Impacts of Melting Glaciers on Gulf of Alaska
Channel: USGS Presentations
Date: 2013-06-12

For questions about this project, please contact the speaker, John Crusius at jcrusius@usgs.gov, (206) 543-6978.  The northern Gulf of Alaska (GoA) maintains a productive ecosystem, with commercially important fisheries. Virtually all of the many glaciers that line the northern GoA coast are retreating, yet the impacts on the marine ecosystem are poorly understood. This project carried out a set of frequent field observations in a network of tributaries of the Copper River, the single largest source of fresh water to the GoA (and a watershed with substantial glacial coverage). We also carried out a set of research cruises on the continental shelf and slope to the south. Iron is a nutrient that limits biological productivity in parts of the GoA, while nitrate is limiting in nearshore areas.