About the Alaska CASC

A university-federal partnership

Established in 2010 as a partnership between the University of Alaska and the United States Geological Survey, the Alaska CASC is Congressionally mandated to meet state and federal needs around climate impacts, adaptation, and resilience.

Hosted by UAFs International Arctic Research Center with a USGS-hosted office in Anchorage, the Alaska CASC provides scientific information, tools, and techniques that managers and others interested in land, water, wildlife, and cultural resources can use to adapt to climate change.

Contact the Alaska CASC

Host Institution
University of Alaska Fairbanks
UAF Troth Yeddha' Campus
2160 Koyukuk Dr, PO Box 757245
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7340

Walter Hill from Quinhagak shares his observations of change to a group.
Preparing a drone for a flight survey (Photo Molly Tankersley).
Coastal erosion is an increasing concern in Alaska.

Research directions

Our research directions are determined by representatives of federal, state, tribal, and regional organizations. We aim to meet high-level climate science priorities while ensuring this science also is pertinent to and addresses management needs.

  • We create and use high-resolution climate models and derivative products to help forecast ecological and population responses at national, regional, and local scales
  • We integrate physical climate models with ecological, habitat, and population response models
  • We develop methods to assess vulnerability of species, habitats, and human communities
  • We develop standardized approaches to modeling, monitoring, data management and decision support

We respond to stakeholder needs

We support researchers through funded research projects, training opportunities, communications support, data management, and cutting-edge regional dynamical downscaling.

We support Alaska's land managers by partnering to answer key management questions, making climate data accessible, and listening at key forums around the state.

We support Tribes by hosting the Alaska Tribal Resilience Learning Network, partnering in research, and hosting a statewide network of Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons.

The CASC network

Delivering science to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a changing climate.

We are one of 9 regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers that provide tools and information to develop and execute management strategies that address the impacts of climate change on natural and cultural resources.