Alaska Science Center
ABOUT THE ALASKA
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Alaska Science CenterWelcome to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Web page for the resources of Alaska. We are providing timely, relevant, and impartial study of the landscape, natural resources, and natural hazards for Alaska and our nation. Current HighlightsUSGS Scientist Participates in Jr. Naturalist Program In the SpotlightUSGS Changing Arctic Ecosystems InitiativeNew Fact Sheet Provides Update on Polar Bear and Walrus Response to the Rapid Decline in Arctic Sea Ice Fact Sheet is online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2012/3131/ New Fact Sheet Provides Update on Measuring and Forecasting the Response of Alaska's Terrestrial Ecosystem to a Warming Climate Fact Sheet is online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2012/3144/ Through the Changing Arctic Ecosystems (CAE) initiative, the USGS strives to inform key resource management decisions by better understanding how wildlife populations of special interest to the Department of the Interior are responding to rapid physical changes in the Arctic. The CAE initiative includes several research themes, including one focused on the marine ecosystem and effects of recent declines in sea ice on the polar bear and walrus and another focused on Arctic terrestrial systems and a range of focal wildlife species dependent on that environment. USGS has published two new Fact Sheets to highlight the integrative modeling framework, new technologies being developed and early findings of these research themes. Report Discusses Climate Change in Alaska This report, The United States National Climate Assessment—Alaska Technical Regional Report, is one of eight regional reports that will provide input to the 2013 National Climate Assessment. The report covers a wide range of observed environmental trends and potential effects of a changing climate in Alaska including changes on the ocean environment, the land environment, the human environment and hydrological linkages. The report also describes new science leadership activities that have been initiated to address and provide guidance toward conducting research aimed at making available information for policy makers and land management agencies to better understand, address, and plan for changes to the local and regional environment. The report can be viewed at http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1379/. Alaska Science Center Press Conference Presents Updates on Pacific Walrus ResearchThe loss of sea ice habitat in the Chukchi Sea is believed to be one of the greatest influences on future Pacific walrus population dynamics. Through the Changing Arctic Ecosystems initiative, the U.S. Geological Survey has lead research on polar bears and walruses for the Department of Interior for many years and is continuing to support new integrated studies that target critical data gaps. Chad Jay, lead scientist for the USGS Pacific Walrus program, provided a short briefing on findings from USGS's Changing Arctic Ecosystem Initiative related to observations on the effects of sea ice loss in the Chukchi Sea. A new 12 minute film about the research, "Tracking Pacific Walrus: Expedition to the Shrinking Chukchi Sea Ice," was premiered at the event in addition to new maps, statistics, and other information. A new study just published in the November issue of Marine Ecology Progress discusses how USGS and ChukotTINRO radio-tracked walruses to investigate the distribution of walrus foraging in the Chukchi Sea during sparse sea ice cover in recent years. A USGS news release about the study was also issued. Alaska Science Portal - UPDATED!The portal is a searchable, web map-based tool to facilitate public and partner access to information on over 160 subjects under USGS study in the Nation's largest State. Recent PublicationsDetecting unfrozen sediments below thermokarst lakes with Surface Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Review: Groundwater in Alaska (USA) Spatial heterogeneity in habitat selection: nest site selection by Greater Prairie-chickens The Arctic Freshwater Biodiversity Monitoring Plan Structure of marine predator and prey communities along environmental gradients in a glaciated fjord Deep Low-Frequency Earthquakes in Tectonic Tremor Along the Alaska-Aleutian Subduction Zone Evaluation of streambed scour at bridges over tidal waterways in Alaska Potential population-level effects of increased haulout-related mortality of Pacific walrus calves Walrus areas of use in the Chukchi Sea during sparse sea ice cover Spatial genetic structure and asymmetrical gene flow within the Pacific walrus Studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, 2011 Lake trout otolith chronologies as multidecadal indicators of high-latitude freshwater ecosystems Water Real-time Information |