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Alaska's Coastal Ice Season Has Shrunk by Weeks, Study Finds
A 27-year study shows landfast ice in the Chukchi Sea shortened by 57 days and 39 days in the Beaufort Sea, impacting coastal communities and industry.
- A University of Alaska Fairbanks study found the landfast ice season shortened by 57 days in the Chukchi Sea and 39 days in the Beaufort Sea, based on 27 years of data analyzed by scientists.
- The shrinking season is largely due to ice forming later in the year, as the ocean retains heat longer and delays solid ice formation even when autumn air temperatures fall below freezing.
- Researchers found thinner ice leads to fewer grounded ridges capable of anchoring ice to the seafloor, causing Beaufort Sea ice to extend less far offshore than previously, reaching only about 20 meters deep.
- "Landfast ice is the ice that is used by people," Andrew Mahoney said, noting the shortened season leaves shorelines exposed to waves and makes hunting conditions significantly more uncertain.
- While following broader Arctic trends, Mahoney noted "we are also seeing some new changes" in grounded ridge formation, though further research is required to understand why these shifts are occurring.
8 Articles
8 Articles
Alaska analysis shows continued loss of Arctic landfast sea ice
Sea ice is sticking to Alaska's northern coast for less time each year, according to 27 years of data analyzed by University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists. Such landfast ice, which stays attached to the shoreline instead of drifting with winds and currents, also has covered less total area in recent winters.
The ice protecting Alaska is vanishing faster than expected
Stable sea ice along Alaska’s coast is disappearing faster than expected, with the season shrinking by weeks and even months in recent decades. The ice is forming later in the fall and, in some places, breaking away earlier in spring. This trend is now hitting areas like the Beaufort Sea that were once relatively stable. For local communities, it means more dangerous travel, uncertain hunting conditions, and greater exposure to coastal erosion.
STATEMENT: Arctic Sea Ice is Headed for Another Record Low
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The National Snow and Ice Data Center has reported that on March 10 Arctic sea ice coverage was below even last year’s historic low of 5.5 million square miles. Though ice could still expand, it is likely that the 2026 sea ice maximum will remain critically low. Low Arctic sea ice coverage […]
Stable sea ice on the coast of Alaska quickly disappears, shortening the ice season in weeks and months. This change impacts the safety of local communities’ travel and hunting conditions.
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