Permafrost typically remains frozen year-round, but as air temperatures rise, permafrost is thawing in many areas. Eighty percent of Alaska's surface lies above permafrost. Permafrost is frozen ground that is typically located a few feet below the soil surface in extremely cold regions. The Alaska Climate Research Center Exit.State of Alaska: Climate Change in Alaska.Alaska Department of Commerce: Climate Change Office Exit.However, climate change is also having adverse effects on many ecosystems and species, and is creating new hardships for Native Alaskans. Rising temperatures may provide some benefits in Alaska, such as a longer growing season for agricultural crops, increased tourism, and access to natural resources that are currently inaccessible due to ice cover, like offshore oil. Despite increased precipitation, the state is likely to become drier due to greater evaporation caused by warming temperatures and longer growing seasons. Precipitation in Alaska is projected to increase during all seasons by the end of this century. As the climate continues to warm, average annual temperatures in Alaska are projected to increase an additional 2 to 4☏ by the middle of this century. Warming in the winter has increased by an average of 6☏ and has led to changes in ecosystems, such as earlier breakup of river ice in the spring. This increase is more than twice the warming seen in the rest of the United States. Over the past 60 years, the average temperature across Alaska has increased by approximately 3☏. Alaska contains 16 national wildlife refuges spanning 76 million acres and hosts 60% of the total area managed by the National Park Service, including the largest U.S. The state spans a wide range of climatic and ecological conditions that include rainforests, glaciers, boreal forest, tundra, peatlands, and meadows. Alaska includes lands on both sides of the Arctic Circle, which makes the United States an Arctic nation. Native Alaskans are expected to experience declining availability of traditional foods and reduced access to sea ice hunting grounds.Īlaska is the largest state in the United States, accounting for about 20% of the total area of the United States and more than twice the land area of Texas.Changes are expected in the extent, location, and productivity of critical marine and terrestrial habitat for fish and wildlife.Arctic sea ice is projected to continue to decline, with nearly ice-free periods possible by mid-century.Extensive permafrost thaw is expected by the end of this century, increasing the risk of infrastructure damage.Warming in Alaska is already thawing permafrost, decreasing Arctic sea ice, changing ecosystems, and threatening the traditional livelihoods of native Alaskans.