There is no question that the weather is strange in Alaska this winter. From the anecdotes of elders to scientific readings, the temperatures, timing and snowfalls are just not what we usually expect. One example is the incredible amount of snow falling on Alaska's highest peaks in Denali National Park.
Mt. Hunter stands in Denali National Park near Mt. Denali at 14,573 feet tall. It is the third-highest major peak in the Alaska Range.
Snowfalls have been increasing and scientists are intrigued by the changes. A crew including scientists from Dartmouth College, the University of Maine, Orono and the University of New Hampshire headed up Mount Hunter to collect data.
The scientists went through a harrowing journey into the mountains for their research. A 1200-year-old ice core was collected to investigate the increased snowfalls observed since the 1950s.
The findings showed that over the last 150 years since the industrial revolution, the snowfall in the mountains had doubled.
As the Earth's climate has increased in warmth and humidity, the snowfalls have increased. The warmer atmosphere holds more precipitation in the air.
The new study is published in Nature Scientific Reports. The increased snowfalls haven't stopped the melting of glacial ice in southern Alaska.
The arctic is affected by higher temperature increases and more changes in humidity than the global average. Earlier springs and increases to amount of water heading down the rivers each year are also noted.
These drastic changes in snowfalls are going to be continuously monitored over time. The massive increases in snow levels are just one of the many ways the modern world is changing Alaska.
Read the study on the snowfall here.
You may be interested in these 10 Unforgettable Things In Alaska That Everyone Must Do This Winter. Or, You And Your Partner Will Love These 11 Unique Date Ideas In Alaska.
Have you noticed an increased snowfall in your area of Alaska? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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