Rivers in Alaska and Yukon Warming: Impact on Salmon
Research from the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado Boulder, incorporating Indigenous knowledge, reveals the North, including Alaska and the Yukon, is warming faster than the rest of the world due to climate change.
A recent study examined temperatures in several rivers, including the Porcupine, Teedriinjik, Aniak, Andreafsky, Koyukuk, Takotna, and Chena. The findings suggest that warming in the Porcupine River may limit the growth of Chinook salmon based on the frequency of days and river length reaching the upper limit of the temperature range for individual growth.
The Porcupine River, which connects to the Yukon River at Fort Yukon in Alaska and flows into the Bering Sea, is a critical habitat for salmon. Salmon hatch in freshwater, migrate to sea, and return inland as adults to spawn and die.
Climate change is warming the North much faster than the rest of the world.
Author's summary: Climate change affects salmon growth in Alaska and Yukon rivers.
- Porcupine River temperatures may limit Chinook salmon growth
- Salmon migrate from freshwater to sea and back to spawn
- Climate change warms the North faster than the global average