Science & Environment

Climate change and a lack of genetic diversity could threaten the survival of some Alaska red king crab populations, according to a new study. Researchers say populations in Southeast Alaska are particularly susceptible while Bering Sea crab may be more resilient.

KUCB’s Stephanie Joyce has more.

Equipment to monitor magnetic storms will be installed on Adak Island in the Aleutians this summer.  The 40-antenna radar array will help scientists understand the interaction between the Earth’s upper atmosphere and space. Here’s University of Alaska Fairbanks electrical engineering professor Bill Bristow.

“The weather radars you’re used to seeing look at the troposphere, the lower portion of the atmosphere, and map out the large scale patterns, like when you see a hurricane it has that large vortex pattern you see on the screen.  We’re looking at similar patterns in the upper atmosphere, although they’re due to a very different source.”

Three and half years ago a massive volcanic eruption buried the Aleutian island of Kasatochi under thick layers of sediment and ash. That destroyed the nesting sites of millions of seabirds and completely reshaped the island’s topography. As UAF's Ned Rozell reported last week, new research shows that unusually fast erosion is revitalizing Kasatochi’s ecosystem and giving scientists a glimpse into how damaged environments heal themselves.

A new lava dome is forming in the crater of Cleveland Volcano.  In response, scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory bumped the aviation alert level from yellow to orange on Tuesday.

It’s the fourth time since July that the Observatory has raised the alert.  Back in December, Cleveland had a minor eruption that sent up a 15,000 foot ash cloud and removed a lava dome that had been forming for months. 

Although the cloud dissipated quickly and didn’t affect aviation, it drew international attention to the remote volcano on uninhabited Chuginadak Island.  Cleveland lies on a major flight path and previous eruptions have disrupted air travel.

Bering Sea ice came in quickly this year and is at its largest extent since the 1970s.

It has effectively shut down the snow crab fishery, causing problems for boats as far south as the Aleutians.  But some scientists say that while it’s a pain in the short term, the ice is good for the Bering Sea’s valuable fisheries in the long run.

For the past two years, western Pacific gray whales have been tracked making an unusual journey across the Aleutian Chain. The endangered marine mammals have started their journey from Sakhalin Island in the Russian Far East, traveled across the Bering Sea during the summertime, and then moved down to the California coast to breed. Now, scientists are saying that it’s possible that the tagged creatures might not be western Pacific gray whales after all.

The Steller sea lion fight isn't over yet.  

On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess upheld the National Marine Fisheries Service’s decision to restrict fishing in the western Aleutians to protect the endangered marine mammals.    

That’s been broadly characterized as a victory for NFMS and the conservation groups that intervened in the lawsuit.  But the fishing industry is rallying around the part of the court’s ruling that requires NFMS prepare an environmental impact statement.

With its lengthy stretches of coast line, rapid currents, and big waves, Alaska could be capable of producing about a fifth of the nation’s electricity. That’s according to two new reports released by the United States Department of Energy that find that the state’s waters have enough energy in them to produce over 850 terawatt hours of electricity every year -- that’s enough to run over 800 billion space heaters all day, year round.

Right now, only about 6 percent of the nation’s electricity comes from hydropower resources. The Department of Energy is aiming to boost water power usage up to 15 percent by 2030.

Mike Reed is the team leader for DOE’s water program, and he says the development of ocean energy could be a big part of meeting that objective.

Scientists made progress last week on a model that will help estimate the population of Aleutian Islands golden king crab.

When it’s finished, the model will let fisheries managers decide each year how much crab can be harvested sustainably.  That could translate into millions of dollars of additional revenue or cuts for the fishery, depending on what the model shows.

Right now, the State Board of Fisheries sets the golden king crab harvest in regulation, as opposed to annually.  It's hovered around 6 million pounds for the last decade.

Doug Pengilly is a biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.  He’s working on the model, which has been in development for a while.