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Jennifer Schell

@jenniferschell16.bsky.social

4.2K followers 1.2K following 710 posts

English Professor, Cetacean Enthusiast, Canine Therapy Human. I write about anthropogenic species extinction, Arctic ecosystems, more-than-human organisms, and blue humanities. Ocean obsessed! Fairbanks, AK. Views my own.

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Jennifer Schell @jenniferschell16.bsky.social · Nov 9

Greetings from Alaska! I'm an English professor who teaches and writes about the environment and all the critters who live in it, especially whales and mammoths 🐋 🦣. Interests include dogs 🐕, books (obviously!), tea, crochet, and creature features. Love hiking in Alaska and visiting the ocean!

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Jennifer Schell @jenniferschell16.bsky.social · 11h

A pretty good description of my entire career! 🐋🐬

#whales #Cetacean

Moby Dick @mobydickatsea.bsky.social · 12h

whatever random allusions to whales he could anyways find in any book whatsoever, sacred or profane

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RichThompsonAK @richthompsonak.bsky.social · 10h

U.S. Coast Guard Rescues Dozens From Flooding in Alaskan Villages

"Kipnuk was awarded $20 million in EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant funds last year...The grant was suspended this year amidst federal cutbacks on climate and DEI programs ..."

maritime-executive.com/article/u-s-...

U.S. Coast Guard Rescues Dozens From Flooding in Alaskan Villages

After devastating winds and seas from the last remnants of Typhoon Halong swept through the Bering Sea, the U.S. Coast Guard and state agencies are c...

maritime-executive.com

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Corinne Smith @corinne-smith.bsky.social · 10h

Student journalist Renasia Uisok reports on the storm damage in their community of Kotlik!

For QTV Kotlik "Quyana TV," produced by middle and high schoolers.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOIk...

Typhoondamagekotlik

YouTube video by QTV Kotlik

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Jennifer Schell

Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 12h

If you're able, please consider a donation to the Alaska Community Fund to help people in western Alaska impacted by ex-typhoon Halong even as winter is bearing down. All the money donated goes to the region. Quyana. #Alaska #AlaskaSky

alaskacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/c...

Screen shot of the ACF Western Alaska Disaster Relief 2025 Fund:

"In response to recent severe storms, including Typhoon Halong, that devastated Alaska's western coast, local community organizations and regional partners have come together to establish the Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund, housed at the Alaska Community Foundation.
Two major storm systems struck western Alaska in rapid succession, bringing record flooding, extreme winds, and extensive damage from Kwigillingok to Kotzebue. Homes have been damaged and destroyed, critical infrastructure compromised, and subsistence resources disrupted. The Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund will provide support to affected communities for immediate relief, recovery support, and long-term resilience, including disaster preparedness initiatives. Distribution decisions will be guided by advisors including regional leaders and stakeholders, ensuring resources reach affected communities based on locally identified needs.

The Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund brings together a growing list of local, regional, and statewide partners endorsing the fund, including:

Association of Village Council Presidents
Alaska Federation of Natives
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Bethel Community Services Foundation
Calista Corporation
Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation
First Alaskans Institute
Kawerak, Inc.
Native Peoples Action
Maniilaq Association

Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation"

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Jennifer Schell @jenniferschell16.bsky.social · 11h

A pretty good description of my entire career! 🐋🐬

#whales #Cetacean

Moby Dick @mobydickatsea.bsky.social · 12h

whatever random allusions to whales he could anyways find in any book whatsoever, sacred or profane

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tundragranite.bsky.social @tundragranite.bsky.social · 23h

This is a fully sanctioned storm relief fund. Please share and consider donating to support relief efforts. #Alaska #halong #alaskawx

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Emily Schwing @emilyschwing.bsky.social · 18h

What does Typhoon Halong reveal about housing conditions in Western Alaska? Here's a thread...👇

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Jennifer Schell @jenniferschell16.bsky.social · 19h

We went from this to this. Why?

"Cheap" cover of Defoe's Roxana with the titular lady half undressed.

Not "cheap" cover with the titular lady very much dressed.

Reposted by Jennifer Schell

Dr. Jeff Masters @drjeffmasters.bsky.social · 19h

A massive storm that brought a record storm surge to Alaska was poorly forecast, and “this is one of the clearest possible examples to date where missing upper air soundings due to NWS constraints may have led to a degraded forecast.”

Alan Gerard @wxmanms1.bsky.social · 20h

Sunday a massive storm surge event from the remnants of Typhoon Halong caused catastrophic damage in remote western Alaska. Thanks to @alaskawx.bsky.social for his help with this deep dive, including the forecast challenges in an area dealing with reduced NWS upper air soundings
tinyurl.com/4ycxaez9

Historic coastal flooding strikes western Alaska

Remnants of Typhoon Halong produce hurricane force winds and push massive storm surge inland in Kuskokwim River Delta, destroying and carrying away homes, leaving devastated communities.

tinyurl.com

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Colleen Mondor @chasingray.bsky.social · 19h

Actual Alaskan journalist in western AK right now.

Corinne Smith @corinne-smith.bsky.social · 19h

Good morning from Bethel. I was here to cover a few cultural events, and am now covering the Western Alaska storm - damage, rescue and recovery efforts.

What questions do you have?

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Jennifer Schell @jenniferschell16.bsky.social · 20h

So important not to perpetuate the spread of misinformation. I think this report may have been accurate yesterday before the search and rescue efforts began. But it is not accurate now.

Colleen Mondor @chasingray.bsky.social · 21h

There are not 20 people missing in Alaska. Please read Alaska news sources for current reporting.

Adn.com

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Jennifer Schell @jenniferschell16.bsky.social · 21h

It's in my TBR pile as we speak!

Jennifer Schell @jenniferschell16.bsky.social · 22h

💯👇

Christine Webb @christinewebb.bsky.social · 23h

Pioneering scientists past and present have broken from the pressures and limitations of human exceptionalist thinking. Charles Darwin, Lynn Margulis, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Frans de Waal–their work looms large in my own research (1/3).

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Vivian Faith Prescott @alaskapoet.bsky.social · 23h

🌊 If you want to help Alaska’s small villages devastated by the flooding then this is the best legit site using a QR code. Here’s another legit donation link too from Alaska Community Foundation: Click to donate here:
alaskacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/c...

#AlaskaSky #AlaskaFlood

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Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 1d

Fairbanks Airport up to 57F Sunday, just 1ºF shy of the Oct 12 record of 58F set back in 1923. This is the latest date in the year it's been this mild since 2013. #akwx #Climate @carrieinfbx.bsky.social

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Jason Herbert @herberthistory.bsky.social · 1d

On the eve of Indigenous Peoples’ Day I’m stoked to see my amazing friend @hollyguise.bsky.social win the Robert M. Utley Award from Western History Association. Congratulations my friend!!!

Get her work right here-

amzn.to/42CPGEt

Alaska Native Resilience: Voices from World War II (Indigenous Confluences)

amzn.to

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Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 2d

Saturday early evening and ex-typhoon Halong is moving north-northeastward through the southern Bering Sea. Peak winds thru 6pm AKDT 62mph at St. George and 54 mph at St Paul but winds will be stronger when the storm center moves to the north of the Pribilof Islands. #akwx @markspringer.bsky.social

Infrared satellite image of Alaska and the north Pacific Ocean at 600 pm AKDT Saturday October 11, 2025 showing the center of ex-typhoon Halong just west of the Pribilof Islands and moving north-northeastward. Image courtesy NWS Alaska Region.

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Jennifer Schell @jenniferschell16.bsky.social · 2d

Nope.

apnews.com/article/seal...

Republicans try to weaken 50-year-old law protecting whales, seals and polar bears

One of the U.S.’s longest standing pieces of environmental legislation, credited with helping save rare whales from extinction, is the subject of an effort for cutbacks from Republican lawmakers who n...

apnews.com

Jennifer Schell @jenniferschell16.bsky.social · 3d

Oooooo, thank you! Very cool!

Reposted by Jennifer Schell

ᒪᑰᓯ Mark Springer @markspringer.bsky.social · 3d

The hits just keep on coming.
feat. @alaskawx.bsky.social
www.kyuk.org/alaska-state...

Western Alaska in crosshairs for major storm, with high wind and flooding expected

That's according to the National Weather Service, which has issued weather warnings or watches along most of Alaska's west and northwest coast, from the Kuskokwim Delta all the way north to Utqiagvik.

www.kyuk.org

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Jennifer Schell @jenniferschell16.bsky.social · 3d

So cool! I love seafaring dinosaurs🌊🦕🦖🌊

Jeanne Timmons @mostlymammoths.bsky.social · 3d

"A near-complete skeleton found on UK’s Jurassic Coast has been identified as a new and rare species of #ichthyosaur - a type of prehistoric marine reptile that once ruled the ancient oceans."

www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/r...

Rare Jurassic 'Sword Dragon' prehistoric reptile discovered in the UK

A near-complete skeleton found on UK’s Jurassic Coast has been identified as a new and rare species of ichthyosaur - a type of prehistoric marine reptile that once ruled the ancient oceans.The dolphin...

www.manchester.ac.uk

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Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 3d

Ex-typhoon Halong is going to produce extreme winds and coastal flooding this weekend in western Alaska. Norton Sound and the YK delta coast especially high threat. #akwx #ExtremeWeather #AlaskaSky @markspringer.bsky.social @climatologist49.bsky.social @hanners64n.bsky.social

Weather model forecast for Sunday morning October 12 at 7am AKDT showing sustained wind speeds (colors) and sea level pressure (lines).

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Kim Weeden @weedenkim.bsky.social · 3d

In Lower 48, "climate change" conjures images of hot summers, fires, storms, & flooding

In interior & northern AK, another effect is clear: permafrost melt. It destroys roads & structures, releases CO2 & methane, & awakens 40,000 year old microbes.

What could go wrong?

HT @shanahstone.bsky.social

Ancient Alaska microbes' thaw helps understanding of climate change feedback loop

Using samples gathered from a permafrost tunnel north of Fairbanks, researchers have awakened microbes that were last active as far back as 40,000 years ago.

alaskapublic.org

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Reposted by Jennifer Schell

Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 5d

Kotzebue ocean level peaked 7pm AKDT Wednesday but remained in major flood levels through 5am Thursday. The peak water level was the same as reached October 22, 2024, which produced the worst flooding in living memory. #akwx #ExtremeWeather #weather

Plot of the ocean water level at Kotzebue, Alaska October 2-9, 2025 showing the major flooding October 8-9.

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Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · 5d

Another "storm of the century" is hitting Kotzebue, for the second year in a row. Last year's storm almost took out my dad's house. Woke up to videos of the flooding and it's already bad. They are expected to get another storm after this one passes.

www.kotz.org/kotz-local-n...

Kotzebue has issued a mandatory evacuation order as flooding from coastal storm begins

Water could rise as much as 10 feet above the high tide line, according the National Weather Service

www.kotz.org

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