Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Climate impacts to Arctic coasts, recent activities Completed

By Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center April 24, 2019

USGS activities related to the project, "Climate Impacts to Arctic Coasts."

Climate Impacts to Arctic Coasts

April 2019

A ground-level view filled mostly with snow, with an arctic bluff in the background that has a pole mounted on it.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
April 15th, 2019
A ground-level view filled mostly with snow, with an arctic bluff in the background that has a pole mounted on it.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
April 19th, 2019

USGS Arctic researchers aimed a cellular-connected camera, used for tracking game, on another camera system as a means to keep an eye on the integrity of those video cameras “across the way.” What's funny is that the game cam went offline over the cold winter, and the scientists thought they'd lost it. Then suddenly, on April 15th, the game cam emailed an image! The one shown here is a bit more colorful and from a few days later, on April 19th. Now they know that #1 this game cam is still working (but just got a little frozen!) and #2 that their tower for mounting video cameras (used to observe and quantify coastal processes) is still standing and ready for summer installation.

Read more about our ongoing research about climate impacts to Arctic coasts, and how we use video imagery to study coastal change in Barter Island, Alaska.

July 2018

In July 2018, three USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center researchers installed thermometers, video cameras, a seismometer, and a wave gauge to measure permafrost temperatures and bluff erosion on the Arctic Ocean coast of Barter Island, Alaska. Combined data from these instruments will be used to test the possibility of remotely estimating wave heights without installing and maintaining wave gauges in the ocean. USGS oceanographer Shawn Harrison devised and lead the installation of video cameras and seismometer. Coastal erosion along the Arctic coast of Alaska threatens Native Alaskan villages, sensitive ecosystems, energy- and defense-related infrastructure, and large tracts of Native Alaskan, State, and Federally managed land. The scientists also hosted a community outreach event to present results from earlier studies and to discuss their ongoing research. Government officials, residents, and non-residents attended the event. PCMSC researchers particularly appreciated the local coastal information, insights, and concerns provided by long-time community residents.
View photos of the installation process for the cameras and the seismometer below.

Men and women sitting in a room with tables and chairs listening to a woman talk, she's pointing at a screen on the wall.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.
USGS oceanographer Li Erikson speaks at a community outreach event on Barter Island, Alaska, to present results from earlier USGS studies and to discuss ongoing USGS research.
View of muddy, eroding coastal bluffs with a visible permafrost layer and tumbling tundra on top.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
Photograph of the actively eroding coastal permafrost bluff on Barter Island, located on the northern coast of Alaska.
A man stands smiling on a high coastal bluff near solar panels and a pole supported by guy wires, with a camera mounted on top.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.
USGS oceanographer Shawn Harrison poses in front of the USGS video camera installation atop the coastal bluff of Barter Island in northern Alaska.
A man wearing cold-weather gear and standing on a high coastal bluff points to an instrument that is mounted on short a pole.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.
USGS scientist Cordell Johnson points to the Raspberry Shake, a sensitive instrument used to detect ground shaking. Johnson mounted the Raspberry Shake to an aluminum pole which he will then drive into the ground to bury the instrument beneath the tundra. This process will help isolate it from the wind.
A small instrument with a USGS logo sticker with wires coming out of it is in a hole in the ground.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.
This device, called a Raspberry Shake, is a sensitive instrument used to detect ground shaking. It is being carefully buried in this shallow hole in the tundra, to isolate it from wind.

 

Below are the science projects associated with this activity.

link
Aerial photograph looking at an eroding bluff on an arctic island with ponded water, green grass, and dying grass.

Climate impacts to Arctic coasts

The Arctic region is warming faster than anywhere else in the nation. Understanding the rates and causes of coastal change in Alaska is needed to identify and mitigate hazards that might affect people and animals that call Alaska home.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Climate impacts to Arctic coasts

The Arctic region is warming faster than anywhere else in the nation. Understanding the rates and causes of coastal change in Alaska is needed to identify and mitigate hazards that might affect people and animals that call Alaska home.
Learn More
link
High coastal arctic bluff with broken chunks, some that are ready to fall into the crashing waves, and some that have fallen.

Coastal Climate Impacts

The impacts of climate change and sea-level rise around the Pacific and Arctic Oceans can vary tremendously. Thus far the vast majority of national and international impact assessments and models of coastal climate change have focused on low-relief coastlines that are not near seismically active zones. Furthermore, the degree to which extreme waves and wind will add further stress to coastal...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Coastal Climate Impacts

The impacts of climate change and sea-level rise around the Pacific and Arctic Oceans can vary tremendously. Thus far the vast majority of national and international impact assessments and models of coastal climate change have focused on low-relief coastlines that are not near seismically active zones. Furthermore, the degree to which extreme waves and wind will add further stress to coastal...
Learn More
  • Overview

    USGS activities related to the project, "Climate Impacts to Arctic Coasts."

    Climate Impacts to Arctic Coasts

    April 2019

    A ground-level view filled mostly with snow, with an arctic bluff in the background that has a pole mounted on it.
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
    April 15th, 2019
    A ground-level view filled mostly with snow, with an arctic bluff in the background that has a pole mounted on it.
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
    April 19th, 2019

    USGS Arctic researchers aimed a cellular-connected camera, used for tracking game, on another camera system as a means to keep an eye on the integrity of those video cameras “across the way.” What's funny is that the game cam went offline over the cold winter, and the scientists thought they'd lost it. Then suddenly, on April 15th, the game cam emailed an image! The one shown here is a bit more colorful and from a few days later, on April 19th. Now they know that #1 this game cam is still working (but just got a little frozen!) and #2 that their tower for mounting video cameras (used to observe and quantify coastal processes) is still standing and ready for summer installation.

    Read more about our ongoing research about climate impacts to Arctic coasts, and how we use video imagery to study coastal change in Barter Island, Alaska.

    July 2018

    In July 2018, three USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center researchers installed thermometers, video cameras, a seismometer, and a wave gauge to measure permafrost temperatures and bluff erosion on the Arctic Ocean coast of Barter Island, Alaska. Combined data from these instruments will be used to test the possibility of remotely estimating wave heights without installing and maintaining wave gauges in the ocean. USGS oceanographer Shawn Harrison devised and lead the installation of video cameras and seismometer. Coastal erosion along the Arctic coast of Alaska threatens Native Alaskan villages, sensitive ecosystems, energy- and defense-related infrastructure, and large tracts of Native Alaskan, State, and Federally managed land. The scientists also hosted a community outreach event to present results from earlier studies and to discuss their ongoing research. Government officials, residents, and non-residents attended the event. PCMSC researchers particularly appreciated the local coastal information, insights, and concerns provided by long-time community residents.
    View photos of the installation process for the cameras and the seismometer below.

    Men and women sitting in a room with tables and chairs listening to a woman talk, she's pointing at a screen on the wall.
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.
    USGS oceanographer Li Erikson speaks at a community outreach event on Barter Island, Alaska, to present results from earlier USGS studies and to discuss ongoing USGS research.
    View of muddy, eroding coastal bluffs with a visible permafrost layer and tumbling tundra on top.
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
    Photograph of the actively eroding coastal permafrost bluff on Barter Island, located on the northern coast of Alaska.
    A man stands smiling on a high coastal bluff near solar panels and a pole supported by guy wires, with a camera mounted on top.
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.
    USGS oceanographer Shawn Harrison poses in front of the USGS video camera installation atop the coastal bluff of Barter Island in northern Alaska.
    A man wearing cold-weather gear and standing on a high coastal bluff points to an instrument that is mounted on short a pole.
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.
    USGS scientist Cordell Johnson points to the Raspberry Shake, a sensitive instrument used to detect ground shaking. Johnson mounted the Raspberry Shake to an aluminum pole which he will then drive into the ground to bury the instrument beneath the tundra. This process will help isolate it from the wind.
    A small instrument with a USGS logo sticker with wires coming out of it is in a hole in the ground.
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.
    This device, called a Raspberry Shake, is a sensitive instrument used to detect ground shaking. It is being carefully buried in this shallow hole in the tundra, to isolate it from wind.

     

  • Science

    Below are the science projects associated with this activity.

    link
    Aerial photograph looking at an eroding bluff on an arctic island with ponded water, green grass, and dying grass.

    Climate impacts to Arctic coasts

    The Arctic region is warming faster than anywhere else in the nation. Understanding the rates and causes of coastal change in Alaska is needed to identify and mitigate hazards that might affect people and animals that call Alaska home.
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
    link

    Climate impacts to Arctic coasts

    The Arctic region is warming faster than anywhere else in the nation. Understanding the rates and causes of coastal change in Alaska is needed to identify and mitigate hazards that might affect people and animals that call Alaska home.
    Learn More
    link
    High coastal arctic bluff with broken chunks, some that are ready to fall into the crashing waves, and some that have fallen.

    Coastal Climate Impacts

    The impacts of climate change and sea-level rise around the Pacific and Arctic Oceans can vary tremendously. Thus far the vast majority of national and international impact assessments and models of coastal climate change have focused on low-relief coastlines that are not near seismically active zones. Furthermore, the degree to which extreme waves and wind will add further stress to coastal...
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
    link

    Coastal Climate Impacts

    The impacts of climate change and sea-level rise around the Pacific and Arctic Oceans can vary tremendously. Thus far the vast majority of national and international impact assessments and models of coastal climate change have focused on low-relief coastlines that are not near seismically active zones. Furthermore, the degree to which extreme waves and wind will add further stress to coastal...
    Learn More