PMEL in the News
Shock and Thaw—Alaskan Sea Ice Just Took a Steep, Unprecedented Dive
April should be prime walrus hunting season for the native villages that dot Alaska’s remote western coast. In years past the winter sea ice where the animals rest would still be abundant, providing prime targets for subsistence hunters. But this year sea-ice coverage as of late April was more like what would be expected for mid-June, well into the melt season. These conditions are the continuation of a winter-long scarcity of sea ice in the Bering Sea—a decline so stark it has stunned researchers who have spent years watching Arctic sea ice dwindle due to climate change. Nick Bond is mentioned.
Seaweed farming and its surprising benefits
CBS 60 MINUTES segment on "Seaweed farming and its surprising benefits". Paul Allen and Navy funded NOAA and Puget Sound Restoration Fund work done in Puget Sound on testing sugar kelp as a means of mitigating the impacts of ocean acidification. PMEL scientists led the carbon measurements for this study under the direction is Simone Alin.
Yacht in global race gathering data on ocean's health
The world's oceans are getting more acidic and it's hurting the whole aquatic food chain. Scientists are racing to learn more about ocean acidification and now they're getting help from an actual race boat. Dr. Feely is interviewed.
How to help keep invasive species out of the Great Lakes
TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - A town hall was held to educate the public on how to prevent invasive species from being introduced into the Great Lakes. Carol Stepien is quoted.
These autonomous sailing drones help researchers forecast extreme weather
Oceanic researchers are turning to autonomous sea drones to help them forecast extreme weather and understand the world's changing weather patterns. The 23-foot-long drones are made by Bay Area start-up Saildrone. Each Saildrone can be outfitted with a number of different sensors that it uses to gather and transmit real-time measurements on metrics including temperature, wind, humidity, solar radiation and weather patterns. References the TPOS Saildrone mission.