Climate Cast: A village votes to leave disappearing Alaskan island

Residents of Shishmaref, Alaska, have apparently voted to relocate their coastal village of 650 people to escape the effects of climate change. Coastal erosion as a result of rising Arctic sea levels, less sea ice and melting permafrost has destroyed thousands of feet of the town, which is located on a small barrier island. The town's new location will be decided later. For today's Climate Cast, MPR News host Kerri Miller talks to University of Wisconsin climate scientist Stephen Vavrus about the threats facing arctic towns as a result of the changing climate.

Guest: Stephen Vavrus, Senior scientist with the Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research at the University of Wisconsin

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