Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 19:30
Forums
Alaska Climate Variation

So the hot topic right now of environmental conversation is global warming. Have you seen any evidence in Alaska of the effects of global warming? If so what were some of the things you noticed?

                                                       - Emily Faulkner

Wed, 08/15/2007 - 13:50

Peggy Foletta

Hi Emily. One link to global warming is the fact that the vast majority of the glaciers are retreating here. Also, north of where we are now in areas such as Fairbanks and north, the permafrost is melting. Another link is the increase in melting of the permafrost. This is making the ground soft and is leading to building collapses. Since 1850 here in the lakes we are studying, the diatom isotope record has shown a large post-industrial change. There is a correlation between the two, but as of now a direct link to global warming has not been established for that line of evidence.
Mrs. Foletta