Continuity and change: A century of Alaska weather and climate (Science for Alaska Lecture Series)
February 1, 2018
The UAF Geophysical Institute presents the 2018 Science for Alaska Lecture Series.
Come to the Raven Landing Center at 1222 Cowles Street on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. to learn
about exciting science from a history of Alaska weather to how beavers are colonizing
the Arctic, and more.
On Feb. 6, Rick Thoman will present "Continuity and change: A century of Alaska weather
and climate."
Systematic weather and climate observations started much later in Alaska than in the
Lower 48. However, thanks to four generations of professional and volunteer observers,
scientists have a robust weather and climate record that extends beyond living memory.
The story from this century of records is a tale of both change and continuity. On
the North Slope, autumns are warming so fast that computers monitoring temperatures
thought the measurements were unreal and excluded the data from their reports. While
growing seasons are lengthening in many areas, in some places there is no trend. Today
dramatic weather events make national headlines, but high-impact weather has always
been a regular part of Alaskans’ lives. In this talk, Thoman will offer a sense of
what's different and what's similar today, and how this might help Alaskans plan for
the future.
For more information visit www.gi.alaska.edu/science-alaska-lecture-series/.