Science Talk
Dear Editor: At a science talk by Janet Neilson at UAS on March 22, we learned about substantial – and frankly, scary – drops in abundance and birth rates/calf numbers of humpback whales since 2013 in Glacier Bay. We also learned about reduced return rates of juvenile humpback whales, reduced site fidelity of adult whales and increasing signs of skinny, unhealthy whales, not only in Glacier Bay, but in most of S.E. Alaska since 2013. It seems that whales – much like king salmon, murres, and other marine species – are coming home to an empty refrigerator. Many things, like El Nino and the warm-water “Blob” have come together to heat our oceans right now. However, increasingly, this heat is what our oceans will feel like as our climate changes. Add to that ocean acidification, and our oceans’ “cupboards” will be bare.
It would be easy to feel overwhelmed by these concerns and just throw your hands up and try to forget. After all, what can I possibly do to improve ocean conditions for whales, king salmon, murres, and other, and frankly, for myself? My answer – you can do a lot to improve ocean conditions - thanks to Sitka and Sitkans.
1) Come to a meeting of the Sitka chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby on Saturday, April 14, at 8:30 a.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall (or check out www.citizensclimatelobby.org) and help us push for simple, effective national carbon fee and dividend legislation to combat climate change. ALL are welcome and you’ll learn there is surprising and even growing support for action – even IN Alaska!
2) A local CO2 reducers group – spawned by the Health Summit – is starting a local carbon offset fund. Soon you’ll be able to contribute relatively small dollar amounts towards local projects that offset the amount of carbon dioxide you’ve put into the atmosphere through travel and other means.
3) If you burn oil for heat, consider upgrading to an electric heat pump that will reduce heating costs by up to half and reduce your heating CO2 footprint to nearly 0. Learn more at www.sitkarainpower.org.
Who knew that whales could be the next “canary in a coal mine” for climate change and ocean acidification?
But while the world is becoming a scarier place – all is not lost! We CAN do something to stop our cupboards from being emptied by the effects of climate change ... the sooner the better to save not just other species, but our own. I hope we see you at our CCL meeting April 14!
Michelle Putz, Sitka
