Science Drivers
The Alaska Geophysics Arctic Observing Network is unusual among observing networks because of its large geographic extent, grid-like spacing, and the assemblage of sensor types that combines atmospheric with solid earth capabilities. By co-locating such a variety of instruments, this network naturally lends itself to enhancing cross-disciplinary research. Many change-based research questions require consistent and continuous long-term data—precisely what the Alaska Geophysics Arctic Observing Network is poised to provide.
Questions addressing Arctic change span meteorology, climate, sea ice, earthquakes, glaciers, permafrost, and wildfire. All these factors are changing the extent and types of Arctic vegetation, as well as the behavior and ranges of wildlife and marine life. Data acquired through the Alaska Geophysics Arctic Observing Network will inform these and other fields of research.
Examples of the types of questions this data can help explore:
Climate
Arctic temperatures are increasing at more than twice the global mean. Globally observed weather extremes, annual temperatures, and the continued decline of Arctic sea ice are all signs of the changing climate.
● How much mass and energy are transported by the atmosphere across the Arctic coastal plains?
● What is the distribution of cloud cover across coastal and inland Alaska?
Earthquakes, Landslides, and Glaciers
Initial observations suggest that seismic activity in the Arctic, once thought to be largely independent of surface changes, may be impacted by decreasing permafrost, hydrological shifts, or other landscape changes. Retreating glaciers are destabilizing mountain valleys, leading to increased landslides and mass wasting.
● Do changes in climate impact Earth’s crust in ways that can trigger seismicity?
● Is the occurrence of landslides and rockfalls increasing in response to climate?
Permafrost
Permafrost is warming and thawing. The growth of thermokarsts is changing the fundamental drainage patterns of major Arctic watersheds and increasing the release of methane into the atmosphere.
● What is the spatial variation of permafrost across the Arctic?
● How quickly are soil temperatures changing across different landscapes?
● How are permafrost conditions influenced by landscape, and vice versa?
Sea Ice
Sea ice is thinning and shrinking.
● How does the strength of sea ice influence the arrival and departure of shorefast ice?
● Does weaker sea ice increase the impact of winter storms and coastal erosion?
Weather
Snow covers the ground for less of the year than in past decades. Lakes and rivers are freezing less and breaking up earlier in the year.
● How do diurnal influences on weather differ between the Arctic and mid-latitudes?
● Can ground observations provide better calibrations for satellite-based measurements?
Wildfire
Wildfire is extending into tundra areas that previously did not burn.
● What factors are most responsible for pushing fire into previously unburned areas of the Arctic?
● How well can fire conditions be generalized across regions of similar landforms and ecosystems?