We provide tools and science support to help northern Alaska coastal community residents turn their local observations and expertise into a public, online resource that tracks changes in snow, ice, and wildlife.
Rare February "ice breakout" at Utqiagvik
Implications for hunting, safe travel, and more
Your observations and photos show everyone what's changing
Alaska's northern coastal communities are at the front lines of changing conditions—you see changes in action before scientists can measure them. And, you often see these changes in places otherwise inaccessible to scientific instruments.
You can help. Your shared information becomes more valuable over time because it reveals patterns and trends. Get involved
See locations of different sea ice types
The marginal ice zone is an area of dynamic transition between open ocean and more stable landfast ice anchored to the coast or seafloor.
Knowing the locations of different ice types can help people figure out how safe it is to travel, indicate habitats for marine life, and show areas of potential coastal erosion.
Compare changes across communities
This example of daily sea ice concentration shows community members how ice conditions compare at other locations across the northern coast.
Inform your activities with near real-time data
Centered on Utqiaġvik with an 11 km (6 nm) range and updating images every 5 minutes, marine radar is valuable for locating the ice edge for subsistence activities, search and rescue, and maritime navigation.
Black areas indicate open water. Ice appears white.
Call to action
This video features scientists and St. Lawrence Island community leaders, who highlight the urgent need for sustained, long-term observations that include indigenous knowledge, community-based observations, and citizen science.
Source: Study of Environmental Arctic Change
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We need your help
Are you available to help track your local environmental changes and help us see how they affect the timing and accessibility of subsistence activities?
Observers needed for Kaktovik, Kotzebue, Point Lay, and Wales. These are paid positions.
Participating Communities
Kaktovik, Kotzebue, Point Hope, Point Lay, Wainwright, Utqiaġvik, Wales
Willard Neakok
In 1998 people would leave for fishing cabins in late August or early September, now it is as late as the end of November.
Quaiyaan Harcharek
Now we’re lucky to start ice fishing in October. By the time the river is safe the fish have already spawned.
Harry Brower
Freeze up is coming later and melting earlier, in between the ice is more difficult to read.
Noah Naylor
Ice is important for Ugruk [bearded seal] hunting. The ice was a lot thinner this past year, so it is necessary to hunt earlier and earlier.
Moses Tcheripanoff
In asking what the story is I think number one is food and water security. It is the most important story.
Austin Ahmasuk
There are different migration patterns ... we are getting used to the frequent changes.