Science at the Alaska CSC
Priority science activities of CSCs include:
- Use and creation of high-resolution climate models and derivative products to help forecast ecological and population responses at national, regional, and local scales
- Integration of physical climate models with ecological, habitat, and population response models
- Development of methods to assess vulnerability of species, habitats, and human communities
- Development of standardized approaches to modeling, monitoring, data management and decision support
The research direction taken by the Alaska CSC is guided by the Center's science agenda or Strategic Plan. This document establishes a set of core priorities or mission areas for the Alaska CSC and helps ensure that the Center's scientific program addresses key management needs. The Alaska CSC's Strategic Plan was completed in October 2011.
The development of this Strategic Plan was guided by the Alaska Climate Change Executive Roundtable (ACCER), a group comprised of senior-level executives from federal and non-federal agencies that addresses natural and cultural resource issues. With the help of its Climate Change Coordinating Committee (C4), ACCER also directs the annual implementation of this agenda. The C4, Alaska Landscape Conservation Cooperatives, USGS Alaska Science Center, and various Federal agencies assist with independent scientific review of the Alaska CSC's program activities. Some highlights from FY11 activities can be found in the Alaska CSC Annual Report.
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Alaska Climate Science Center Photos
January 19, 2012
These images are examples of some of the climate change challenges faced in the Alaska Climate Science Center region.
Andrew Schroth filtering river water samples from the Copper River watershed, Alaska for analysis of metals at trace level concentration. Photo by Scott Linton, Dartmouth College. USGS
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![](javascript:switchimage("04",
"/whatwedo/climate/strategy/images/Photo10_JCrusius_copperriver.jpg",
"The Copper River flows past Child’s Glacier directly downstream of Million Dollar Bridge near Cordova, Alaska.",
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"The Copper River flows past Child)
 as part of her 2009 PEP summer internship in Woods Hole ( http://www.woodsholediversity.org/pep/ ) . The true-color image was created from the raw MODIS satellite data using hdflook, available at: ( http://www-loa.univ-lille1.fr/Hdflook/hdflook_gb.html ).',
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'. Image of a dust plume from November, 2006, showing iron-bearing dust being transported several hundred km into the Gulf of Alaska. Image created by Myrna Gatica (CUNY) as part of her 2009 PEP summer internship in Woods Hole ( http://www.woodsholediversity.org/pep/ ) . The true-color image was created from the raw MODIS satellite data using hdflook, available at: ( http://www-loa.univ-lille1.fr/Hdflook/hdflook_gb.html ).',
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'Photo by John Crusius, Woods Hole Science Center')){kind=spacer}
, hazard risks, and freshwater and marine ecosystems.',
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'USGS scientists measuring snowpack and glacier characteristics. [Location uncertain but can be determined if needed] Monitoring and research has already documented that climate change is affecting glaciers, and USGS scientists are now working to develop models and forecasts of how changes in glaciers will affect water supplies (quality and quantity), hazard risks, and freshwater and marine ecosystems. Photo by USGS.',
'Photo by USGS.'))
, hazard risks, and freshwater and marine ecosystems.',
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'USGS scientists take measurements of a glacier in Alaska. Monitoring and research has already documented that many glaciers are melting and receding, and USGS scientists are working to understand the mechanics of glacier behavior and to develop models of how changes in glaciers will affect water supplies (quality and quantity), hazard risks, and freshwater and marine ecosystems. Photo by USGS.',
'Photo by USGS.'))
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 view of landscape in Denali National Park, Alaska. Photographed on July 27, 2009, during fieldwork on Dall sheep habitat by members of the USGS Southwest Geographic Science Team.',
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'Panoramic (~180 degree) view of landscape in Denali National Park, Alaska. Photographed on July 27, 2009, during fieldwork on Dall sheep habitat by members of the USGS Southwest Geographic Science Team.',
'Photo credit: Dennis Dye, USGS.'))