Alaska Coastal Sea Ice and Environmental Observations Since 2006

Observations from 2006 onward document sea ice, weather, wildlife, and community activities along the northern and western coasts of Alaska. The dataset is a collaboration between the Seasonal Ice Zone Observing Network (SIZONet) and the Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub (AAOKH), integrating Indigenous Knowledge from Iñupiaq and Yup'ik experts with western scientific data. It serves as an archive and framework for tracking climatic and ecological features over time and geography.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal trends in sea ice freeze-up and melt timing using year-over-year observation records.
• Correlate local weather observations with reported community activities and wildlife sightings.
• Map and compare specific environmental events, like shore-fast ice stability, across different Alaskan coastal communities.
• Study the co-evolution of Indigenous Knowledge and scientific data records on environmental predictability.

Strengths

• Temporal coverage spans from 2006 to the present, providing over 15 years of continuous observation.
• Integrates two distinct knowledge systems: western science and Indigenous Knowledge from Iñupiaq and Yup'ik experts.
• Spatially referenced observations cover several communities along a significant portion of Alaska's coastline.

Limitations

• Specific quantitative metrics like row count, column count, and sample size are not publicly disclosed.
• Data access requires agreeing to a Use Agreement, and full interface features are restricted to registered community members.
• The evolving nature of the database structure may introduce inconsistencies in data formatting over time.

Provenance

Source

Seasonal Ice Zone Observing Network (SIZONet) and Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub (AAOKH), with data from Iñupiaq and Yup'ik community experts.

Collection Method

Local observations collected by community members and sea ice experts, submitted via a shared web interface.

Time Range

2006 - present

Freshness

Observations are ongoing, with the interface designed to change in response to new data.

Geography

Several coastal communities along the northern and western coasts of Alaska.