Weather and Climate Inventory, National Park Service, Southwest Alaska Network

Davey, C; Redmond, K; Simeral, D

Climate is a dominant factor driving the physical and ecologic processes affecting the Southwest Alaska Inventory and Monitoring Network (SWAN). Climate patterns in SWAN are greatly influenced by the region’s high latitude, proximity to oceans, complex topography, and the interaction of all these features with the global circulation. Wind, topography, and snowfall create a heterogeneous snow distribution that affects local biotic processes by determining water availability and growing season length. Changes in climate act as drivers of ecological change. At shorter time scales, the climate of the region is affected by primarily oceanic factors, such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Many climate models predict that future long-term climate changes will be greatest at high latitudes. Climate changes could accelerate ongoing glacier retreats and affect the distribution, abundance, growth, and productivity of plants and animals. Some animal populations may become isolated and unable to adapt to changing conditions, or they may shift ranges as the climate to which they are adapted effectively moves northward or to higher elevations. Alpine areas may decrease as montane tree species migrate upward. These climate changes also have a great influence on the peatlands found in some of the lowlands of SWAN park units. Because of its influence on the ecology of SWAN park units, climate was identified as a high-priority vital sign for SWAN and is one of the 12 basic inventories to be completed for all National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring Program (I&M) networks.

Weather and Climate Inventory, National Park Service, Southwest Alaska Network

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