Impermafrost

Sobering dispatches from Alaska

Posted by Erik Hoffner (Guest Contributor) at 9:51 PM on 06 Feb 2008

Read more about: wildlife | books | art | Alaska | climate

The melting and erosion of permafrost is probably the most visible manifestation of climate change in Alaska.

Photo: Seth Kantner, www.kapvikphotography.com

Author and photographer Seth Kantner has a new blog that shares his observations of a changing Arctic in words and images. From trees invading the tundra and freakish weather to the hair-raising loss of the permafrost, it's a must-read. His phenomenal book Ordinary Wolves (one of my favorites of the last 10 years) takes place in the town of Kotzebue on the northwest coast of Alaska (where he's from), where the tundra is literally melting away from underfoot and into the sea.

For story: Impermafrost
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gorgeous photo!

I would make it my wallpaper, were it not for the vertical alignment, and the empurpled hominid behind the pretty dog's tail.

The blog looks un po' troppo. But perhaps I shall get the book.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 1:49 AM on 07 Feb 2008

oil leases

Actually, Canis, this image ain't nothin. Have a look at Seth's site, linked there under the caption, for world class AK photography: musk ox and caribou galore. But it's not nice to snitch folks' images for other uses. Tsk tsk.

So the news of the record bids for oil leases in the Chukchi Sea came out after I submitted this post yesterday. More fossil extraction right offshore from Kotzebue, to melt the Arctic once and for all...

"ANCHORAGE, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Oil companies bidding for drilling rights in U.S. federal waters of the Chukchi Sea off the northwest coast of Alaska have lodged high bids totaling over $2.662 billion, the U.S. Minerals Management Service said.

The high bids in the Chukchi Sea lease sale exceed the previous largest sale in the early 1980s, the MMS said."

The Orion Grassroots Network: 1,200+ grassroots groups working for conservation & more

by Erik Hoffner at 8:15 AM on 07 Feb 2008

It's A Sauna!!!

Look at the tropical paradise that Alaska has become:

http://www.orionmagazine.org/i/climate_changing/kids_play ...

Texeme.Construct(function(x)=Participation(x))

by jabailo at 2:49 PM on 07 Feb 2008

in the flesh (?)

Erik,
I did indeed order a used copy of Kastner's book, "Ordinary Wolves," and it arrived yesterday, and it looks wonderful. Thanks very much for recommending it.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 12:45 PM on 13 Feb 2008

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