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December 20, 2021

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No Arctic science event is scheduled for today.

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Work Underway to Create the World’s First Arctic Station Powered by Hydrogen and Renewables

The ambitious project, driven by the team of Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) is scheduled to launch in 2024 at the Yamal peninsula, the heart of Russia’s gas production. The station, described as the International Space Station on earth, resembles a snowflake - thus the name Snezhinka - with seven large transparent domes connected by passageways. 

Siberian Times

After Thousands of Years, an Iconic Whale Confronts a New Enemy

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For millennia, vast expanses of the Arctic Ocean have been untouched by humans, ocean where narwhals and other marine mammals lived undisturbed. Now that climate change is causing sea ice to melt, there has been an uptick of human activity in the Arctic. This has resulted in significantly more noise from an array of human sources, including seismic surveys, mine blasts, port projects and cruise ships.

EurekAlert!

Study Draws Link Between Melting Arctic Ice and Western U.S. Fires that flare in the Fall

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Melting Arctic sea ice appears to be having far-reaching atmospheric impacts that increase the likelihood of extreme fall fire weather in the western United States, according to a study that used a mix of data analysis and computer modeling to draw this link. The peer-reviewed research, funded by the federal Energy Department, was published in the journal Nature Communications and presented Thursday at the annual conference of the American Geophysical Union.

Seattle Times

Climate Change Could Mean More Wildlife Disease in the Arctic, Researchers Say

A warming climate could mean some Arctic animals will be more vulnerable to parasites and disease-causing pathogens, according to researchers. It's a field of study where there are still far more questions than answers, says Kayla Buhler, a veterinary researcher at the University of Saskatchewan. Her work focuses on vector-borne diseases, which are transmitted from insects to animals.

CBC News

Shrinking Western Arctic Caribou Herd Prompts Discussion About Future Hunting Restrictions

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One of the largest caribou herds in Alaska is shrinking, prompting hunters and conservationists to consider recommending hunting restrictions. The Western Arctic Caribou Herd population is down to an estimated 188,000 animals, reflecting a 23% decrease over the past two years, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The estimate dropped from 259,000 caribou in 2017 and 244,000 in 2019.

Anchorage Daily News
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8:30 am AKT on January 12, 2022 | Virtual

Alaska Chapter Public Engagement Workshop

The authors of the Alaska chapter of the Fifth National Climate Assessment will host a virtual workshop to receive comments on climate change-related issues. The information gathered will help authors decide which topics to cover in their chapter of the Fifth National Climate Assessment, a US government report on how climate change affects people and places in the United States.

Event Link

April 5-8, 2022 | Anchorage, Alaska USA

Reducing Arctic Risks and Advancing Cooperation, Alaskan Command Arctic Symposium 2022

Arctic Symposium 2022 continues momentum in Arctic defense and security collaboration established in prior ALCOM-hosted events. AAS22 seeks to address the challenges faced by the U.S. military and our allies and partners in understanding and responding to our respective national interests. AAS22 is planned and organized by the Arctic Domain Awareness Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) in support and in compliance to guidance from Alaskan Command (ALCOM) Staff and Commander. More information available soon.

Event Link

April 7-8, 2022 | Anchorage, Alaska USA

Arctic Encounter

This event will convene Arctic leaders and voices from around the world. The Arctic Encounter has brought together thousands of Arctic stakeholders since its inception in 2013. Following two years of cancellation due to COVID-19, the Arctic Encounter is eager to welcome participants to Alaska for dialogue and presentations with elected leaders, business leaders, scientists, and more.

Event Link

April 9-11, 2022 | St. Petersburg, Russia

The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue Forum

The participants in the forum will focus on improving the living standards in the Arctic region, preserving its unique ecological potential, ensuring sustainable socioeconomic development in polar territories, and strengthening international cooperation to this end. The IAF is a unique space for constructive cooperation with international and regional organizations and an opportunity to focus on Russian and international priorities, including climate change, the environment, economic cooperation in the Arctic, sustainable development of transport infrastructure, and human capital development.

Event Link

MAY 9-12, 2022 | HANKO, FINLAND

2nd Symposium on Polar Microbes and Viruses

Organizers announce, that due to the coronavirus outbreak, the 2nd Symposium on Polar Microbes and Viruses has been postponed to 2022. This symposium will bring together molecular microbial ecologists specializing in different organism groups to share our latest results and discuss methodological problems, as well as future prospects in the field, including practical international collaborations. The environmental focus will be on cryospheric environments including sea ice, glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost, but excellent research in other polar environments is also invited. The methods to be discussed will focus on 'omics' techniques, ranging from single cells to metagenomes, but research using additional methods is encouraged as well.

August 1-4, 2022 | Utqiagvik, Alaska USA

75th Anniversary of the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory: Celebrating the Past—Planning for the Future

The events during the week of August 1st, 2022, will include Enhancing Arctic Science and Engineering Workshop along with Regional Development Tours and forums on the Arctic science to plan for the next 25 years of Arctic research. Participants will include scientists and engineers, Indigenous leaders, Arctic community members, policymakers, government organizations and businesses to celebrate past research success, take stock of current challenges and opportunities and plan for the next generation of collaboration and knowledge co-production that will keep Utqiagvik and Indigenous knowledge at the forefront of Arctic science and contribute to a safe and sustainable future for

the Arctic.

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