Rick Thoman, Alaska’s trusted source for climate information

July 1, 2024

Each year ACCAP’s climate specialist Rick Thoman appears in hundreds of news stories as a trusted source of climate change information in Alaska. Reporters across the state, nation and world recognize him as an excellent science communicator and expert in Alaska climate and weather. “Rick Thoman” has become a household name in many Alaska communities where the frequency of extreme events is increasing. Alaskans value his ability to shed light on locally-relevant climate and weather events that impact their lives and livelihoods.

Since June 1, 2023, Thoman has been mentioned in 279 Alaska news stories from 20 communities across the state; 984 stories from all U.S. states; and 365 stories from 42 countries around the world. The words Arctic, Alaska, weather and climate appeared most often in the headlines. Thoman also hosts weekly and seasonal radio spots for Alaska communities and writes columns for several newspapers. 

  • Beyond the Weather (KUAC Fairbanks and Interior Alaska) – Weekly, 90 seconds: historical events, climate drivers & models, Interior Alaska
  • Climate Highlights (KNOM Nome; KYUK Bethel, KDLG Dillingham) – Weekly, 90 seconds: sea ice, ocean temperatures, west and southwest Alaska
  • Iditarod Radio Weather (KNOM Nome) – Weather and historical content for Alaska’s Iditarod sled dog race to augment Iditarod race coverage
  • Fish Reports (KDLG Dillingham) – Weekly in June-July during commercial salmon fishing season in Bristol Bay
  • Nome Nugget – Weekly column: weather and climate concerns in Seward Peninsula and Bering Strait, sea ice conditions and outlooks

Thoman’s outreach efforts extend well beyond media mentions and radio spots. In Nome, his presentation at a high school spurred student-written articles to the school newspaper about climate change and local impacts. He also shared temperature and precipitation data that the students used for a final assignment graphing Nome climate trends. “Thank you so much Rick!” said biology teacher Sarah Liben. “You have been very helpful and I appreciate all that you do for my students.” 

Thoman also shares information to help communities prepare for and respond to climate change through three social media accounts: a blog on Substack called the Alaska and Arctic Climate Newsletter (600 subscribers); as it’s happening Alaska climate, environment and Indigenous cultures posts on Mastodon (2,500 followers); and a Facebook group with tailored weather and climate information for the Seward Peninsula and Bering Strait (1,700 members). 

Following a keynote presentation at the Kodiak Area Marine Science Symposium, Julie Matweyou, chair of the conference steering committee and Kodiak’s Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Agent said, “Thank you so much for coming to Kodiak… I heard a lot of great feedback on your presentation. Everyone I spoke to was very pleased with KAMSS. Thank you for all your hard work for the Kodiak community.” Thoman’s unique expertise as a communicator and climate specialist was also recognized through keynotes at the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference, Alaska Forum on the Environment, and 20 plus other presentations at conferences and public events. These presentations are in addition to over two dozen webinars annually for ACCAP.