Coasts and Inland

Some of Alaska’s coasts are threatened

The estuaries, river deltas, and lagoons along Alaska’s coastlines are among the most biologically rich areas in the state. They provide homes for millions of fish, birds, and other wildlife species, as well as for people. Many coastal areas are vulnerable to loss of protective sea ice, more intense storms, changing sea levels, and erosion.

Sea level rise, more precipitation, and thawing permafrost can alter the chemistry of estuary and nearshore habitats. The introduction of salty ocean water into permafrost areas further speeds thawing.

Some areas in Southeast Alaska are seeing rising land levels, as the land "rebounds" from decreasing weight of melting glacier ice.

More about coastal erosion and sea level rise

Coastal erosion

Thawing permafrost, intensifying storms, rising sea levels, and reductions in shorefast sea ice are combining to wear away large sections of Alaska’s coast. Arctic western Alaska has become known worldwide for the impacts of coastal climate change.

Intensity and impacts vary by location
Rockier areas like the Aleutians are generally less vulnerable than lower lying areas

Several coastal villages—Newtok, Kivalina, Shishmaref, and Shaktoolik—are facing the potential that erosion is so great that the village may not survive in its current location.

Sea level rise

Alaska, which has about 50,000 kilometers of low lying coastline, will experience profound impacts from rising ocean waters.

To identify inundation risk we need to know the current elevations of land and sea, and how both are expected to change. However, data for Alaska’s coastlines is sparse, low resolution, and/or out of date.

Much better information is needed for Alaska communities and land and resource managers to plan for changes:

Comprehensive data on current mean local sea level plus detailed modeling of expected local sea level rise
Current, comprehensive, high resolution topographic data, including digital elevation models
Accurate measurements and projections of land areas subsiding and areas rising due to tectonic lift and/or post-glacier-melt rebound
Better data on permafrost locations and water content (ground ice), and on the dynamics of permafrost thaw

Changes in inland areas

Wildfires and shifting forest growth patterns are affecting animal movements, behavior, and survival.

Many Alaska communities are experiencing greater flooding as a result of changes to precipitation patterns, ice dynamics, and warmer temperatures that cause high rates of seasonal thawing.

Changing streamflows impact migratory fish—as well as vessel traffic and transportation infrastructure—when waterways become shallow or channels change.

More about inland area changes

Forest and fire patterns

Forests are expanding north and west and many tundra areas are seeing a growth in shrubs. Wildfires increase due to warmer temperatures, drier conditions, and an increase in lightning strikes.

Animal behaviors

As habitats change, animal species are shifting as well. Caribou populations are decreasing in some parts of the state, possibly due to the loss of lichen and/or winter freezing rain acting as a barrier for them to reach needed vegetation under the snow. Moose, beaver, different insects, and even ticks are moving into new parts of Alaska.

Freshwater availability is changing too

Ecosystems, people, and wildlife all rely on fresh, drinkable water. Erosion, flow, and sedimentation rates in rivers and streams are changing.

More storms = less water. Periodic big storms can create drier conditions than small, frequent participation events because water falls on saturated ground and flows straight to the ocean.

Shrinking lakes = less water. Many Alaska lakes, ponds, and wetlands are shrinking due to warmer temperatures and a loss of the permafrost that prevents water draining into the soil.

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