A research team led by University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists found that the East Siberian Arctic Shelf is leaking large amounts of methane into the atmosphere, comparable to the entire world's oceans. The release of methane from this region could trigger abrupt climate warming due to its potency as a greenhouse gas.
The Arctic Region Supercomputing Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has acquired new supercomputing resources under a $45 million award from the U.S. Department of Defense. The new Cray supercomputer will be installed later this year and feature enhanced system software to boost performance and productivity.
Two new papers by University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher Judith Kleinfeld reveal high rates of suicide, conduct disorders, and emotional disturbance among boys, as well as lower grades and test scores. Schools are urged to address the unique challenges faced by both girls and boys.
Researchers have isolated a novel antifreeze molecule, xylomannan, from an Alaskan beetle that can survive temperatures below -100 degrees Fahrenheit. The discovery offers hope for developing new methods to resist freezing and has implications for understanding cell membrane function.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has selected Marinette Marine Corporation to build the 254-foot Alaska Region Research Vessel, a state-of-the-art platform for studying climate change and its implications on the Arctic environment. The $123 million contract is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Researchers highlight the need to study the indirect effects of climate change on plants, animals, and humans in the Arctic. The authors emphasize the importance of understanding the ecology of Arctic winters, conservation of ecosystems, and the impact of extreme events.
A team of researchers will survey Kasatochi Island to monitor its recovery from the 2008 volcanic eruption. The interdisciplinary research focuses on the island's ecosystem development, with an emphasis on insect and bird species.
Kris Hundertmark challenges the two-species concept of North American and Eurasian moose based on DNA analysis revealing three genetic groups with regional variation. The chromosome and morphology differences between the two species are minor and not functional.
A recent study published in Hydrological Processes reveals that the Greenland ice sheet is a major contributor to sea-level rise, accounting for nearly 25% of global sea-rise in the past 13 years. The study also shows that seas are rising at a rate of over 3 millimeters per year, more than 50% faster than the average for the 20th century.
The Alaska Region Research Vessel (ARRV) will support scientific research in high-latitude waters, collecting sediment samples and hosting remotely operated vehicles. The vessel will enable scientists to study global issues like sea-level rise and climate change affecting Alaska's fisheries and ecosystems.
The Elluam Tungiinun project, rooted in a Pulitzer Prize-winning series, has found that culturally appropriate ways can help Alaska Native youths find reasons to live and avoid substance abuse problems. The program uses cultural activities such as fishing and berry picking to teach protective factors that promote wellness.
A new study by University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers suggests that the size of male crested auklets' crests may be an indicator of their quality as mates. Males with larger crests have been found to have lower levels of stress hormones, indicating they are better equipped to cope with the challenges of reproduction.
Four NASA rockets launched from Alaska's Poker Flat Research Range, releasing glowing vapor trails to study turbulence above 50-80 miles high. The experiment, called Turbopause, aims to measure the region where winds reach their largest values.
Scientists are launching five NASA sounding rockets to study turbulence in the upper atmosphere. The rockets will release a glowing vapor trail nearly 87 miles up into the sky, allowing scientists to track its movement and analyze upper-atmospheric winds.
A team of researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and other institutions will examine successful life stories of indigenous youth in four circumpolar communities. The project aims to share knowledge and expertise within these communities, guided by community members, to inform ways to address challenges and promote resilience.
A team from the University of Iowa launched two NASA rockets that flew through an auroral curtain, collecting data on the structural subtleties of the aurora. The ACES mission will provide insight into current models of aurora structure and help refine them.
In 2009, the Poker Flat Research Range will host eight National Aeronautics and Space Administration sounding rockets. Two separate missions, ISIS and ACES, will be launched during two launch windows, with the first window opening on January 10.
Researchers from University of Alaska Fairbanks present research on planetary landscapes using computer models and satellite images. The team also explores new tools to support countries' claims to resources and collaborates with Google on K-12 outreach and education initiatives.
Three Alaska volcanoes erupted in midsummer 2008, with Cleveland, Okmok, and Kasatochi volcanoes making significant changes to the landscape. Researchers from the Alaska Volcano Observatory shared their findings on recent eruptions at the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting.
Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks have found a strong link between Arctic land-surface temperatures and increased tundra greenness. The study used satellite data and ground-based studies to examine trends in sea ice, land temperature, and vegetation using a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index.
Recently published research by University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists found a previously undocumented layer of organic matter on top of and in permafrost, which can release carbon into the atmosphere as temperatures warm
Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks are presenting their findings on stroke and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) at a conference in New York. The studies aim to understand the underlying causes of these conditions and explore potential new treatments for brain damage.
A paper by F. Stuart Chapin III and colleagues presents policy strategies for sustainable management of Alaskan boreal forests in response to climate change, integrating ecological and social sciences. The award recognizes the research's contribution to sustainability science.
A team has extracted a 150-meter ice core from the McCall Glacier, which may provide quantitative data on climate change in the region over the past two centuries. The core spans the entire depth of the glacier and offers insights into past climate conditions using clues like gas bubbles and isotopes.
The Greenland Ice Sheet's melting rate is accelerating, with projected fresh water flow into the North Atlantic Ocean increasing from 438 cubic kilometers to 650 cubic kilometers by 2100. This will cause sea levels to rise at a faster rate of 1.6 millimeters per year.
A Russian-American research team has made significant discoveries about the origins of whaling culture in the Arctic region. The findings suggest that prehistoric cultures were hunting whales at least 3,000 years ago, with evidence found at the Un'en'en site on the Chukotka Peninsula.
A team of linguists, led by Professor Michael Krauss, will document 11 endangered languages in Alaska using a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The project aims to preserve the Atuuan dialect, Southern Tsimshian, and other critically endangered languages.
A team of scientists identified lakes as a new likely source of prehistoric methane, which could have contributed up to 87% of the early Holocene methane spike. The findings suggest that large releases from lakes may occur again in the future with global warming.
The Resilience and Adaptation Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has received a $3.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to address questions of social-ecological resilience, adaptation and sustainability. The program focuses on integrating economic, cultural and ecological dimensions of sustainability.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has received funding for the first phase of the Alaska Region Research Vessel's construction, supporting research in high latitudes and facilitating global ocean science collaborations. The $123-million vessel will be capable of breaking ice up to 2.5 ft thick and accommodate 26 scientists and students.
A study by University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher Hector Douglas found that crested auklets use chemical anointment during courtship to protect themselves from parasites like ticks. The birds rub their wick feathers with a citrus-like scent, which repels ticks and helps keep them healthy.
Scientists say polar ice clouds could be a symptom of climate change due to increased carbon dioxide in the lower atmosphere causing cooling in the upper atmosphere. Noctilucent clouds form under conditions that counter common logic, only forming in summer when solar radiation is most intense.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has been awarded a $9 million EPSCoR grant to enhance its research capacity in studying the changing Arctic. The project will bring together diverse disciplines to provide a holistic understanding of northern ecological and social systems.
During the International Polar Year, University of Alaska Fairbanks hosts summer institutes to train K-12 teachers on climate change. Seven UAF scientists provide hands-on lessons, translating scientific research into classroom useable content. The goal is to energize youth about science and promote Alaska's Grade Level Expectations.
Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are working on a way to determine whether marijuana was grown indoors or outdoors by analyzing the stable isotopes of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen. The method has potential to help police track down growing operations and match seized samples with known locations.
Four UAF researchers have been awarded significant funding from the National Science Foundation for projects studying the Arctic circumpolar region. The research, including studies on climate change, boreal forests and winter precipitation, aims to better understand the structure of the stratospheric vortex and its impact on ecosystems.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks will collect and test over 8,000 samples from Alaska and Russia to understand the genetic changes of flu viruses and their success in animal hosts. The research aims to develop new knowledge on the ecology of the influenza virus and its impact on bird populations.
A team of researchers led by Jennifer Hutchings will spend two weeks studying the relationship between ice movement, stress, and sea ice mass in the Beaufort Sea. The goal is to validate current sea ice models and reduce uncertainty in predicting arctic climate change.
Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks have discovered a correlation between lightning and volcanic eruptions. The study, published in Science journal, used electromagnetic lightning detectors to capture electrical activity during Mount Augustine's 2006 eruption, providing new insights into volcanic behavior.
Romanovsky will establish a network of permafrost observatories in North America and Russia to measure temperatures and monitor permafrost changes. The project aims to create a standardized system for monitoring permafrost and measuring temperatures, similar to Alaska's existing data set.
A University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist advocates for collecting more and better data in fisheries management. This focus on data quality can lead to more accurate assessments of fish populations, ultimately improving the sustainability of fisheries and reducing environmental harm.
A linguistics expert predicts that nearly all human languages could be extinct in two centuries if not conserved. The loss of languages would also compromise humanity's adaptability and diversity, making it harder to survive.
Katey Walter, a University of Alaska Fairbanks graduate, has been awarded the nation's top dissertation honor by the Council of Graduate Schools. Her Ph.D. dissertation research identified a new method of measuring methane emissions from Siberian lakes, revealing significant greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on global warming. ...
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has received a $1.3 million federal grant to create a graduate-level training program in second-language acquisition, focusing on the Yupik language. The program aims to provide K-12 teachers with tools to increase fluency and address second-language issues in the classroom.
Scientists can now directly measure heat from the Earth's core to the mantle boundary, essential for understanding tectonic plate movement. Researchers created 3D simulations using 70,000 computing hours on a supercomputer, producing synthetic seismograms and advancing knowledge of seismic wave behavior.
Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are studying religiosity in northern Russia over the last two decades to understand how people deal with rapid social change. The project, led by Patty Gray, will explore the role of religion and spirituality in this context.
A study of 50 years of remotely sensed imagery reveals dramatic reductions in arctic ponds in Alaska, linked to recent climate warming. The shrinking ponds may impact waterfowl production and climate regulation, highlighting the need for land managers to address these changes.
The Alaska Tsunami Education Program aims to improve math and science skills in students, teaching them how to recognize tsunami signs and react accordingly. The program targets 16 villages, collaborating with local organizations and government agencies to develop workforce-applicable skills.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Professor Larry Duffy has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant to develop a new polar science education course. The two-year project will help increase students' and the public's understanding of polar science through an interdisciplinary approach.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks study proposes four policy strategies to sustain people and the environment in a dramatically warming climate. The first strategy focuses on adaptability, while the second emphasizes biological diversity as a buffer from change.