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Marine Heatwave Linked to Significant Decline in Hawaiian Humpback Whale Population

Marine Heatwave Linked to Significant Decline in Hawaiian Humpback Whale Population

A marine heatwave in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, occurring roughly a decade ago, has been identified as the likely cause for a sharp decline in the Hawaiian humpback whale population. A recent study analyzed over 27,000 photos of whale sightings between 2002 and 2023 across the main Hawaiian islands, sourced from the citizen science platform Happywhale. Researchers found that the Hawaiian humpback whale population decreased by 37% between the 2014-2015 breeding season and the 2021-2022 season. Adult survival rates, which were previously around 99% year over year, plummeted to an estimated 68% during the heatwave. This event also coincided with an unusual mortality event in Alaska and British Columbia, where humpback whales were observed starving and dying. The final population estimate indicates approximately 5,000 fewer humpbacks after the marine heatwave, with researchers believing many likely perished.
USA TodayUSA Today
El Niño could fuel hurricane season record for Hawaii. See why

El Niño could fuel hurricane season record for Hawaii. See why

Hawaii has seen effects from five tropical systems in 2026. Could the island chain set a record for tropical storm impacts this year? Perhaps.
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University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Receives $3.6 Million Grant to Study Hidden Health Risks from Plantation Era

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Receives $3.6 Million Grant to Study Hidden Health Risks from Plantation Era

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has been awarded a $3.6 million federal grant from the National Institutes of Health. This five-year grant will fund a joint research project with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. The study aims to investigate hidden environmental health threats across Hawaiʻi, specifically focusing on contaminants left behind from the sugar plantation era. Researchers will examine whether natural disasters like wildfires and floods can cause these legacy pollutants, such as arsenic, lead, and dioxins, to resurface and impact human health and the environment. The project will build upon the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study, established after the 2023 Maui wildfires, and will create a new Health and Environment Assessment Longitudinal cohort to follow 1,000 Hawaiʻi residents over five years. This will be the state's first systematic investigation into heart and lung health risks associated with these 'forever chemicals' linked to historical agricultural and industrial a...
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Sunrun Seeks Solar Appointment Setters in Kailua-Kona, Offering Career Advancement and Environmental Impact

Sunrun Seeks Solar Appointment Setters in Kailua-Kona, Offering Career Advancement and Environmental Impact

Sunrun Seeks Solar Appointment Setters in Kailua-Kona, Offering Career Advancement and Environmental Impact
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Boston urges federal action on coastal flood risks

Boston urges federal action on coastal flood risks

The City of Boston has issued a public comment letter supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Programmatic Environmental Assessment. The city agrees with USACE's findings, which estimate at least 42 inches of sea level rise and potential damages of $54 billion by 2090 if no action is taken. Boston has already invested $48 million in coastal resilience projects over the past decade, with $32 million currently under construction and $59 million planned for the next five years. The city is advocating for a comprehensive approach, combining Action Plan 2 and Action Plan 3, to address flood risks across its 47-mile coastline. Boston is also exploring funding options for its $3.5 billion non-federal share of the plan.
ReutersReuters
Satellite data shows major ice losses for Greenland and Antarctica

Satellite data shows major ice losses for Greenland and Antarctica

By Will Dunham Sept 16 (Reuters) - New research based on satellite data going back to the 1970s has documented major polar ice losses in Greenland and Antarctica — home to Earth's two great ice sheets — that have contributed to rising global sea levels.
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National Museum of Natural History Appoints Francisco Werner as Sant Chair for Marine Science

National Museum of Natural History Appoints Francisco Werner as Sant Chair for Marine Science

The National Museum of Natural History has announced the appointment of Francisco "Cisco" Werner as the new Sant Chair for Marine Science. Werner brings decades of experience in ocean research, having previously served as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries’ Chief Science Advisor and led international marine research programs at multiple universities. In his new role, Werner will guide research at the Ocean Science Center, which comprises over 70 marine science researchers at the museum and the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Florida. His work will focus on understanding how various factors like physics, chemistry, and biology converge to create ocean environments. Werner emphasizes the interconnectedness of the museum's collections and research, viewing the ocean as a 'connective tissue' that links diverse specimens and scientific disciplines.
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Earth's Ice Sheets Lose Over 12 Trillion Tons in 47 Years, Contributing to Sea Level Rise

Earth's Ice Sheets Lose Over 12 Trillion Tons in 47 Years, Contributing to Sea Level Rise

Earth has lost more than 12 trillion tons (11.3 trillion metric tons) of ice from Greenland and Antarctica since 1979, according to a major scientific report published in the journal Scientific Data. This massive ice melt has contributed to a global sea level rise of approximately one inch (3.1 centimeters) since 1979, in addition to other climate factors. The study, an international collaboration of polar scientists led by the European Space Agency, incorporated NASA satellite data to chart ice sheet volumes in Antarctica back to 1979 and in Greenland back to 1972. The report indicates that five-sixths of this melt is not due to hotter air, but rather warmer waters eroding the ice sheets from below and the sides, with glaciers flowing into the oceans. The melting has been accelerating, particularly in the 2010s, following a period of relative stability in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s.
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Antarctic Krill Fishery Faces Scrutiny Amidst Ecosystem Concerns and Retailer Withdrawals

Antarctic Krill Fishery Faces Scrutiny Amidst Ecosystem Concerns and Retailer Withdrawals

The Antarctic krill fishery is currently under heightened scrutiny due to concerns about its impact on the Southern Ocean ecosystem. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) manages this fishery with an ecosystem-based and precautionary approach, implementing catch limits, fishery notifications, monitoring, and conservation measures. Despite these regulations, marine scientists and conservation bodies express serious concerns about potential overfishing, which could significantly affect keystone species like whales, penguins, and seals. Scientific evidence suggests a substantial decline in krill densities, with some areas around the Antarctic Peninsula, a primary fishing ground, experiencing an 80 percent reduction since the 1970s. This decline is particularly alarming as krill are a critical food source for numerous marine animals and play a vital role in the Antarctic food web. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently classified the Antar...
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Michigan State University Team to Study Alaskan Fault System for Tsunami Risk

Michigan State University Team to Study Alaskan Fault System for Tsunami Risk

A team from Michigan State University, led by Associate Professor Songqiao "Shawn" Wei, is launching a project to study the underwater fault system in the Alaskan-Aleutian subduction zone. This area was the origin of a massive tsunami in 1946 that impacted Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, and Oregon, despite being caused by a relatively small earthquake. The research involves deploying waterproof seismometers on the Pacific Ocean floor near Alaska for approximately 15 months. These sensors will record vibrations from tectonic plates, providing data on how the fault system is currently behaving. The project is funded by a National Science Foundation grant and involves a partnership with the University of Hawaii. The goal is to understand why the 1946 event occurred and to assess the current risk of future earthquakes and tsunamis in the region. The team will analyze the collected data to gain insights into the dynamics of the Pacific and North American plates.
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Tropical Depression 15-E Expected to Become Tropical Storm Odalys

Tropical Depression 15-E Expected to Become Tropical Storm Odalys

Tropical Depression 15-E, currently active in the Pacific, is forecasted to intensify into Tropical Storm Odalys later today. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Norbert, which had been active in the same region, is weakening and no longer poses a threat to Hawaii. Meteorologists Craig Herrera and Britta Merwin from FOX Weather provided updates on these developments, highlighting the dynamic activity in the Pacific Ocean. The transition of Tropical Depression 15-E into a named storm marks a continuation of the active tropical weather season in the region. The situation is being closely monitored for further updates.
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Kīlauea Volcano Enters Longest Precursory Phase of Current Eruption

Kīlauea Volcano Enters Longest Precursory Phase of Current Eruption

Kīlauea volcano, located on Hawaii's Big Island, is currently experiencing its longest precursory phase of the ongoing eruption, according to Big Island Video News. Visible lava activity paused on the morning of September 14, 2026, following nearly continuous spatter bursts at the north vent overnight. These bursts, which began at 6:30 PM HST on September 13, reached heights of 10-20 meters and formed a spatter cone. The activity ceased at sunrise on September 14. The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has indicated that the onset of episode 55 fountaining could occur within the next day or two, depending on conditions. The volcano remains under a WATCH alert level, with an Aviation Color Code of ORANGE.