Is Alaska affected by climate change?
Average annual temperatures have increased by 3 degrees Fahrenheit and average winter temperatures by 6 degrees Fahrenheit. Alaskans are already seeing earlier spring snowmelt, widespread glacier retreat, drier landscapes, and more insect outbreaks and wildfires because of climate change.
What is Alaska’s climate like?
Alaska’s interior, a second climatic zone, has a continental climate influenced in the winter by cold air from northern Canada and Siberia. Average temperatures in the interior range from about 45 to 75 °F (7 to 24 °C) in summer and about 20 to −10 °F (−7 to −23 °C) in winter.
How does the tilt of the Earth affect climate?
Changing the Earth’s obliquity slightly alters the distribution of solar radiation across the planet, which affects climate. In Antarctica, these changes in tilt affect temperatures more in some seasons than others, which may be a useful clue when interpreting the climate variations recorded in ice cores.
How does Alaska’s high latitude affect the climate?
Alaska’s climateis influenced by the oceans and sea ice, its high latitude, major mountain ranges and elevation, and continentality in the interior. Climate changeis occurring faster in high-latitude regions due to the phenomenon of Arctic amplification, the positive feedback effects that spur further warming of the climate. For example:
How does the obliquity of the Earth affect climate?
Obliquity is the tilt of the Earth’s axis, which is 23.5 degrees but varies between about 22 and 24.5 degrees on a 40,000-year cycle. Changing the Earth’s obliquity slightly alters the distribution of solar radiation across the planet, which affects climate.
How does permafrost affect the ecology of Alaska?
Permafrost thaw changes hydrology and creates slumps that can cause trees to fall over or tilt, as in this picture. Climate is a fundamental driver of ecology. Alaska’s climate is influenced by the oceans and sea ice, its high latitude, major mountain ranges and elevation, and continentality in the interior.