Olympic National Park Scientist to Discuss How Climate Change Impacts Our Coasts

Wednesday, August 20, 7 p.m., San Juan Island Library

— from Julia Vouri —

Learn how the coasts and intertidal biological communities of the Pacific Northwest are impacted by climate change in a presentation by Olympic National Park Coastal Ecologist and Marine Resources Manager Dr. Steven Fradkin at 7 p.m., Wednesday, August 20 at the San Juan Island Library.

Drawing on datasets gathered from long-term monitoring and other research in our region, Dr. Fradkin will discuss how climate change affects the coastal physical/chemical environment and its diverse biological communities. The rich assemblages of marine invertebrates, seaweeds and fish in the Pacific Northwest intertidal zone are particularly sensitive to the effects of climate change. The intertidal zone is a transitional world that alternates daily between an aquatic and a terrestrial environment, and climate change affects both environments.

This presentation is the seventh free program in The Climate Action Imperative: Understanding Impacts & Making Choices, a summer/fall speakers’ series featuring eight experts on Climate Change—from oceanographers to botanists, biologists to meteorologists. The series provides a current look at climate change and what actions are warranted by individuals as well as by our state and nation.

For more information about Dr. Fradkin’s program (www.nwparkscience.org/multimedia/tides-of-change) and the series, call 360-378-2240, ext. 2227 or 360-378-6690, or visit our web sites at www.nps.gov/sajh, www.nps.gov/olym or www.madrona.org.

Dr. Fradkin attended Michigan State University, Dartmouth College and the University of Oregon, where he studied zoology, aquatic ecology and marine biology. He chose to work in Olympic National Park because of its vast wilderness and ocean-to-mountain terrain. He enjoys working and playing in its ocean, freshwater lakes and mountains. He spends much of his time in the field—in particular, studying the intertidal zone and mountain lakes of Olympic National Park.

As with all talks in the series, Dr. Fradkin’s presentation will be followed by a discussion.

Series co-sponsors are: San Juan Island National Historical Park, Madrona Institute, San Juan Islands Conservation District, The League of Women Voters of the San Juans, San Juan Island Library, San Juan Nature Institute, San Juan County Marine Resources Committee, Northwest Straits Foundation, Stewardship Network of the San Juans, Washington State University Extension Service, San Juan Island Grange #966 and the Agricultural Resources Committee of the San Juan Islands.

The next scheduled speaker is Dr. Philip Mote, Oregon State Climatologist and Atmospheric Scientist and Director, Oregon Climate Change Research Institute at Oregon State University. Two talks are scheduled: 7 p.m., August 28, at the Friday Harbor Brickworks on San Juan Island and 7 p.m., August 29 at the Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall on Orcas Island.