Climate Change in Coastal Alaska

Living on Alaska's Changing Coast:
Adapting to Climate Change in Coastal Alaska

Fact Sheets

available as free downloads from the Alaska Sea Grant Bookstore; some are also available as web pages (HTML)

Adaptation Planning Tools

available as free downloads from the Alaska Sea Grant Bookstore

PowerPoint presentation

Videos

Coastal Alaska is changing before our eyes. Some changes are dramatic, others subtle; some are rapid and others gradual; but there is no question that our coasts and our marine-dependent communities are undergoing profound change, much of it related to temperature, weather, and climate. People who live and work on and next to the sea are reporting many observations of a changing coast.

Scientists who study the oceans and coasts see indications that even greater change is coming between now and the end of this century. Some of the anticipated changes will be harmful to coastal residents, and some may be beneficial.

With thoughtful planning we can minimize the harm to our communities, businesses and lifestyles, and in some cases we may find ways to benefit from them.

How do we adapt?

Humans are adaptive creatures. As a species we have adapted to many kinds of change—environmental, social, economic and technological—throughout our history. We have adapted by developing technologies and by changing behaviors. Relocation to higher ground is an example of adaptation to flooding, as is construction of dikes and putting buildings on pilings.

Adaptation to future change, from sea level rise to ocean acidification and changes in the abundance and distribution of fish stocks, will take more sophisticated adaption, all set in motion by thoughtful adaptation planning.

MAP will help Shaktoolik develop adaptation plan

With a grant from the National Sea Grant Office, MAP agent Terry Johnson will help the community of Shaktoolik decide whether or not to relocate farther from the seacoast in the face of increasing shoreline loss, and prepare the paperwork to apply for participation in the Alaska Climate Change Impact Mitigation Program.

How we can help

Take a look at the adaption tools, fact sheets and videos on these pages. If you have questions or would like us to meet with you or come to your community to talk about adaptation planning, contact us at terry.johnson@alaska.edu or 907-274-9695.

This Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program (MAP) project brings a marine-dependent community perspective to climate change adaptation issues. The project is supported by the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP).

MAP is a statewide outreach and technical assistance program that helps Alaskans sustain economic development, traditional cultural uses, and conservation of marine and coastal resources.

ACCAP's mission is to assess the socioeconomic and biophysical impacts of climate variability in Alaska, make this information available to local and regional decision-makers, and improve the ability of Alaskans to adapt to a changing climate.