A researcher with the University of Alaska Fairbanks says that with the loss of sea ice and increased storm surges, saltwater levels near duck nesting grounds in the Y-K Delta are rising.
Oceans
Calls for ‘vigilance’ on Russian military buildup in Arctic
Moscow has been building its military presence in the Arctic, and one Russia scholar says she’s grown increasingly concerned. While Russia’s Arctic ambitions worry regional experts, so do the lack of ambitions on the part of the United States.
‘Uber for icebreakers’ idea gains traction in Congress
A Senate proposal has $750 million for a third Coast Guard icebreaker, but that money is caught in a fight over President Trump’s wall at the southern border. Still, there’s more than one way to break ice.
Study finds poor air quality aboard cruise ships
A covert study undertaken by a public health researcher found air quality on cruise ships to be on par with the world’s dirtiest cities.
An island crusader takes on the big brands behind plastic waste
Every year, 8 million tons of plastic wash into the oceans. The biggest sources are in Asia. In the Philippines, one man is going head-to-head with multinational corporations to stop the plastic tide.
New salmon-counting technique treats Alaska stream like a crime scene
Much of salmon-counting in Alaska is done by watching salmon swim through specially designed stations. But what if you could count the number of fish just by testing for DNA in a bottle of river water? There’s a new technique that could make that happen, according to a newly published study.