Birkel Speaks with BDN About When Penobscot Bay Froze

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

February 20, 2015 Climate Change, UMaine in the News

Sean Birkel, the new Maine State Climatologist and a research assistant professor with the University of Maine Climate Change Institute, spoke with the Bangor Daily News for the article, “Old-timers still remember when Penobscot Bay froze.” Birkel said the upper Penobscot Bay used to freeze once or twice a decade during the 1800s and until the early years of the 20th century. A long-lasting cold snap in 1915 caused the bay to freeze as far south as Rockland and as far east as Deer Isle, according to the article. Birkel said the frozen bay was hard for people who were used to having easy access to trade by ship. He added for the bay to freeze there has to be cold overlying air, and although this winter has brought a lot of snowfall, it hasn’t been cold enough for long enough to freeze the bay. The Sun Journal also carried the BDN report.