1. Alaska’s Arctic: Features of the Region MODIS image, courtesy of GINA Observed Climate Change in Northern Alaska Martha Shulski Alaska Climate Research Center Geophysical Institute, UAF http://climate.gi.alaska.edu

2. Alaska’s Arctic: Features of the Region Beaufort Sea Chukchi Sea Canada Basin Siberian Shelf Beaufort Shelf Beaufort High Beaufort Gyre

3. Alaska’s Arctic: Features of the Region Beaufort Sea Chukchi Sea Canada Basin Siberian Shelf Beaufort Shelf Calm: <2% Speed: 5 m/s JanJul Prevailing winds Beaufort High Beaufort Gyre

4. Barrow, Kuparuk Prudhoe Bay, Umiat Alaska’s Arctic: Features of the Region T = -12°C P = 10 cm S = 86 cm Snowcover Sept - June

5. Geographical and Meteorological Background Comparison to rest of Alaska Driest Alaska’s Arctic: Features of the Region Dry www.prism.oregonstate.edu

6. Geographical and Meteorological Background Comparison to rest of Alaska Driest Alaska’s Arctic: Features of the Region Summer thermal gradient www.prism.oregonstate.edu

7. Meteorological observing stations Alaska’s Arctic: Features of the Region

8. Meteorological stations Alaska’s Arctic: Features of the Region Lack of spatial detail!! - inland - high elevation

9. Alaska’s Arctic: Features of the Region Data Problems anemometer icing

10. Alaska’s Arctic: Features of the Region Data Problems measuring precipitation accurately US NWS 8" non-recording gauge Photo by S. Berezovskaya (UAF) Double Fence Intercomparison Reference (DFIR) Photo by D.Yang (UAF)

11. Temperature increase Geographical and Meteorological Background Alaska’s Arctic: Changes in the Region

12. Geographical and Meteorological Background Alaska’s Arctic: Changes in the Region Walsh and Chapman http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/

13. Geographical and Meteorological Background Alaska’s Arctic: Changes in the Region winter spring summer autumn Walsh and Chapman http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/

14. Growing season increase Geographical and Meteorological Background Alaska’s Arctic: Changes in the Region

15. Sea ice decrease Geographical and Meteorological Background Alaska’s Arctic: Changes in the Region Beaufort Sea

16. Sea ice decrease Geographical and Meteorological Background Alaska’s Arctic: Changes in the Region Beaufort Sea

17. Wildfire increase Geographical and Meteorological Background Alaska’s Arctic: Changes in the Region Alaska Fire Service http://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/aicc/stats/2007stats.pdf

18. Wildfire increase Geographical and Meteorological Background Alaska’s Arctic: Changes in the Region Alaska Fire Service http://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/aicc/stats/2007stats.pdf Anaktuvuk Fire Statistics tundra limited protection 40% of total area > 200,000 acres > all historical fires north of 68°

19. >> New PRISM data (1971 - 2000) Geographical and Meteorological Background Alaska’s Arctic: Upcoming products >> Environmental data for the Arctic Network parks http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/nps/reports/2007_04_23_arcninventory_final.pdf >> New plant hardiness maps (USDA)

20. Geographical and Meteorological Background Climate Change in Northern Alaska Temperature Increase: Warming most pronounced in winter and spring GGD increase, lengthening of growing season Precipitation decrease seen in observations Sea ice extent decrease Wildfire increase