted by fhsukams in Science & Math Info.Tags: Alaska, eruption, Mt Redoubt, volcano
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Mt. Redoubt during overflight on April 5, 2009. Photo Credit: Heather Bleick, AVO/USGS
Another significant eruption on Saturday signals that Mt. Redoubt is showing no signs of stopping. An ash cloud was sent 50,000 feet into the air. Typically, when Mt. Redoubt enters an eruption phase, it erupts for months. So, Alaskans are likely to experience many more eruptions by Mt. Redoubt.
Science in the News this Weekend March 30, 2009
Posted by fhsukams in Science & Math Info.Tags: Alaska, Discovery, eruption, International Space Station, Mt Redoubt, NASA, space shuttle, volcano
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Mt. Redoubt ash plume. Photo Credit: Tricia Joy Sadler/AVO
First, Mt. Redoubt continued to erupt several times on Saturday, March 28, sending volcanic ash to Anchorage, 100 miles to the northeast. The ash plume was 45,000 to 50,000 feet high on Saturday. After the first eruption, there was also strong seismic activity. The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport shut down due to the ash, but reopened on Sunday and is expected to be fully operational on Tuesday. On Sunday, Mt. Redoubt did not erupt, but it did have low-level tremors. For more information, see the Associated Press article here.
Discovery Landing on Saturday. Photo Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Second, the Space Shuttle Discovery landed in Florida on Saturday, ending its 13 day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Discovery brought Dr. Sandra Magnus back to Earth after four months in space at the International Space Station. She was replaced aboard the ISS by Koichi Wakata, a Japanese astronaut, who arrived via Discovery. Additionally, a Russian Soyuz capsule with an American tourist on board has docked safely at the International Space Station just a few days after Discovery’s departure. For more information, see here.
Mt. Redoubt Erupts Again Today March 26, 2009
Posted by fhsukams in Science & Math Info.Tags: Alaska, eruption, Mt Redoubt, volcano
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Mt. Redoubt ash plume, March 26. Photo Credit: Steve Baird/AVO
Mt. Redoubt erupted twice this morning again. The second eruption was described as a major event and sent ash 12 miles into the air, the highest ash plume so far since Mt. Redoubt came to life on Sunday night. For more information, see here.
Eruptions at Mt. Redoubt Again March 25, 2009
Posted by fhsukams in Science & Math Info.Tags: Alaska, eruption, Mt Redoubt, volcano
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Mt. Redoubt in Mid-March. Photo credit: Alaska Volcano Observatory
Mt. Redoubt erupted twice on today, once around 5:00 am and then again around 10:15 am. These blasts were much smaller and more brief than the eruptions on Sunday and Monday. The Alaska Volcano Observatory has lots of interesting information on Mt. Redoubt and other Alaska volcanoes available here.
Mt. Redoubt Erupts March 23, 2009
Posted by fhsukams in Science & Math Info.Tags: Alaska, eruption, Mt Redoubt, volcano
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Mt. Redoubt, Alaska. Photograph by Cyrus Read/AVO/USGS
Mt. Redoubt in Alaska became active on Sunday evening with a series of eruptions beginning late in the evening. The eruption has spawned earthquakes and mudflows. It may create a new lava dome also. According to Tina Neal, a volcanologist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage, the eruption may continue for an indefinite period of time. For more information on the Mt. Redoubt eruption, see here.
