A $2 million NSF-funded study led by the Muscarella Lab will investigate the linkages between microbes and plants in the northern tundra, exploring their role in sweeping climate-induced changes. The research focuses on understanding the interactions between microbes, plants, and the environment to better predict future climate shifts.
A team of scientists has identified a key factor contributing to the stalled trend in Arctic Ocean sea ice loss since 2007. The researchers found that changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, known as the Arctic dipole, drive freshwater from Siberian rivers into the Canadian sector of the Arctic Ocean.
Researchers discovered the largest known single dinosaur track site in Alaska, dubbed 'The Coliseum', which contains layer upon layer of prints preserved in rock. The site provides a unique record of multiple species of dinosaurs thriving in Interior Alaska nearly 70 million years ago.
A team of scientists led by University of Alaska Fairbanks geology professor Sarah Fowell are collecting samples from beneath the sea floor to learn about vegetation and climate of region 25,000 years ago. The project will be shared via digital and social media channels.
Scientists have found that a notable amount of subducted carbon is returned to the atmosphere through volcanic degassing in the Aleutian-Alaska Arc. This recycling process improves our understanding of Earth's climate and can help inform global climate models.
Researchers discovered that ancient Alaskans between 13,000 and 11,500 years ago relied on freshwater fish like burbot, whitefish, and pike for sustenance. This finding provides insight into how early humans adapted to environmental changes, using techniques such as nets and weirs.
Researchers found that plants can significantly reduce petroleum contamination in subarctic soil by altering the microbial community structure. The study provides insights into phytoremediation's potential to restore contaminated ecosystems.
Researchers found that infrasound sensors can improve magnitude determinations, providing complete data about strong earthquakes. The low-cost sensors, which detect air pressure changes caused by ground movement, can also enhance tsunami warnings and emergency responses.
Researchers have developed a new method to monitor shore ice using portable interferometric radar, which can detect small changes in the ice's distance and reveal signs of instability. This system can provide an early warning for humans working on shorefast sea ice and also aid in near-coastal navigation.
A new research paper by University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute professor Robert Herrick revealed a nearly 1-square-mile volcanic vent on Venus, changing in shape and growing over eight months. This change is associated with volcanic activity.
The study found that seismometers overlying the basin's deepest areas recorded stronger low-frequency amplification, while monitors at shallow edges recorded minimal amplification. Higher frequency amplification was detected in both deeper and shallower areas. This phenomenon is making the ground motion last longer and feel stronger.
Scientists recreated ancient human and Denisovan noses to compare their olfactory receptor genes, finding differences in sensitivity to various odors. This research sheds light on how our closest genetic relatives perceived and interacted with their environment.
A University of Alaska Fairbanks-led study found that kelp farms can effectively remove nitrogen and carbon from coastal areas, with ribbon kelp being more efficient at absorption. This technology has the potential to mitigate climate change by storing atmospheric carbon.
Magma is rising to about 6 miles from a depth of 12 miles, causing earthquakes and surface deformation. The new approach could lead to earlier detection of volcanic unrest in Alaska.
Researchers found that placing layers of white hollow glass microspheres onto Arctic sea ice would darken its surface, accelerate the loss of sea ice, and further warm the climate. The study challenges a previous claim that spreading hollow glass microspheres on young Arctic sea ice could increase reflectivity and protect it from the sun.
Researchers have devised a method to determine the impact of climate change on local renewable energy supply and variability. The study found that increased weather unpredictability can lead to blackouts if backup power sources are not in place.
Researchers have found that thawing Arctic hillsides are releasing a significant amount of organic carbon, which was previously locked in frozen ground for thousands of years. This phenomenon is expected to contribute to an already warming climate, and its impact needs to be accounted for in global climate models.
A new method can improve explosion detection by training computers to recognize synthetic infrasound signals, which reflect regional and global atmospheric changes. This approach broadens the usefulness of single-element infrasound microphones for detecting subtle explosion signals in near real-time.
Birdwatchers spent nearly $378 million in Alaska in 2016, supporting around 4,300 jobs. The industry provides a sustainable boost to the economy and incentivizes habitat conservation.
Research shows two widely used computer models predict summer melt pond formation on sea ice greatly overestimate their extent. The findings come from measurements made during a year-long expedition aboard the research vessel Polarstern.
A new study synthesizes the impact of metal and coal mines on salmon and trout in northwestern North America, revealing severe and long-lasting harm to watersheds and ecosystems. The research emphasizes the need for more complete and transparent science-based policies to inform mining governance.
A recent study found that hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) accounts for a significant portion of Fairbanks' fine particulate pollution, with concentrations substantially higher than observed elsewhere. The research sheds light on the causes and makeup of dirty air in the community.
Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute found new indicators of permafrost thawing in Interior and Northwest Alaska. Talik formation, volumes of unfrozen ground within permafrost, will increase carbon movement and affect water quality.
A team of scientists from 17 nations studied the Hunga submarine volcano eruption, which created a variety of atmospheric wave types. The research provides insights into the behavior of Lamb waves, which are rare and linked to tsunami and volcanic plume generation.
Two powerful earthquakes in adjacent areas off Alaska Peninsula show connection and suggest 80-year rupture cascade along megathrust fault. The quakes may have brought shallow portions of the fault closer to failure.
New research published in Geosciences finds that precipitation, not temperature, influenced the distribution of herbivorous dinosaurs in what is now Alaska. Hadrosaurids preferred wetter climates with narrower annual temperature ranges, while ceratopsids preferred milder and drier conditions.
A new study by University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute scientists finds that hydrogen and oxygen ions escaping from Earth's upper atmosphere could combine on the moon to create lunar water and ice. The research estimates up to 3,500 cubic kilometers of surface permafrost or subsurface liquid water created from these ions.
Researchers discovered Mercury has geomagnetic storms triggered by a ring current, similar to those on Earth. The findings were made possible by the Messenger space probe's data and a solar coronal mass ejection.
A University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist has discovered a method for detecting and defining meteorite impact sites that have lost their craters. Gunther Kletetschka found that plasma created at the moment of impact altered the behavior of electrons in rocks' atoms, leading to minimal magnetism.
Research by University of Alaska Fairbanks student Rajan Itani upends previous knowledge about the cross-polar jet, a well-known wind in the upper atmosphere that sometimes stalls or is deflected over Alaska. The finding has significant implications for spacecraft orbits and space debris avoidance.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute is part of a $12 million multi-state project to monitor airborne particulate matter. The network will provide data on atmospheric aerosols, allowing scientists to assess and predict their impacts on climate, human health, and ecosystems.
Researchers found daily and seasonal fluctuations in chemical conditions despite long-term ocean acidification trends. Massive cycles occur every five to 10 years, causing extreme events that stress sensitive organisms.
The Iñupiaq people's seal hunting season has shrunk by about one day per year over the past 17 years due to sea ice decline. This reduction in flexibility affects hunters' ability to prepare and hunt, as they now have less time to adapt to changing conditions.
Researchers used isotopic data from a mammoth's tusk to recreate its lifetime journey, covering vast distances across Alaska. The study provides the first evidence that woolly mammoths traveled extensively.
A research team from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Florida State University has found evidence that nearly all types of Arctic dinosaurs reproduced in the region and likely remained there year-round. The discovery contradicts previous hypotheses that the animals migrated to lower latitudes for the winter, suggesting they were ...
A large-scale research project assessed Earth's 92,033 debris-covered glaciers and found that debris substantially reduces glacier mass loss. This discovery will improve risk assessment for communities near these glaciers, which can lead to glacial lake formation and potential flood hazards.
Researchers developed a tool to correct for Suess effect in marine ecosystems, allowing for accurate stable isotope analysis. The new formula disentangles human impact from ecosystem changes, providing more reliable results.
Scientists launched a sounding rocket to investigate how the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetosphere, producing the aurora. The experiment deployed barium thermite canisters that generated plasma clouds, which interacted with ionospheric plasma, creating electromagnetic fields and waves.
A recent study published by University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers found that sea ice declined 5.7 times faster than normal during the Great Arctic Cyclone of 2016. The rapid decline was driven by cyclone-triggered processes within the ocean, including warm water upwelling and surface turbulence.
A team of researchers has discovered that Jupiter's polar cap is threaded with both open and closed magnetic field lines, contradicting the long-held assumption of all lines being either open or closed. This finding reveals a complex topology of Jupiter's magnetosphere, raising new questions about its interaction with the solar wind.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks will establish a new research observatory in Gakona, Alaska, to explore the upper atmosphere and geospace environment. The observatory will use instruments such as the Ionospheric Research Instrument and lidar to study space weather and its effects on Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere.
A five-member team led by Jingqiu Mao at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is working on a tool to provide air quality forecasts for Alaskans and visitors. The team will use satellite data, ground-based instruments, and computer models to create a web-based forecast that can help wildland fire managers deploy resources effectively.
Researchers found that ice loss near Glacier Bay National Park has influenced earthquake timing and location with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater since the past century. This study links expanding mantle movement with large earthquakes across Southeast Alaska, where glaciers have been melting for over 200 years.
Researchers discover that thermal unrest can occur for several years before an eruption, allowing for early warning signs. The study used satellite data to analyze the radiant temperature of volcanoes' flanks, revealing a clear correlation with impending eruptions.
Researchers developed a method using satellite imagery to measure the depth of thaw directly above permafrost in boreal ecosystems by analyzing variations in forest color. This approach provides more accurate estimates of permafrost depth, essential for climate modeling and monitoring permafrost thaw rates.
Researchers found that omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed and fish oil helped Arctic ground squirrels regulate their body temperature during hibernation, increasing brown adipose tissue. This discovery sheds light on how animals prepare for extreme cold temperatures.
Researchers discovered that Arctic ground squirrels recycle their body's own nutrients to survive during long, inactive winters. They convert free nitrogen into amino acids, allowing them to synthesize protein in vital tissues.
Researchers found no ice and a surprisingly active ecosystem in the Bering and Chukchi seas, adding data to a key climate change record. The delayed cruise due to COVID-19 revealed unseasonably warm ocean temperatures delaying sea ice formation by several weeks.
A new study reveals that Arctic rivers contribute significantly more heat to the Arctic Ocean than in 1980, leading to up to 120,000 square miles of sea ice melt. This warming effect is accelerated by global air temperature rise and positive feedback loops.
Researchers have determined that the Bering Sea ice extent is at its most reduced state in the past 5,500 years. The study, published in Science Advances, analyzed a peat core from St. Matthew Island and found that modern sea ice conditions are unprecedentedly low.