New maps show winter hotspots for marine birds

Researchers have completed a new analysis that will help protect marine birds in Prince William Sound from oil spills. Anne Schaefer and Dr. Mary Anne Bishop from the Prince William Sound Science Center compiled data from surveys in Prince William Sound conducted during March between 2007-2014 and 2018-2023.

Schantz & Archibald: Good resource development depends on strong regulations

Archibald and Schantz

By Board President Robert Archibald and Executive Director Donna Schantz

Nothing can change the damage that resulted from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Since our creation, the Council’s goal has always been to try to ensure it never happens again, at the same time making sure we are prepared with a strong response system in case prevention measures fail. We know that the more you tackle challenging issues and prepare ahead of time, the greater the likelihood of reducing the potential damage.

Our volunteers and staff put in countless hours fulfilling our mandates outlined in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and our contract with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.

While much work continues to be done, we are still seeing concerning trends in the loss of experienced personnel, high attrition rates, and budget and staffing cuts in industry and the associated regulatory agencies. The Council has been raising concerns about the diminishment of agency oversight at the Valdez Marine Terminal for over a decade. We hope that a review of the adequacy of the present regulatory oversight of terminal operations, currently being conducted by the federal Government Accountability Office, will highlight any deficiencies that need to be addressed. And, while we are encouraged by Alyeska’s response to our 2023 report “Assessment of Risks and Safety Culture at Alyeska’s Valdez Marine Terminal,” we diligently continue to try to move all its recommendations forward.

We know that a strong regulatory structure benefits development in our state. It also is the cornerstone of protection for our people, communities, economies, and environment. After years of regulatory diminishment, we now need to see the actions necessary to not only stop the cutbacks, but also then restore these agencies to the levels put in place based on lessons learned from the 1989 oil spill.

While the Council is always ready to listen to what industry and regulators are willing to share with us, we will also continue to closely watch what they do. And that is what we are here to do: we listen, we watch, and we advise. We sometimes say that “Trust, but verify” is our unofficial motto. We want to trust that the problems we are speaking out about will be addressed, but will not stop our inquiries and our work until we can verify that they have been.

We know that industry and regulatory agencies have the same goal in mind as the Council: the safe transportation of oil through our region. Our role in that shared goal is defined by and dependent on citizen engagement. We must watch what is happening – the decisions being made, risks being assessed, safety measures implemented – and never be afraid to speak up. Those with the most to lose from oil pollution must have a voice in the decisions that can put their livelihoods and communities at risk. We will continue to work hard to be that voice.

Analysis of weather conditions will help improve spill response

How to read a wind rose: This graphic, referred to as a “wind rose,” helps researchers visualize average wind direction, frequency, and speed. This rose represents all of the data for June 2020. The bars point toward the direction the wind is blowing from, the length represents the frequency of wind from that direction, and the color indicates wind speed. This particular rose shows that winds during June 2020 were generally from the west and some were from the east. The strongest winds came from the west and were between 10 to 20 knots (approximately 11.5 to 23 miles per hour).

A new study will help responders plan for the effects of weather on an oil spill. Dr. Rob Campbell, a researcher at the Prince William Sound Science Center, has been working with the Council to collect data about ocean currents, wind direction and speed, wave direction and heights, and other information from two buoys in Prince William Sound.

The buoys have been in place since 2019, and have collected enough information to begin to analyze trends. Dr. Campbell recently analyzed the nearly two million pieces of information.

Dr. Campbell found that the air and water temperatures generally followed a typical annual cycle for a subarctic region. Highest temperatures were seen in August, and the lowest in February. There were a few deviations, however:

  • During the summers of 2019 and 2020, the region experienced a marine heatwave, referred to by locals as “The Blob.” These unusually warm temperatures matched what was occurring in the Gulf of Alaska.
  • Late 2020 brought impacts from a La Nina event. La Nina is a climate pattern associated with cooler temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.

Regional temperatures increasing

Temperature data has been collected in the region since 1908. Dr. Campbell was able to compare this historical data with data from the buoys to confirm a warming trend of approximately 5 degrees Fahrenheit over the last 114 years.

Surface temperatures trending warmer in winter, cooler in summer

Interestingly, in the last few years Port Valdez has experienced cooler than average temperatures at the water’s surface during summer. This appears to be related to melting glaciers, which have been melting much faster in the Gulf of Alaska region than the rest of the world. Most of this melting happens between May and October. Cold water from the Lowe River and Valdez Glacier Stream flows into the port, cooling the water’s surface.

How does this affect oil spill prevention and response?

Understanding how factors such as wind, waves, currents, and temperatures are behaving and changing can help responders better prepare for an oil spill, and make sure spill contingency plans are tailored to real conditions in the region. Real-time weather data can also provide valuable information during a spill response.

Full report:

Find more details about the analyses in Dr. Campbell’s report: Port Valdez Weather Buoy Analysis 2019 – 2023

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