Alaska

This page highlights data and information resources of particular interest to Alaska communities.

The state’s coastal communities, dotted along 66,000 miles of coastline, are as diverse in culture, geography, ecosystems, and economies as the entire contiguous U.S. The low population, expansive and remote nature, and harsh weather contribute to a greater disparity in regards to the data and tools these communities can use to address climate-related threats.

But that’s changing, as evidenced by the slate of information resources available here—including this interactive story map, which shows how mapping technologies and data are being used together to create a seamless picture of the Alaska landscape.

Baseline Data

Lidar, Imagery, and Land Cover

• Data Access Viewer

  View and download Digital Coast data.

• State of Alaska Elevation

  and

  Imagery Data Portals

  Additional project and community-level data.

• United States Interagency Elevation Inventory

  Information about best available elevation and hydrographic datasets.

Infrastructure, Socioeconomic, Boundary, and Cadastral

• State of Alaska Geoportal

  Best available Alaska infrastructure data. Search for statewide building footprints, community profile CAD features, and transportation data. State economic and census information provide insights beyond national datasets.

• Marine Cadastre National Viewer

  Baseline ocean planning information.

Vertical Datums

• VDatum

  Available for Southeast Alaska. Converts elevation data between tidal, orthometric, and ellipsoidal vertical datums. Allows users to establish a common reference system for all elevation datasets.

  Statewide VDatum – Completion expected in 2025. Meanwhile, use the Alaska Tidal Datum Portal to produce a datum transformation for certain locations.

Flooding and Inundation

Read about flooding and inundation in Alaska and use the resources below to develop an understanding of water levels in your community.

Flooding and Inundation

Coastal flooding in Alaska occurs for several reasons. On the western coast, extratropical cyclones and typhoon remnants (see Typhoon Merbok) track from Russia or across the Aleutian Islands, building storm surge and waves as they approach the coast. On the northern coast, increased open water (fetch) due to declines in Arctic sea ice exposes waters to Arctic storms that push waves onto beaches and erode coastal bluffs (see Wainwright, Alaska). In other parts of the state, stormy weather can result in high wind and wave activity that results in localized erosion and flooding.

• Alaska Water Level Watch

  Crowd-sourced water level data, including high water marks from past storms and real-time or short-term sensor deployments. Search the “Alaska Water Level Sensors” or “Flood Events” layers to find community data and information about what types of sensors work in Alaska and how to use them.

• Alaska-Pacific River Forecast Center

  Real-time and event-derived water level data for Alaska’s rivers. Includes real-time updates on river ice breakup and flooding. Narratives on past events are provided in the River Notes Database.

• Alaska Communities Floodplain Database

  Historical flood information for Alaska communities

• National Flood Hazard Layer Viewer

  Digital versions of FEMA flood insurance rate maps

• State of Alaska Community Flood Assessments

  A list of known floods per community. Reports include flood height and flood risk category map showing current infrastructure and previous floods.

• Climate Adaptation Science Centers Project Explorer

  Customized, local flood hazard maps and online tools that support culturally appropriate and cost-efficient adaptation strategies for Alaska

• Alaska Flood Exposure Study

  Comprehensive view of flood exposure in 46 Alaska communities

• Coastal Inundation Dashboard

  Real-time alerts and historical inundation information at NOAA tide stations

• Flood Event Viewer

  Interactive map to view and download flood event data. To see impacts from Ex-typhoon Merbok, select “2022 September AK Extratropical Cyclone.”

• National Water Prediction Service

  Current and projected water levels at river gauges

Sea Level Rise

Read about sea level rise in Alaska and use the resources below to access the most current information about changing sea levels.

Sea Level Rise

Coastal flooding is generally expected to increase with sea level rise. In Alaska, this is complicated by regional differences in vertical land motion. Sea level is projected to rise in some areas, while isostatic rebound (the rise of land out of the water as land-based glaciers melt) means declining sea levels in others.

• 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report

  Most up-to-date sea level rise projections available

  • Introductory Video
  • Application Guide

• Digital Coast Sea Level Rise Viewer

  Web mapping tool used to visualize projected flooding and sea level rise (up to 10 feet above average high tides) for 26 Alaska communities. Additional community locations will be added as baseline data becomes available.

• Sea Level Tracker

  Compares actual sea level with projected sea level change scenarios

Coastal Erosion

Read about coastal erosion in Alaska and use the resources below to assess shoreline change and implement erosion mitigation strategies.

Coastal Erosion
Like other regions, the coastline of Alaska is subject to changes driven by wind, waves, currents, storm surge, and other high water. But Alaska’s coastline is also subject to freezing processes that have major impacts on erosion. Sea ice and permafrost (ground that remains frozen for at least two years) help protect shorelines, but thawing permafrost and increased open water seasons can result in increased erosion.


• USGS National Assessments of Shoreline Change

  Historical Shoreline Change along the North Coast of Alaska, U.S.–Canadian Border to Icy Cape

  Historical Shoreline Change along the North Coast of Alaska, Icy Cape to Cape Prince of Wales

• State of Alaska Community Assessment of Shoreline Change

  Summarizes statewide analyses of long-term shoreline change at 48 Alaska communities

• State of Alaska Erosion Exposure Assessment

  Shows vulnerabilities to erosion and aids community planners in prioritizing mitigation strategies and communicating risk

• State of Alaska Community-Based Monitoring Booklet

  Comprehensive instructions for implementing three community-based shoreline monitoring systems. Includes tips for selecting monitoring sites and instructions for site installation and data collection.

Tsunamis

Read about tsunamis in Alaska and use the resources below to identify and map hazards, coordinate real-time warnings, and increase tsunami awareness.

About Coastal Erosion
In Alaska, underwater earthquakes that occur at the subduction boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates can cause tsunamis. Communities can have very little time to respond to a tsunami threat.


• State of Alaska’s “Tsunamis in Alaska”

  Two page information sheet on Alaska tsunamis

• State of Alaska Tsunami Inundation Mapping

  Maps of potential inundation created using numerical modeling of tsunami wave dynamics

• NOAA Tsunami Warning Centers

  Includes monitoring for tsunamis and the earthquakes that cause them

• Arctic T-SLIP

  Increases understanding and preparedness for landslide-generated tsunamis in permafrost and glacier regions

Additional Information

More Digital Coast Tools with Alaska Data

Distribution Mapping and Analysis Portal

The Climate Explorer

Wave Exposure Model

See the full list of Digital Coast tools with various levels of applicability to Alaska.




Key Partners

Alaska Sea Grant

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys

State of Alaska Geospatial Information Office