Rick Thoman

@AlaskaWx
35 Followers
231 Following
3.6K Posts
Climate specialist with ACCAP/IARC at UAF, highlighting Alaska climate, environment & Indigenous cultures. Opinions are my own. I've been fascinated by #Arctic & #boreal #weather, #climate and #cultures for more than 50 years. I've worked as a weather & climate professional in private, public & academic spheres. I've been fortunate to live most of my life in Lower Tanana #Dene country near Fairbanks, #Alaska. Also, I have a big interest in Alaska Indigenous languages.
Pronounshe/him
Substackhttps://alaskaclimate.substack.com/
Rick ThomanJun 10, 2023
The flowering time of year is very short in Interior Alaska, in the boreal forest not more than a couple weeks. Here's a couple pix from here in South Fox. The wild roses were not blooming Friday afternoon. This is close to or maybe a few days later than usual. Saturday noon sunny, breezy and 68F (20.0C). #MyAlaskaWx #ClimateDiary #phenology
Rick ThomanJun 10, 2023
Show threadDr. Meade KrosbyJun 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe Talk Climate also has great resources for talking to kids about climate change in empathetic, age-appropriate ways that emphasize agency.

See below for their cheat-sheet of dos and don’ts for talking climate with kids.

For more info and resources: https://talkclimate.org

#climate #climatechange

Talk Climate

Educating. Partnering. Empowering

Talk Climate
Show threadRick ThomanJun 10, 2023
@phillipdewet Ahh, got it.
Short answer: no.
Longer answer: in the boreal forest some species, e.g. black spruce, can use wildfire to disperse seeds. From the graphic, there is large year-to-year variability in the area burned. So beyond the fact that areas that burn are unlikely to reburn for 10-20 years (though that's getting shorter) and areas that don't burn remain susceptible the next year, as far as I know no significant impact on year-to-year variability at the regional scale.
Show threadRick ThomanJun 10, 2023
@phillipdewet Not sure what you mean.
Rick ThomanJun 10, 2023
To June 10 in #Alaska only 666 acres (269 ha) have burned in #wildfire in analysis by Alaska Interagency Coordination Center. This is the smallest area burned to this point in the season in the past 31 years, which as far back as we currently have available near-daily acreage estimates. 1999-2001 each had just under 2000 acres on June 10. There's still time for the weather pattern to change to support significant wildfire but the clock is ticking. #akwx #Summer2023
@Climatologist49 @anisian
Rick ThomanJun 10, 2023
South Fox Saturday 700am: Mostly sunny, very slight breeze, 50F (10.0C). #MyAlaskaWx
Rick ThomanJun 10, 2023
Lee PetersenJun 10, 2023

Ermine Hill Trail to K’esugi Ridge

The newest edition to my hiking guide. Trail information, map, local weather, and photos of the trail and area.

https://www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide/ermine-hill-trail-to-kesugi-ridge/

Ermine Hill Trail to K'esugi Ridge - Lee Petersen

Ermine Hill trail guide with trail and weather information, trail map, and detailed information on hiking this 7.6-mile out-and-back hike that connects to the K'esugi Ridge.

Lee Petersen
Rick ThomanJun 10, 2023
@[email protected] @Climatologist49 There is no in-situ snowfall data ingested into ERA5, so this strictly model based.
Rick ThomanJun 10, 2023
Bright June sunshine Friday afternoon at Atqasuk, #Alaska (North Slope Borough, Inupiat county) with the tundra just starting to show some hints of green. At 430pm AKDT 40F (4.4C) and northeast winds sustained 19 mph (good for keeping mosquitoes away). Next sunset Atqasuk will be ~2am July 30th.Webcam pix courtesy FAA. #akwx #Summer2023
Rick ThomanJun 9, 2023
Alaska and vicinity 50-year Spring (March through May) snowfall trend, shown as the percent change 1974 to 2023 from ERA5 data courtesy of ECMWF/Copernicus. Keeping in mind that Spring is the dry season, increases across the North Slope likely related to thinner sea ice, and in May, more open water in Chukchi Sea. Little overall change Brooks Range to Alaska Range, general decreases on land south of Alaska region. #akwx #ytwx #ClimateChange
@Climatologist49