Album: SWAN Marine Heatwave Story Map

Southwest Alaska Network

The northern oceans off the coast of Alaska are rich in nutrients and support life in abundance. The nutrients feed phytoplankton, which in turn support everything from copepods and krill to whales. Cold-adapted northern species depend on the nutrient-rich food to make it through the harsh winter. Seabirds, both resident and migrants, nest here to take advantage of the abundant, energy-rich food to feed their young. But the ocean is changing and recent spikes in the ocean temperature during marine heatwaves are causing ripple effects throughout the marine ecosystem.