HINZMAN, LARRY UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
The researchers will conduct a hydrological field and modeling program to better understand how hydrology and vegetation interact in the Arctic. Meteorological and soil active layer data will be collected at sites in northwestern Alaska where tundra ecological studies are underway. The coordinated project is examining the role of climate change on tundra ecology that could occur in response to global warming. Radar imagery and field data will be collected and used in hydrologic and climate models that are used to project future environmental conditions on the Alaska North Slope under warmer climate conditions. This hydrological study is critical to understanding the role of precipitation, run-off, and soil moisture on the sustainability of tundra regions throughout the Arctic where global climate models predict the greatest effects from global warming.
