Alaska Drought Webinar Series

Overall summary of listening sessions

Overall summary of research needs identified during listening sessions

Originally, pre-Covid-19 times one or two statewide meetings were planned to discussion drought in Alaska.  But since we are not able to have an in-person Alaska drought workshop, we are moving forward with a webinar series to begin the conversation about drought in Alaska.

What does drought look like in Alaska?

Hear from Rick Thoman, Alaska climate specialist, who will review past climate information focusing on unusual dry times and will provide a statewide overview, including tools typically used to access drought/precipitation deficit. Then another webinar from David Simeral, drought monitor author, who will explain the U.S. drought monitor process. Both webinars will have time for questions from the audience.

We know that climate data are limited in Alaska and do not tell the entire story. So, we want to HEAR FROM YOU in regional listening sessions to learn what you have seen or experienced during unusually dry times in Alaska. During previous droughts were stream flows so low fish could not pass or did you need to haul drinking water or were trees stressed or died due to dryness or was there not enough water for hydropower?

These are just a few stories from Southeast, Alaska. What does drought look like in your region?
Participants are welcome to join other regional sessions to learn about what drought looks like and what others have experienced during unusually dry times. Information shared in these listening sessions will help to inform a future in-person workshop on drought preparation, once it is safe.

Alaska Drought Webinar Series 2021

• 16 February (12pm AKST) | Climate review: history of climate extremes focusing on drought
  • Presentation recording
  • Presentation pdf
• 18 February (12pm AKST) | US Drought Monitor Process, understand the drought maps
  • Presentation recording
  • Presentation PDF
• 23 February (2pm AKST) | What does drought look like in Southeast Alaska
  • Presentation recording
  • Summary Notes
• 2 March (12pm AKST) | What does drought look like in Southcentral Alaska
  • Presentation recording
  • Summary Notes
• 9 March (12pm AKST) | What does drought look like in the Aleutian islands & Southwest Alaska
  • Presentation recording
  • Summary Notes
• 16 March (12pm AKST) | What does drought look like in Interior Alaska
  • Presentation recording
  • Summary Notes
• 23 March (12pm AST) | What does drought look like in Northwest Alaska
  • Presentation recording
  • Summary Notes

Goals of the drought webinar series

• Participants will get a better sense of drought or unusual dryness, impacts of drought and interconnections in Alaska.
• Participants will share information and resources to raise awareness about drought and lead to changes in response to dry conditions.
• Information shared will help to organize a future in-person workshop to help communities prepare for drought in the future.

Registration for each webinar can be found at the links above or via the ACCAP upcoming webinar page. or you can attend via the International Arctic Research Center Facebook page.

Last year, we were planning on having an in-person workshop and sent out a survey to understand what you’ve seen. Here is a summary of those results.

Alaska 2020 drought survey

 

*This page will be updated with links to presentations, webinar recordings, and other information shared during this event.

This event is co-hosted by ACCAP, Northwest Climate Hub, and Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System.