Alaska Science Center

The mission of the Alaska 

Science Center is to provide 

objective and timely data, 

information, and research 

findings about the earth 

and its flora and fauna to 

Federal, State, and local 

resource managers and the 

public to support sound 

decisions regarding natural 

resources, natural hazards, 

and ecosystems in Alaska and 

circumpolar regions. 

Providing Timely, Relevant, and Impartial Study of the 

Landscape, Natural Resources, and Natural Hazards 

for Alaska and Our Nation

Alaska is the largest state in the 

U.S. (656,425 square miles), more 

than twice as large as Texas, the 

next largest State.

Alaska is larger in area than all 

but 18 of the world’s nations.

Alaska has more than 40 active 

volcanoes. On average, one or 

two Alaskan volcanoes erupt each 

year.

Alaska has more coastline than 

the rest of the U.S. combined.

Eighty-eight percent of all 

National Wildlife Refuge lands 

and 65 percent of all National 

Park lands of the U.S. are in 

Alaska.

Eight of the ten largest 

earthquakes recorded in the U.S. 

occurred in Alaska.

The strongest earthquake recorded 

in North America occurred in 

Alaska in 1964.

Alaska has the world’s largest 

zinc producing mine.

More than one-third of the 

Nation’s stream runoff is from 

Alaska.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Nation’s largest water, earth, and 

biological science and civilian mapping agency, has studied the natural features 

of Alaska since its earliest geologic expeditions in the 1800s. The USGS Alaska 

Science Center (ASC), with headquarters in Anchorage, Alaska, studies the 

complex natural science phenomena of Alaska to provide scientific products and 

results to a wide variety of partners. The complexity of Alaska’s unique landscapes 

and ecosystems requires USGS expertise from many science disciplines to conduct 

thorough, integrated research.

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

FS 2007–3019

March 2007 Printed on recycled paper

Alaska Facts

Redoubt Volcano Polar Bears

Mapping Alaska’s Geology Tracking Animal Migration

Research and Monitoring Flood Damage
Stream-Channel Erosion

SCIENCE FOR STATE, NATIONAL, AND CIRCUMPOLAR ISSUES

Alaska contains many of the most important 

biological, hydrological, mineral, and energy 

resources of the Nation and is subject to a wide 

variety of natural hazards, particularly earthquakes, 

volcanic eruptions, and landslides. Alaska has large 

intact ecosystems, rich in natural resources with 

enormous pressures for development or preservation. 

Federal, State, and local managers often are at the 

center of national debate about reaping Alaska’s 

natural resources and preserving its large-scale 

natural and wilderness integrity. The USGS 

ASC provides high-quality scientific information 

necessary for these resource decisions as well as for 

monitoring long-term change and human-induced 

effects on the environment. 

IDENTIFYING NATURAL AND EMERGING HAZARDS

In Alaska each year, natural hazards may cause deaths and can 

cost millions of dollars due to the disruption of commerce, and the 

destruction of critical infrastructure. The USGS ASC science helps 

forecast and mitigate disasters and build resilient communities through 

cutting edge science, research, and monitoring tools and techniques 

pioneered here for Alaska’s diverse and challenging landscape. 

Monitoring programs that address natural and emerging hazards include:

Monitoring volcanoes through the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 

a cooperative program of the USGS, University of Alaska 

Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of 

Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

Operating a streamflow monitoring network for flood warning 

and mitigation.

Tracking emerging wildlife diseases, such as Avian Influenza 

(Highly Pathogenic H5N1) in migratory birds.

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Volcanoes

Earthquakes

Floods Wildlife Diseases
ASSESSING MINERAL RESOURCES

The USGS ASC conducts studies to gain a better understanding of 

the mineral-resource and mineral-environmental potential of all public 

lands in Alaska to provide information for land planners and decision 

makers about where mineral commodities are known and suspected 

in the Earth’s crust and about the environmental consequences of the 

presence of those commodities. Studies focus on:

Bedrock and surficial geologic mapping

Rock and stream sediment geochemical surveys

Airborne and ground geophysical investigations

Mineral resource assessments

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PROVIDING THE SCIENCE FOR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF 

TRUST LANDS AND TRUST SPECIES

Agencies of the Department of the Interior (DOI) manage more than 200 million acres of 

trust lands in Alaska. These include the lands and waters of National Parks, National Wildlife 

Refuges, Bureau of Land Management units, and Federal offshore areas. The USGS ASC 

provides the science for the management of Alaska’s Federal trust lands and waters, including: 

The USGS ASC provides research on DOI trust species including: 

Marine mammals, including polar bears, walrus, and sea otters, 

 protected by the Marine Mammals Protection Act

Migratory birds, subject to Federal laws and International Treaties

Anadromous fish

Species assessed under the Endangered Species Act

Wildlife and fish of key importance to Alaska Natives and

 rural subsistence harvest

Recovery of sea otters and their ecosystem from the 

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill.

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Long-term inventory and monitoring

Focused scientific study

Digital elevation models

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Landcover and geological maps

Studies of wildlife-habitat interactions

Effects of climate change

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• Walrus

Tundra Swan

Sockeye Salmon

Interior Refuges & Parks

North Slope Lands and Water

Coastal Parks and Refuges

Evaluating Mineral Locations
WATER AND FISHERIES

The USGS ASC monitors streamflow at more than 170 locations to: 

Monitor and forecast flooding and streambed scour

Predict the magnitude and frequency of extreme events

Provide hydrological assessments for water resources development

Describe the status and trends in the quality of water resources

Assure minimum instream flows for fisheries

Monitoring and modeling stream-channel erosion and morphology is critical 

for communities located on the banks of unstable rivers. Hydrological 

assessments and ground-water modeling can assist in evaluating water 

availability for communities and natural resource development.

USGS ASC provides research support for the protection of the health of 

Alaskan waters and their inhabitants. USGS ASC conducts fisheries research 

on public lands and waters. National parks, refuges, and preserves are homes 

of lakes, rivers, estuaries, bays, and marine waters that provide recreation, 

commercial uses, and subsistence. Topics include:

Fish and other aquatic species for subsistence, 

 commercial, and sport harvest

Environmental conditions that affect aquatic populations

Habitat use in rivers, estuaries and coastal areas

Communities and human health

Water temperature

Changes in sea ice extent

Coastline erosion

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Getting the Information Out!

http://alaska.usgs.gov/portal 

The portal is a searchable, web map-based tool to facilitate public and partner 

access to information on nearly 150 subjects under USGS study in the Nation’s 

largest State. It also provides access to more detailed information available in 

USGS web pages across the Nation.

For more information: 

USGS Alaska Science Center

Leslie Holland-Bartels, Director

4230 University Dr., Suite 201 

Anchorage, AK 99508-4650

(907)786-7000

http://alaska.usgs.gov

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All photos taken by USGS Alaska Science Center employees.

Assessing Water QualityLeslie

Investigating Aquatic Ecology

Juvenile Salmon Whitefish

Alaska Science Portal

Streamgaging Measuring Streamflow