Nearly 4 million acres of mature white spruce forest on the Kenai Peninsula have been killed by a growing population of spruce bark beetles (Dendroctonus rufipennis) since about 1987. This is a very active event, mediated by climate change, which has spread to about 38 million mature spruce. Scientists, including Dr. Edward Berg and Dr. Kenneth Raffa, attribute the beetle infestation to rising average temperatures in South-Central Alaska in both winter and summer. More beetle larvae can survive, and higher summer temperatures allow the insects to mature faster and complete a two-year life cyle in one year. The trees, which previously lived in balance with the beetles, do not have enough natural defenses against this assault.
Global Warming in Alaska
Dutch Harbor, Alaska
Local Time: 4:36 AM HAST (GMT -10)
Lat/Lon: 53.6° N 167.0° W
Elevation :: 20 ft / 6 m
Temperature :: 48 °F / 9 °C
Conditions :: Overcast
Windchill :: 42 F / 6 C
Humidity :: 71%
Dew Point :: 39 F / 4 C
Wind :: 16 mph / 26 km/h / 7.2 m/s from the East
Pressure :: 28.94 in / 980 hPa (Falling)
Visibility :: 2.0 miles / 3.2 kilometers
UV :: 0 out of 16
Clouds :: Scattered Clouds 600 ft / 182 m
Mostly Cloudy 1100 ft / 335 m
Overcast 1800 ft / 548 m
(Above Ground Level)
