Climate change in Alaska facts for kids
Climate change in Alaska means the changes happening in the U.S. state of Alaska because of a warming planet.
Winters are getting warmer, which changes how much snow falls. Less snow means tree roots are exposed to colder ground. This is already causing problems for trees like the yellow cedar, which are dying. Glaciers are melting faster, changing rivers and streams. This affects wetlands and where animals live. Some animals, like black-tailed deer, moose, and mountain goat, might do better with less snow. But small animals, like the northwestern deer mouse that lives under the snow, might struggle.
In 2006, the Alaska Climate Change Sub-Cabinet was created. Its job was to help the Governor plan how to deal with climate change. This included finding ways to lower greenhouse gas emissions. They looked at using alternative fuels, saving energy, making vehicles more efficient, and planning transportation better.
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What We See Happening in Alaska
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported in 2016 that Alaska has gotten much warmer. Over 60 years, most of the state warmed by about 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters warmed even more, by 6 degrees.
Because of this warming, many things are changing:
- Arctic sea ice is melting.
- Coastlines are wearing away.
- Glaciers are shrinking.
- Permafrost, which is frozen ground, is thawing.
- More insect outbreaks and wildfires are happening.
The EPA also said these changes will likely speed up. This could damage buildings and roads because of thawing permafrost. It could also harm Alaska's important fishing industry.
Southeast Alaska has a special type of forest called a temperate rainforest. It's always wet and gets a lot of rain, even in summer. It also has some snow in winter. This makes it a cool and wet forest.
This rainforest has many old, tall trees. These include Sitka spruce, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, and Alaska yellow cedar. Fires are very rare here because the climate is so moist and cool. Strong winds are the main natural event that affects these forests.
Coastlines Wearing Away
Many towns in Alaska are at risk from coastal erosion and rising sea levels. A 2009 report found 21 communities were in direct danger. It suggested they might need to move. For example, the village of Kivalina, Alaska is expected to be covered by water by 2025.
Alaska's Oil Pipeline at Risk
Heavy rains in Alaska, caused by climate change, have brought floods very close to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. This pipeline carries oil across the state.
In May 2019, the Dietrich River flooded. It washed away riverbank near the pipeline, leaving only a small space between the river and the pipe. A few months later, in August, the Sagavanirktok River also flooded. It washed away even more land, leaving only 30 feet between the river and the pipeline. The Lowe River also flooded near the pipeline in 2019 and 2020.
The company that runs the pipeline, Alyeska, is trying to respond. They are storing building materials and have put in ground chillers to keep the ground frozen under parts of the pipeline.
What We Expect to Happen
Strong windstorms are the biggest natural event affecting the southeast temperate rainforests. These storms will continue to be a major factor. Areas that are usually protected from wind might see more trees blown down.
Rising temperatures mean a longer growing season for plants. This could also make fungi that cause wood rot grow faster. More windstorms combined with more fungi could harm the old, tall trees in these forests. If old trees die, younger, faster-growing trees might take over.
One tree species, the yellow-cedar, is already suffering. Many yellow-cedar trees have died over the last 100 years. This is because there isn't enough snow. Yellow-cedar roots are sensitive to cold soil. Snow acts like a blanket, keeping the roots warm. Warmer temperatures mean snow melts earlier and freezes later. Without snow, the roots can freeze and die.
Climate change will also affect sea levels around Alaska. Since 1950, sea levels off Alaska's coast have actually dropped in some places. This is due to Earth's tectonic plates moving because of a process called glacial isostatic adjustment.
These changes will greatly affect where wildlife can live. Warmer temperatures and less wetlands mean a higher risk of wildfires. This is a big concern for the temperate rainforest.
Snow and glaciers are very important in many areas with temperate rainforests. As the region keeps warming, major changes to water flow will happen. These changes will impact where different animal species live and their habitats.
How Scientists Predict Changes
Scientists use special computer models to guess how climate change will affect Alaska. These models consider things like how much carbon dioxide is released from burning fossil fuels. They predict a steady increase in carbon dioxide for the next few decades. Then, as cleaner energy becomes more common, emissions might go down. This is considered a "moderate" guess.
The southeastern part of Alaska is expected to get warmer over the next 100 years. Warmer temperatures mean plants will have a longer time to grow. This will likely cause more water to evaporate from plants and soil. This evaporation might be more than the extra rain that is also expected. Scientists have already seen signs of this, like wetlands drying up and glaciers shrinking.
Using a "mid-range" prediction, where the world has fast economic growth and new technologies, the average yearly temperature in southeast Alaska could rise by about 3 degrees Fahrenheit by 2040. It could rise by 6 degrees Fahrenheit by 2080. This means the average temperature could go from about 42°F to nearly 48°F. Winter temperatures could rise even more, from 36°F to 42°F. Warmer winters mean the type of precipitation will change.
How Wildlife Will Be Affected
Wildlife in the temperate rainforests will be affected by less snow and longer growing seasons. Snow depth impacts animals that look for food or eat plants, like blacktailed deer, moose, and mountain goat. The northwestern deer mouse uses snow for protection. Less snow means less safe habitat for them.
On the other hand, less snow for shorter periods means more winter grazing areas for blacktailed deer. This could give them better food in spring and help more deer survive the winter.
The temperate rainforest in Southeast Alaska needs humid summers and some snow in winter. The conifer trees there are usually safe from fires. But warmer weather will make trees grow more. It will also cause more water to evaporate, possibly more than the increase in rain. If temperatures rise, trees will grow faster, but fungi that cause rot will also grow more. There might be more trees blown down by wind, and the risk of fire could increase.
Alaska's Plans for Climate Change
Alaska has a small population and its economy is not as big as other states. Its main industry is food manufacturing.
In the past, Governor Frank Murkowski created the Rural Energy Action Council. This group was meant to help guide Alaska's long-term energy plans. They looked at ways to lower energy costs, find better fuel sources, and save energy.
In 2018, a group called the Climate Action Leadership Team made a plan for new state climate policies. They wanted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use more renewable energy. But Governor Mike Dunleavy stopped this team shortly after he took office.
Biofuels
Alaska offers a tax break for fuel that contains at least 10% ethanol. This is to encourage the use of cleaner fuels and improve air quality.
The state's Department of Transportation (DOT) is also asked to use alternative fuels for vehicles when possible. The DOT can work with others to make these fuels more available to everyone.
Solar Power
Approvals for Oil and Gas Drilling
In December 2020, a U.S. federal court stopped a large offshore oil project near the Alaska coast. The court said that the required reviews of emissions and how it would affect wildlife were not done. Environmental groups saw this as a win for protecting the climate and polar bears.
In August 2021, another federal court blocked a planned oil and gas project on Alaska's North Slope. The judge said the project's approval was based on a flawed environmental report. This report didn't include enough ways to protect polar bears. It also didn't properly count the greenhouse gas emissions from foreign oil use. Conservation groups said the project would release a lot of greenhouse gases. They called the court's decision a step towards protecting public lands.
