Seward Peninsula Hydrometeorology Network: Kougarok K1-Burn Station Data

The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Seward Peninsula Hydrometeorology station network was originally built in 1998-1999 by Dr. Larry Hinzman and collaborators as part of the NSF-sponsored ‘Arctic Transitions in the Land-Atmosphere System’ (ATLAS) project (Grant Number OPP-9818066). Link: http://www.uaf.edu/water/projects/atlas/atlas.html

The objective of this project was to improve the understanding of the role that soil moisture and surface temperature play in affecting the surface energy balance, sub-surface thermal dynamics and vegetation distribution. Numerous publications and datasets resulted from the ATLAS project that can be found by following the links. Publications: http://www.uaf.edu/water/publications.html and Datasets: http://www.eol.ucar.edu/projects/atlas/

Beginning in 2004, the network provided data for the NSF sponsored program “Intersections of Water, Climate, and Humans in the Arctic” (OPP-0328686) The overall objective of this research was to understand the vital role of freshwater in the lives of humans in the Arctic, how it has changed in the recent past, and how it is likely to change in the future. We built a model that allowed us to predict climate-induced changes in the hydrologic cycle and their effects on water quality and availability. We also attempted to understand how these changes will impact the life and culture of humans in the Arctic over the next century. The Seward Peninsula was an ideal locale for this study because climate-induced changes in the hydrologic cycle have already been observed. Information about this project can be found here: http://www.uaf.edu/water/projects/ICWHA/ICWHA.html

In 2007, Dr. Jessica Cherry assumed management of the network and routine maintenance was supported by an early career UA-EPSCoR seed grant entitled ‘Climate Change on the Seward Peninsula: physical drivers and economic adaptation.’ The intent of this pilot project was to support development of new resilience strategies by determining the drivers of physical changes and their impacts. This research is ongoing and full-blown support is being sought.

Beginning in 2008, the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) has provided partial support to Dr. Cherry for maintenance of the network for snow-related research.

It is anticipated that a diversity of research-driven proposals will support the maintenance of the network for the foreseeable future.

阿拉斯加费尔班克斯大学的苏厄德半岛水文气象站网络最初由拉里·辛兹曼（Larry Hinzman）博士及其合作者于1998-1999年布设，作为美国国家科学基金会（National Science Foundation，NSF）资助的“陆地-大气系统北极转型（Arctic Transitions in the Land-Atmosphere System，ATLAS）”项目的一部分，项目编号为OPP-9818066。相关链接：http://www.uaf.edu/water/projects/atlas/atlas.html

该项目的核心目标是深化对土壤湿度与地表温度如何调控地表能量平衡、地下热动力学过程及植被分布格局的认知。ATLAS项目产出了多篇学术论文与多套标准化数据集，相关成果可通过下述链接获取：学术论文链接http://www.uaf.edu/water/publications.html，数据集链接http://www.eol.ucar.edu/projects/atlas/

2004年起，该站网为美国国家科学基金会（NSF）资助的“北极地区水、气候与人类的交互作用”项目（OPP-0328686）提供持续数据支撑。此项研究的总体目标包括：阐明淡水在北极人类社会生活中的核心功能，梳理其近期变化轨迹并预测未来演化趋势；构建数值模型以模拟气候诱导的水文循环变化及其对水质与供水保障的影响；同时探究此类变化在未来一个世纪内对北极地区人类生活与本土文化的潜在影响。苏厄德半岛是此项研究的理想场址，因为当地已观测到显著的气候诱导型水文循环变化。该项目的详细信息可访问：http://www.uaf.edu/water/projects/ICWHA/ICWHA.html

2007年，杰西卡·彻里（Jessica Cherry）博士接管该站网的运维管理工作，日常运维得到阿拉斯加大学早期职业促进竞争性研究实验计划（Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research，EPSCoR）启动基金的支持，该基金项目名称为“苏厄德半岛的气候变化：物理驱动因子与经济适应策略”。此项试点项目旨在通过识别物理变化的驱动因子及其影响效应，助力新型气候韧性策略的开发与落地。目前该研究仍在持续推进中，团队正寻求全面的长期经费支持。

2008年起，日本海洋地球科技研究机构（Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology，JAMSTEC）为彻里博士开展积雪相关研究的站网运维提供部分经费支持。

预计在可预见的未来，各类以研究为导向的经费提案将为该站网的长期运维提供持续支撑。