Climate Watch
Here at Climate Watch we report on weather, climate, ice and ocean issues with a strong focus on western Alaska.
On occasion though it’s worthwhile to step back and take a wider view.
Alaska is a big place, the northwestern “thumb” of North America that points toward Asia, surrounded by oceans on the three sides, mountains and plains, spanning 20 degrees of latitude and almost 60 degrees of longitude. All this modifies the weather to produce a vast array of different climates and microclimates. Close to home, think about the difference in conditions on a typical June day between, say, the beach at Nome and Pilgrim Hot Springs. In climate science we can readily account for these differences when we know what the typical conditions are and how they vary over years or decades. However, even when we do this, Alaska is still a big place and differences from expected conditions can vary dra-matically across the state.
This week’s graphic shows the temperature difference from normal for the first half of November all around Alaska. Even a quick glance shows that it’s been milder than normal from the Aleutians northward through the Bering Strait and up to and across the North Slope, while from the southeast Interior, south across Southcentral and down the Panhandle it’s been cooler than normal. On parts of the North Slope it’s the been average more of than the 10°F recent above past (1981-2010). And these are not records. This configuration, very mild in the west and north of Alaska and near or slightly cooler than typically in the southeast mainland and Panhandle has become a very common pattern in Alaska over the past several years during the colder part of the year.
We know why: Changes in sea ice, both in timing and thickness are the major players. Possible changes in storm track related to changes in sea ice may also be a factor. But these persistent differences may influence how people think about the changing climate. In western Alaska the changes have been so dramatic in such a short time, so persistent that everything from day-to-day to activities to multi-decade planning are affected. On the highway (marine and road) system, while things are changing, it’s often not as “in-your-face” as it is in western and northern Alaska. Climate Watch will continue to provide you with western Alaska-specific information and help you with getting a sense of the bigger climate picture.