The Bering Sea is the area of the far northern Pacific Ocean that separates Alaska from Russia.  Sea ice in the Bering Sea shrank to its lowest levels in recorded history in 2018, an event with profound effects on northwest Alaska residents who depend on marine resources for food, cash, and culture.

The loss of ice is indicative of very rapid change in the entire northern Bering Sea ecosystem with ramifications for everyone in the region.  A new peer-reviewed study published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society examined the details and consequences of the drastic changes in the Bering Sea.

The study found that the maximum daily Bering Sea ice was the lowest

on record, and the widespread impacts of that fact include unprecedented

weather effects, marine wildlife die-offs, and sightings of animals outside of

their normal range.  Ecological changes

included the first documented mass strandings of ice-associated seals, a

redistribution of thermally sensitive fish, and a multispecies die-off of

seabirds due to starvation.

Persistent and anomalous warm winter weather contributed to poor ice

conditions that resulted in a fatal accident on an ice road and retreating and

fractured sea ice led to ice-laden flooding that caused power outages and

infrastructure damage.  In addition, there

have been more than 50 reports of unusual events related to weather and marine

wildlife.

The record-low sea ice is a consequence of the warming climate resulting in a warmer ocean, later arrival of sea ice, and more frequent storms than in the pre-industrial era.  These conditions are continuing to increase in occurrence.

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Record low level of Bering Sea ice causes profound, widespread impacts

Photo, posted April 7, 2014, courtesy of Allen Smith via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.