Climate Change

PRISM

January Mean Minimum Temperature

Climate Maps for Alaska

Climate is one of the primary drivers of ecological change in Alaska parks, but climate observations are often lacking in these mountainous and remote regions of the state.  In order to understand climate patterns and variation in Alaska parks the National Park Service Alaska Region Inventory and Monitoring Program collaborated with Oregon State University’s PRISM Climate Group to generate spatially gridded average monthly and annual precipitation and temperature data set for the 1971 – 2000 normal period. 

The PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model) climate mapping system was used to generate these products.  This mapping system integrates existing climate station data with scientific understanding of general climate processes and local climate features.  These climate maps feature a 30-arc second (approximately 800 meter) grid size resolution for the state of Alaska.

To obtain complete data sets, visit the NPS Data Store.

(NPS Unit: Alaska Region NRO (AKRO); Category: Weather/Climate)

These products are available without charge.  Both the Oregon State University PRISM Group and National Park Service however, have applicable terms of use (disclaimers):

Oregon State University disclaimer

National Park Service disclaimer

Gridded and polygon data, tabular and graphical data retrieved from the map server, and all other data may be freely reproduced and distributed for non-commercial purposes.  When referring to the data, the source should be clearly stated, and include at a minimum, name, URL, and date of data creation, for example:

“PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University and Alaska Region Inventory and Monitoring Program, National Park Service;science.nature.nps.gov/nrdata/, created 1 Dec. 2009”.

 

 eResource: Landscape Change
(2.4 MB SWF download)



Denali is a dynamic and ever-changing place. Careful examination of paired historic and recent photographs by park staff has revealed dramatic and widespread landscape changes in and around Denali National Park and Preserve.

Paired photographs are extremely valuable because they allow for a self-paced visual comparison of landscape characters otherwise difficult to observe. This eResource features over 30 repeat photo pairs and provides context for what the changes depicted may mean for the future of Denali National Park.