Researchers Discover New Nitrogen Source in Arctic. Scientists have revealed that the partnership between an alga and bacteria is making the essential element nitrogen newly available in the Arctic Ocean. The microbial process of "nitrogen fixation" converts the element into a form that organisms can use, and was discovered recently in the frigid polar waters. This shift may be a result of climate change and could affect global chemical cycles, according to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Nature World News

 

How do Polar Bears Stay Warm? Most polar bears live within the Arctic Circle, so how do they keep warm in extremely low temperatures? Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are well known for their white fur, which makes them almost invisible on the Arctic Sea ice. But in areas where it can drop to far below -30°C in winter, finding a way to stay warm is vital. Natural History Museum

The Arctic-Remote, But not Isolated. Like a thermostat for our planet, the Arctic helps to stabilize global climate and regulate temperatures worldwide. What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic, and changes in the Arctic's seemingly harsh, but inherently fragile environment have a profound global reach. Changes can destabilize the world's weather patterns and ocean circulation, affecting everything from food security and human, fish and wildlife health, to safe navigation, local to global economies, and national security. Weather Nation

 

The Professor Multanovskiy Research Vessel to Begin Trans Arctic Expedition in mid-2019. The Trans Arctic 2019 expedition's part, involving the Professor Multanovskiy research vessel, is scheduled to begin on July 10-15, 2019, the Far East's Hydrometeorology Studies Institute's Acting Director Alexander Dunayev told TASS on Monday. The expedition, which will continue to autumn, will have four stages. Scientists will study the Russian Arctic seas. Earlier, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev inked an order to allocate almost 870 million rubles ($13 million) for the studies. TASS

 

How the Internet Travels Across Oceans. The internet consists of tiny bits of code that move around the world, traveling along wires as thin as a strand of hair strung across the ocean floor. The data zips from New York to Sydney, from Hong Kong to London, in the time it takes you to read this word.Nearly 750,000 miles of cable already connect the continents to support our insatiable demand for communication and entertainment. Companies have typically pooled their resources to collaborate on undersea cable projects, like a freeway for them all to share. New York Times

 

As More Rain Falls, Greenland is Melting Faster. Melting on the Greenland ice sheet is already happening at some of the fastest rates in centuries, and it's only speeding up as the climate continues to warm. Now, a pair of new studies help explain why. Rainfall is becoming increasingly common over parts of Greenland, one paper found, and it's helping trigger sudden melting events that cause large amounts of ice to liquify and run off the edge of the ice sheet. Scientific American

 

[Opinion] Lisa Murkowski and Joe Manchin: It's Time to Act on Climate Change-Responsibly. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, represents Alaska in the U.S. Senate. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, represents West Virginia in the U.S. Senate. The two of us have more in common than might meet the eye. We come from different parties, but we are both avid outdoorsmen and represent states that take great pride in the resources we provide to the nation and to friends and allies around the world. Alaska and West Virginia know that resource development and environmental stewardship must move in tandem, which is why we are committed to putting forward bipartisan solutions to help address climate change. The Washington Post

 

** New this week ** Virtual Alaska Weather Symposium, Wednesday, March 13, 2019 (11am AKDT): " Improving Communication of Coastal Flood Warnings to Alaska Communities" Coastal flooding and erosion from strong storms pose a significant threat to many Alaska communities. The National Weather Service (NWS) Alaska Region is collaborating with state, regional, local, and tribal organizations to improve impact-based decision support to communities before and during coastal storms. The NWS is also in the process of improving warning messages to rural Alaska in order to effectively communicate threat level, convey risk from storm surge, forecaster confidence, and potential impacts of incoming storms. The NWS is working to incorporate local terminology and place names, traditional knowledge of storm impacts, and storm observations into coastal flood warnings for communities.

The New Arctic: Navigating the Realities, Possibilities, and Challenges, March 19, 2019 (Washington, DC USA). The Polar Institute of the Wilson Center will host a discussion of a report by the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. The report explores the new, dynamic Arctic and ways in which policies and partnerships may be developed to guide Arctic diplomacy in the decades to come.

Arctic Science Summit Week, May 22-30, 2019 (Arkhangelsk, Russia). The Arctic Science Summit Week 2019 will take place in Northern (Arctic) Federal University and Northern State Medical University, Russia, Arkhangelsk. Under the auspices of International Arctic Science Committee, participants from more than 23 countries and regions will be involved.

18th International Conference on Cold Regions Engineering / 8th Canadian Permafrost Conference, August 18-22, 2019 (Quebec, Canada). Sustainable infrastructure development and permafrost science, in a climate change context, will be the focus of the discussions of this international conference.