DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the 

National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska and the Arctic National 

Wildlife Refuge, 1998–2016

Data Series 1092

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Cover. U.S. Department of the Interior/Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (DOI/GTN-P) 

climate-monitoring station U31 at Marsh Creek, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer 

Data Acquired in the National Petroleum 

Reserve–Alaska and the Arctic National 

Wildlife Refuge, 1998–2016

By Frank E. Urban and Gary D. Clow

Data Series 1092

Supersedes USGS Data Series 1021

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

RYAN K. ZINKE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

James F. Reilly II, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2018

Supersedes USGS Data Series 1021

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living 

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Suggested citation:

Urban, F.E., and Clow, G.D., 2018, DOI/GTN-P climate and active-layer data acquired in the National Petroleum 

Reserve–Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 1998–2016, U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 1092, 71 p., 

https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1092. [Supersedes USGS Data Series 1021.]

ISSN 2327-638X (online)

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
iii

Acknowledgments

The authors thank and acknowledge all the staff of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 

Arctic Field Office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Fairbanks Field Office whose 

steady logistical and scientific support has made this ongoing effort possible. In particular, 

we thank Don Meares, Richard Kemnitz, Shane Walker, Eric Yeager, Connie Adkins, Lon Kelly, 

and Stacie McIntosh at the BLM and Janet Jorgenson and David Payer at the FWS. Specific 

thanks to Jeremy Havens (USGS) for help with manuscript preparation and online publishing. 

Development of the DOI/GTN-P Observing Network was supported by the U.S. Geological Survey 

Global Change and Climate History Program (now the Climate and Land Use Change Research 

and Development Program).

Contents

Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................................iii

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

A. Introduction................................................................................................................................................1

Background............................................................................................................................................1

Description of Monitoring Network...................................................................................................2

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................5

Data Collection and Analysis.......................................................................................................................6

Data Collection Methods.....................................................................................................................6

Data Processing and Quality Control ................................................................................................7

Data Overview................................................................................................................................................9

B. Drew Point................................................................................................................................................21

C. Inigok.........................................................................................................................................................24

D. Fish Creek.................................................................................................................................................27

E. Awuna1......................................................................................................................................................30

F. Umiat ..........................................................................................................................................................32

G. Tunalik .......................................................................................................................................................35

H. Koluktak ....................................................................................................................................................38

I. South Meade.............................................................................................................................................41

J. Awuna2......................................................................................................................................................44

K. Piksiksak ...................................................................................................................................................47

L. East Teshekpuk.........................................................................................................................................50

M. Ikpikpuk....................................................................................................................................................53

N. Lake 145....................................................................................................................................................56

O. Niguanak...................................................................................................................................................59

P. Marsh Creek .............................................................................................................................................62

Q. Camden Bay.............................................................................................................................................65

R. Red Sheep Creek.....................................................................................................................................68

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................71
iv

Figures

A–1. U.S. Department of the Interior/Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost

(DOI/GTN-P) climate monitoring array in Arctic Alaska ........................................................2

A–2. Components of a typical U.S. Department of the Interior/Global Terrestrial Network

for Permafrost (DOI/GTN-P) climate monitoring station........................................................4

A–3. Sample air temperature record from Fish Creek station .....................................................11

A–4. Sample wind speed record from Fish Creek station.............................................................12

A–5. Sample windroses from Fish Creek station............................................................................13

A–6. Sample ground temperature record from Fish Creek station .............................................14

A–7. Sample incident solar-flux record from Fish Creek station .................................................15

A–8. Sample reflected solar-flux record from Fish Creek station ...............................................16

A–9. Sample rainfall record from Inigok station.............................................................................17

A–10. Sample snow depth record from Inigok station ....................................................................18

A–11. Sample soil moisture record at 15-centimeter depth from Inigok station ........................19

A–12. Sample surface pressure record from Fish Creek station...................................................20

B–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Drew Point site and its spatial

relation to other sites in the monitoring network ..................................................................21

B–2. Drew Point station in summer 2008 .........................................................................................22

B–3. Drew Point seasonal windroses ..............................................................................................23

C–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Inigok site and its spatial

relation to other sites in the monitoring network ..................................................................24

C–2. Inigok station in summer 2008 ..................................................................................................25

C–3. Inigok seasonal windroses .......................................................................................................26

D–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Fish Creek site and its spatial

relationship to other sites in the monitoring network...........................................................27

D–2. Fish Creek station in summer 2008...........................................................................................28

D–3. Fish Creek seasonal windroses................................................................................................29

E–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Awuna1 site and its spatial

relation to other sites in the monitoring network ..................................................................30

E–2. Awuna1 station in summer 2008...............................................................................................31

F–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Umiat site and its spatial

relation to other sites in the monitoring network ..................................................................32

F–2. Umiat station in summer 2008...................................................................................................33

F–3. Umiat seasonal windroses........................................................................................................34

G–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Tunalik site and its spatial 

relation to other sites in the monitoring network ..................................................................35

G–2. Tunalik station in summer 2008.................................................................................................36

G–3. Tunalik seasonal windroses......................................................................................................37

H–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Koluktak site and its spatial 

relation to other sites in the monitoring network ..................................................................38

H–2. Koluktak station in summer 2008..............................................................................................39

H–3. Koluktak seasonal windroses...................................................................................................40

I–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the South Meade site and its 

spatial relation to other sites in the monitoring network .....................................................41

I–2. South Meade station in summer 2008.....................................................................................42

I–3. South Meade seasonal windroses..........................................................................................43
v

J–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Awuna2 site and its spatial 

relation to other sites in the monitoring network ..................................................................44

J–2. Awuna2 station in summer 2008...............................................................................................45

J–3. Awuna2 seasonal windroses....................................................................................................46

K–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Piksiksak site and its spatial 

relation to other sites in the monitoring network ..................................................................47

K–2. Piksiksak station in summer 2008.............................................................................................48

K–3. Piksiksak seasonal windroses..................................................................................................49

L–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the East Teshekpuk site and its 

spatial relation to other sites in the monitoring network .....................................................50

L–2. East Teshekpuk station in summer 2008 .................................................................................51

L–3. East Teshekpuk seasonal windroses ......................................................................................52

M–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Ikpikpuk site and its spatial 

relation to other sites in the monitoring network ..................................................................53

M–2. Ikpikpuk station in summer 2008 ..............................................................................................54

M–3. Ikpikpuk seasonal windroses ...................................................................................................55

N–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Lake 145 site and its spatial 

relation to other sites in the monitoring network ..................................................................56

N–2. Lake 145 station in summer 2008..............................................................................................57

N–3. Lake 145 seasonal windroses...................................................................................................58

O–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Niguanak site and its spatial 

relation to other sites in the monitoring network ..................................................................59

O–2. Niguanak station in summer 2008............................................................................................60

O–3. Niguanak seasonal windroses.................................................................................................61

P–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Marsh Creek site and its 

spatial relation to other sites in the monitoring network .....................................................62

P–2. Marsh Creek station in summer 2008......................................................................................63

P–3. Marsh Creek seasonal windroses...........................................................................................64

Q–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Camden Bay site and its 

spatial relation to other sites in the monitoring network .....................................................65

Q–2. Camden Bay station in summer 2008.......................................................................................66

Q–3. Camden Bay seasonal windroses............................................................................................67

R–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Red Sheep Creek site and its 

spatial relation to other sites in the monitoring network .....................................................68

R–2. Red Sheep Creek station in summer 2008 ..............................................................................69

R–3. Red Sheep Creek seasonal windroses ...................................................................................70

Tables

A–1. Location, elevation, and installation dates for the U.S. Department of the

Interior/Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (DOI/GTN-P) climate monitoring

stations ...........................................................................................................................................3

A–2. Full metadata information for each sensor at each station, including install date

and presence or absence of sensor..........................................................................................5
vi

Conversion Factors

SI to Inch/Pound

Multiply By To obtain

Length

centimeter (cm) 0.3937 inch (in.)

meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft) 

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi)

Area

square kilometer (km2

) 247.1 Acre

square kilometer (km2

) 0.3861 square mile (mi2)

Speed

meter per second (m/s) 3.281 foot per second (ft/s) 

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Temperature degrees in Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Kelvin (°K) as follows:

°K=°C+273.15

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84).

Abbreviations

CSI Campbell Scientific

DOI U.S. Department of the Interior

GTN-P Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost

MRC Measurement Research Corporation

USGS U.S. Geological Survey
DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in 

the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska and the Arctic 

National Wildlife Refuge, 1998–2016

By Frank E. Urban and Gary D. Clow

Abstract

This report provides data collected by the climate monitoring array of the U.S. Department of the Interior on Federal 

lands in Arctic Alaska over the period August 1998 to July 

2016; this array is part of the Global Terrestrial Network for 

Permafrost (DOI/GTN-P). In addition to presenting data, this 

report also describes monitoring, data collection, and qualitycontrol methods. The array of 16 monitoring stations spans 

lat 68.5°N. to 70.5°N. and long 142.5°W. to 161°W., an area 

of approximately 150,000 square kilometers. Climate summaries are presented along with quality-controlled data. Data 

collection is ongoing and includes the following climate- and 

permafrost-related variables: air temperature, wind speed and 

direction, ground temperature, soil moisture, snow depth, 

rainfall totals, up- and downwelling shortwave radiation, and 

atmospheric pressure. These data were collected by the U.S. 

Geological Survey in close collaboration with the Bureau of 

Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A. Introduction

Background

Atmosphere-ocean general circulation models consistently 

project that the largest climate changes during this century 

will occur in the Arctic, especially in Arctic Alaska and the 

adjacent Bering, Beaufort, and Chukchi Seas—that is, lands 

and portions of the seas managed by the U.S. Department of 

the Interior (DOI) (Houghton and others, 2001; Arctic Council, 

2005; Chapman and Walsh, 2007; Walsh, 2008). Every aspect 

of the Alaskan Arctic environment is expected to be significantly affected over the next few decades, posing tremendous 

land management challenges for DOI (DeGange and others, 

2005; Clow and others, 2011). This region is particularly 

vulnerable to climate change because of the prevalence of 

ice-rich permafrost, which is projected to degrade significantly 

during this century (U.S. Arctic Research Commission, 2003; 

Lawrence and others, 2008). In Arctic Alaska, permafrost is 

the foundation upon which terrestrial ecosystems and human 

infrastructure exist. The indigenous plants and wildlife of this 

region are highly adapted to extreme conditions, and large projected climate changes are expected to stress these specialized 

biological systems.

Accurate data detailing current environmental conditions and rates of environmental change on DOI lands in 

Arctic Alaska1

 are critical to fulfill the DOI mission. This is 

particularly true given the high rates of change that are now 

occurring in the region (Jeffries and others, 2012). Because 

of the remoteness and harsh environmental conditions in 

the Arctic and northern Alaska, the observational database 

of climate-change-related variables for the region has been 

extremely limited. The paucity of baseline environmental data 

contributes to the uncertainty in future climate projections and 

climate impact assessments in a number of ways:

• Insufficient knowledge of many of the physical processes active in this region makes correctly representing them in climate models difficult (National 

Research Council, 2001; Arctic Council, 2005).

• Without adequate information about current conditions, 

it is difficult to assess whether the models are performing correctly (model validation).

• High-quality data to supply the boundary conditions 

necessary for climate-model runs are lacking, particularly at the higher spatial resolutions needed for making land-management decisions.

Studies by the National Research Council (2001, 2010) 

have concluded there is a pressing need for a comprehensive 

system designed for monitoring climate, particularly in the 

Arctic, if we are to reduce the uncertainties in future climate 

projections and the associated climate impacts.

1

The Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management all have significant management responsibilities for natural resources, wildlife, and the environment in 

this region.
2 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure A–1. U.S. Department of the Interior/Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (DOI/GTN-P) climate monitoring array 

in Arctic Alaska. There are 12 stations currently operating in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska (NPR–A) and 4 stations in 

the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Station names can be clicked to access climate summaries, data files, and stationspecific information.

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

0 50 100 MILES

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM)

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Description of Monitoring Network

To satisfy DOI’s need for accurate environmental information and to improve future climate impact assessments, 

the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has established an array 

of climate-monitoring stations on Federal lands in Arctic 

Alaska as part of the U.S. Department of the Interior/Global 

Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (DOI/GTN-P) Observing 

System. This array currently consists of 16 automated stations 

(fig. A–1) spanning the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska 

and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The first stations 

were installed during August 1998, allowing for more than 

fifteen years of high-quality observational data from some 

locations (table A–1). Additional stations in the array were 

gradually added with the goals of broader spatial and elevation 

coverage across a range of geomorphic substrates and vegetation regimes. Aspects of the physical environment monitored 

by these stations include shallow permafrost temperature at 

10 depths (from 5 to 120 centimeters [cm]), active-layer thaw 

depth and duration, soil moisture, air temperature and pressure, wind speed and direction, up- and downwelling shortwave radiation, surface albedo, snow depth and duration, and 

rainfall (fig. A–2). The DOI/GTN-P climate monitoring array 

is an integral part (through data contribution) of a number of 

global observing systems, including the Global Terrestrial 

Network for Permafrost, the Global Terrestrial Observing 

System (GTOS), and the Global Climate Observing System 

(GCOS). On a regional scale, the stations also contribute to 

the Circumpolar Active-Layer Monitoring Network (CALM) 

and the Arctic Observing Network (AON).
A. Introduction 3

Table A–1. Location, elevation, and installation dates for the U.S. Department of the Interior/Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost 

(DOI/GTN-P) climate monitoring stations. Thirteen stations in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska are listed first, followed by four 

stations in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

[AUG, August; m, meter]

Station

name

GTN-P

code

Station

installation

date

Latitude Longitude Elevation

(m)

Drew Point U20 18 AUG 1998 70°51.872'N. 153°54.405'W. 5

Inigok U21 17 AUG 1998 69°59.377'N. 153°05.630'W. 53

Fish Creek U22 18 AUG 1998 70°20.114'N. 152°03.120'W. 31

Awuna11 U23 19 AUG 1998 69°10.226'N. 158°00.402'W. 362

Umiat U24 20 AUG 1998 69°23.741'N. 152°08.568'W. 201

Tunalik U25 20 AUG 1998 70°11.756'N. 161°04.687'W. 26

Koluktak U30 27 AUG 1999 69°45.096'N. 154°37.054'W. 60

South Meade U33 08 AUG 2003 70°37.708'N. 156°50.119'W. 15

Awuna2 U35 22 AUG 2003 69°09.331'N. 158°01.827'W. 343

Piksiksak U37 08 AUG 2004 70°02.197'N. 157°04.882'W. 33

East Teshekpuk U38 10 AUG 2004 70°34.111'N. 152°57.899'W. 7

Ikpikpuk U39 21 AUG 2005 70°26.499'N. 154°21.938'W. 5

Lake 1452 — 13 AUG 2007 70°41.388'N. 152°37.995'W. 6

Niguanak U29 18 AUG 2000 69°53.363'N. 142°59.037'W. 84

Marsh Creek U31 03 AUG 2001 69°46.657'N. 144°47.595'W. 260

Camden Bay U34 14 AUG 2003 69°58.317'N. 144°46.234'W. 4

Red Sheep Creek U36 03 AUG 2004 68°40.898'N. 144°50.524'W. 785

1

Awuna1 was decommissioned on 22 May 2004. It was replaced by Awuna2, located 1.91 kilometers to the southwest. The two stations ran concurrently for 

several months.

2

Lake 145 has not yet been assigned a GTN-P code.
4 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure A–2. Components of a typical U.S. Department of the Interior/Global Terrestrial 

Network for Permafrost (DOI/GTN-P) climate monitoring station. (cm, centimeter).

EXPLANATION

1. Data telemetry

2. Air temperature

3. Incident/reflected solar flux

4. Wind speed/direction

5. Snow depth

6. Solar power

7. Atmospheric pressure

8. Datalogger enclosure

9. Ground temperature (10 depths, 5–120 cm)

10. Soil moisture

11. Battery power

12. Rainfall

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12
A. Introduction 5

Table A–2. Full metadata information for each sensor at each station, including install date and presence or absence of sensor.

[GTN-P, Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost; APR, April; AUG, August; m, meter; cm, centimeter; agl, above ground level; yr, year; doy, day of year; hr, hour]

Station

name

GTN-P

code

Install

date Latitude Longitude Elevation (m)

Ground temperature depths

(cm)

Drew Point U20 18 AUG 1998 70°51.872'N. 153°54.405'W. 5 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Inigok U21 17 AUG 1998 69°59.377'N. 153°05.630'W. 53 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Fish Creek U22 18 AUG 1998 70°20.114'N. 152°03.120'W. 31 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Awuna1 (inactive) U23 19 AUG 1998 69°10.226'N. 158°00.402'W. 362 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Umiat U24 20 AUG 1998 69°23.741'N. 152°08.568'W. 201 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Tunalik U25 20 AUG 1998 70°11.756'N. 161°04.687'W. 26 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Koluktak U30 27 AUG 1999 69°45.096'N. 154°37.054'W. 60 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

South Meade U33 08 AUG 2003 70°37.708'N. 156°50.119'W. 15 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Awuna2 U35 22 AUG 2003 69°09.331'N. 158°01.827'W. 343 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Piksiksak U37 08 AUG 2004 70°02.197'N. 157°04.882'W. 33 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

East Teshekpuk U38 10 AUG 2004 70°34.111'N. 152°57.899'W. 7 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Ikpikpuk U39 21 AUG 2005 70°26.499'N. 154°21.938'W. 5 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Lake 145 — 13 AUG 2007 70°41.388'N. 152°37.995'W. 6 25

Niguanak U29 18 AUG 2000 69°53.363'N. 142°59.037'W. 84 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Marsh Creek U31 03 AUG 2001 69°46.657'N. 144°47.595'W. 260 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Camden Bay U34 14 AUG 2003 69°58.317'N. 144°46.234'W. 4 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Red Sheep Creek U36 03 AUG 2004 68°40.898'N. 144°50.524'W. 785 5,10,15,20,25,30,45,70,95,120

Station

name

Sensor start date (yr, doy, hr)

Ground

temperature

Air temperature 

(3 m agl)

Wind speed 

(3 m agl)

Wind direction 

(3 m agl)

Incoming

radiation

Drew Point 1998,230,1600 1998,230,1600 2004,220,2000 2004,220,2000 2000,228,1800

Inigok 1998,229,1400 1998,229,1400 2004,230,1800 2004,230,1800 1999,236,1400

Fish Creek 1998,230,1200 1998,230,1200 2003,223,1600 2003,223,1600 1999,236,1800

Awuna1 (inactive) 1998,231,1400 1998,231,1400 — — 2000,229,1400

Umiat 1998,232,2000 1998,232,2000 2005,109,1800 2005,109,1800 1999,236,1200

Tunalik 1998,232,1600 1998,232,1600 2003,232,1600 2003,232,1600 1999,238,1400

Koluktak 1999,239,1400 1999,239,1400 2004,223,1900 2004,223,1900 2000,230,1800

South Meade 2003,220,1700 2003,220,1700 2003,220,1700 2003,220,1700 2003,220,1700

Awuna2 2003,236,1300 2003,236,1300 2003,236,1300 2003,236,1300 2003,236,1300

Piksiksak 2004,221,1700 2004,221,1700 2005,217,1300 2005,217,1300 2004,221,1700

East Teshekpuk 2004,223,1600 2004,223,1600 2005,218,1200 2005,218,1200 2004,223,1600

Ikpikpuk 2005,233,2100 2005,233,2100 2005,233,2100 2005,233,2100 2005,233,2100

Lake 145 2007,225,1800 2007,225,1800 2007,225,1800 2007,225,1800 2007,225,1800

Niguanak 2000,231,1600 2000,231,1600 2004,218,2200 2004,218,2200 2000,231,1600

Marsh Creek 2001,215,1600 2001,215,1600 2003,225,1800 2003,225,1800 2001,215,1600

Camden Bay 2003,226,1700 2003,226,1700 2007,217,1700 2007,217,1700 2003,226,1700

Red Sheep Creek 2004,216,2200 2004,216,2200 2004,216,2200 2004,216,2200 2004,216,2200

Purpose and Scope

Historically, very little climate information has been collected on Federal lands in Arctic Alaska. The information that 

has been collected generally resulted from short-term campaigns designed to support oil development and other activities. This report provides data collected by the DOI/GTN-P 

climate monitoring array over the period August 1998 through 

July 2016 that greatly augment the existing record for this 

region. Variables presented in this report include ground 

temperature at 10 depths (5–120 cm), soil moisture, air temperature and pressure, wind speed and direction, incident and 

reflected solar flux, snow depth, and rainfall. Because the network took nearly a decade to develop (table A–1), the records 

are of varying lengths. For example, the longest air and ground 

temperature and snow depth records cover nearly 18 years 

(as of July 2016), whereas the longest wind and soil moisture 

records cover about 12 years (table A–2). Although short, the 

records are long enough to establish climate gradients and patterns across the region, quantify the magnitude of variability 

on daily through annual timescales, and provide the context 

for future climate change. Data collection is ongoing. Subsequent reports will provide annual updates and information on 

the full suite of climate variables monitored by the network.
6 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPRAlaska and the ANWR, 1998–2015

Data Collection and Analysis

Data Collection Methods

Each station consists of a solar- and battery-powered 

datalogger (Campbell Scientific [CSI] model CR10X or 

CR1000, depending on the station), a sensor mast, and the sensors (fig. A–2). Air temperature, wind, radiation, and rainfall 

values are sampled every 30 seconds and then averaged once 

per hour (rainfall is totaled). Ground temperatures, soil moisture, snow depth, and surface pressure values are sampled once 

per hour. The resultant data stream from this sampling protocol 

is of hourly resolution. Because of limited power and data 

storage capacity, measurements taken before August 2003 were 

stored once every 2 hours rather than hourly. Physical site visits 

are made 1–2 times per year to collect the stored measurements 

and to carry out station maintenance. All stations utilize spread 

spectrum radio or iridium telemetry capabilities and data are 

occasionally downloaded between site visits.

The air temperature measurements are made using a CSI 

model 107 thermistor probe mounted in a naturally aspirated 

six-gill radiation shield located 3 meters (m) above the surface 

as measured during the snow-free period. The CSI model 

107 probe is sampled using a half-bridge voltage measurement. To reduce measurement uncertainties, voltages are converted to temperature during the data processing step using a 

four-term calibration function appropriate for the full temperature range experienced at these sites (−50 °C to +30 °C).

Wind speed and direction are measured using a R.M. 

Young 05103 wind monitor, located 3 m above the surface. 

For wind direction, the hourly vector mean is stored, although 

prior to April 2008, the arithmetic mean was stored rather than 

the vector mean.

Ground temperature is measured once per hour at ten 

depths using a Measurement Research Corporation (MRC) 

TP101 model temperature probe. The probe is 125 cm long 

and contains 10 thermistors at depths of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 

45, 70, 95, and 120 cm. The MRC thermistors are read on a 

single-ended channel through an interface circuit containing 

a half-bridge network and a means to switch the excitation 

voltage to each thermistor. A fixed precision resistor within 

the MRC is sampled at each time-step for comparison and to 

improve the estimate of the measurement voltages. Resistance 

is calculated from the voltage measurements and then converted to temperature using a four-term calibration function 

similar to the Steinhart-Hart equation (Steinhart and Hart, 

1968) but with an additional term that improves the calibration 

fit below 0 °C.

Incident and reflected solar-flux measurements are made 

with CSI model LI200X silicon pyranometers located 3 m 

above the surface. The pyranometers are measured using a differential voltage measurement. A factory standard-calibration 

factor is applied to the resultant voltages to produce energyflux values.

Rainfall is measured with a Texas Electronics TE525 rain 

gage mounted approximately 60 cm above the ground in the 

Table A–2. Full metadata information for each sensor at each station, including install date and presence or absence of sensor.—Continued

[GTN-P, Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost; APR; April; AUG, August; m, meter; cm, centimeter; agl, above ground level; yr, year; doy, day of year; hr, hour]

Station

name

Sensor start date (yr, doy, hr)

Reflected

radiation

Snow

depth

Soil moisture

15–20 cm

Precipitation

(summer only)

Atmospheric

pressure

Drew Point 1998,230,1600 2000,228,1800 2003,219,1600 2009,223,1400 —

Inigok 1998,229,1400 1998,229,1400 2003,222,1600 2005,230,1300 —

Fish Creek 1998,230,1200 1998,230,1200 2003,223,1600 2006,234,1100 2006,234,1100

Awuna1 (inactive) 1998,231,1400 2000,229,1400 — — —

Umiat 1998,232,2000 2000,229,1800 2003,220,0700 2013,218,1200 —

Tunalik 1998,232,1600 1999,238,1400 2003,232,1600 2009,218,1800 2007,205,1600

Koluktak 1999,239,1400 1999,239,1400 2003,217,1600 2012,216,1200 —

South Meade 2003,220,1700 2003,220,1700 2003,220,1700 2007,214,1800 —

Awuna2 2003,236,1300 2003,236,1300 2003,236,1300 — 2008,216,1500

Piksiksak 2004,221,1700 2004,221,1700 2004,221,1700 2014,220,1000 —

East Teshekpuk 2004,223,1600 2004,223,1600 2004,223,1600 2013,215,1000 —

Ikpikpuk 2005,233,2100 2005,233,2100 2005,233,2100 2005,233,2100 —

Lake 145 2007,225,1800 2007,225,1800 2007,225,1800 2007,225,1800 2007,225,1800

Niguanak 2000,231,1600 2000,231,1600 2003,225,2000 2013,209,1700 2010,210,0700

Marsh Creek 2001,215,1600 2001,215,1600 2003,225,1800 2010,211,2300 2007,116,0100

Camden Bay 2003,226,1700 2003,226,1700 2003,226,1700 — —

Red Sheep Creek 2004,216,2200 2004,216,2200 2004,216,2200 — —
Data Collection and Analysis 7

middle of an ETI Instrument Systems Lexan altershield. The 

sensor is sampled every 30 seconds and millimeter (mm) totals 

are stored once per hour.

Snow depth is measured once per hour with a CSI model 

SR50 ultrasonic distance sensor mounted approximately 2.5 m 

above the ground surface. The sensor sends out an ultrasonic 

pulse and measures the time it takes for the signal to bounce 

off the ground or snow surface and return to the sensor. The 

travel time of the ultrasonic pulse varies with temperature; this 

effect is taken into account using data from the CSI model 107 

air temperature sensor. The distance to the ground calculated 

from the ultrasonic travel time is subtracted from the known 

distance, as measured during physical site visits and distancedata analysis, to calculate snow depth.

Soil moisture is measured once per hour at approximately 

15-cm depth using a Stevens Hydra Probe Soil Moisture sensor. Four single-ended voltage measurements are stored by 

the datalogger and then converted to soil moisture and salinity 

using algorithms supplied by the manufacturer.

Atmospheric pressure is measured once per hour through 

a vented port in the datalogger enclosure using a Vaisala 

PTB101B barometer.

Data Processing and Quality Control

Because of the harsh operating environment, a variety 

of problems can affect the sensors and resulting data streams. 

These include loss of system power, total or partial failure 

of the sensor-support mast due to bear activity, damage or 

destruction of sensor cables or the sensors themselves by 

wildlife, obstruction of air temperature radiation shields by 

snow or rime ice, complete freeze-up of wind sensors by rime 

ice, obstruction of incident solar-flux detectors by snow, corrosion of snow depth transducers by high humidity, false snow 

depth signals caused by blowing snow, intermittent electrical 

noise associated with electric bear fences, vertical movement 

(“jacking”) of ground temperature sensors by freeze-thaw 

forces, and others.

A multi-component data-processing system has been 

developed to automatically and consistently handle a number 

of the data processing tasks, including application of sensor calibration factors, masking data during periods that are 

known to be problematic, masking data that are outside reasonable predefined limits, calculation of derived climate variables (for example, thawing-degree days, maximum activelayer depth, and total precipitation), calculation of climate 

statistics on a variety of timescales (hourly to decadal), and 

calculation of climate trends and anomalies. Predefined faulty 

data limits are unique to each sensor and are based on known 

environmental extremes and sensor specific performance. For 

example, hourly average wind speed values are flagged for 

masking if they are less than zero (physically impossible) or 

if they exceed 40 meters per second (m/s), a condition that is 

highly unlikely. The system also includes a number of tools to 

assist the data technician in identifying spurious data that are 

missed by the automated routines and require a higher level 

of analysis. For example, wind speed values are automatically 

flagged if they do not change for 6 consecutive hours, likely 

indicating a condition of sensor freeze-up during icing. The 

technician is notified of these periods and directed to investigate each freeze-up period individually for any additional 

masking that may be necessary. First, the processing system 

is applied on a station- and sensor-specific basis. Second, the 

system is used in interstation mode, whereby statistics are calculated for data from the one or two most spatially proximate 

stations, depending on data availability and environmental 

homogeneity. Time periods that contain data that exceed statistical limits are further scrutinized and masked where appropriate. After the release of USGS Data Series 812, 892, and 977 

(Urban and Clow, 2014a, b, 2016), small improvements were 

made to the data processing system in order to release a more 

complete data series. In the previous releases, all calculated 

averages were based on hourly resolution data. In this report, 

averages at resolutions greater than daily are calculated from 

daily average values. Details of the data processing system and 

the raw data data files are available as a USGS data release in 

ScienceBase at https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.

Air temperature.—The resistance Rs of a CSI model 107 

air temperature sensor is determined from the stored halfbridge voltage V using the equation

Rs Rf Vx

V = − Rb 



 



1 −

(1)

where Rf and Rb are the resistances of the field and bridge 

resistors in the half-bridge, respectively, and Vx is the excitation voltage. The excitation voltage can vary slightly, so it is 

collected each time a measurement is made. Temperature is 

then calculated from the measured resistance using the fourterm calibration function

T −1 = a0 + a1 (1nRs) + a2 (1nRs)2 + a3 (1nRs)3 (2)

where T is temperature expressed in Kelvin.

This is an extension of the often used Steinhart-Hart 

equation (Steinhart and Hart, 1968), which proved inadequate 

for our purposes below 0 °C. The four calibration coefficients 

(a0

, a1, a2, a3) are determined for each CSI model 107 probe by 

monitoring its resistance while the temperature is varied from 

−50 °C to +30 °C in a Hart Scientific temperature calibration 

bath at the USGS temperature calibration facility in Boulder, 

Colorado. For those rare instances where a0, a1, a2, and a3 are 

unavailable for a particular CSI model 107 sensor, we use values that have been determined for a “factory standard” probe.

Temperature measurements are assigned a bad data 

code when it is determined they do not represent the air 

temperature field 3 m above the ground. Data that have 

been assigned such a code are effectively masked and are 

not used in any further calculations (for example, climate 

statistics, climate trends, or climate anomalies). Beyond 

the general problems described above (for example, insufficient system power and change in sensor height due to 
8 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

sensor mast damage), specific problems that can lead to air 

temperature masking include (a) reduction of the necessary 

ventilation through the radiation shield by snow, rime ice, 

or low wind speeds (<1 m/s), and (b) the sensor falling out 

of the radiation shield, exposing it to solar radiational heating. Air temperature climate statistics are calculated when 

the data are available at least 95 percent of the time.

Wind speed and direction.—No calibration factors or 

corrections are currently applied to the wind speed or wind 

direction measurements. Specific problems that can lead to 

masking of either the wind speed or wind direction include 

significant ice buildup that prevents the wind monitor from 

functioning properly. In some cases, icing will affect the wind 

speed measurements but not the wind direction, and vice versa. 

The threshold for calculating climate statistics for the wind 

variables is the same as for air temperature, that is, 95 percent 

data availability.

Ground temperatures.—The resistances of the 

MRC TP101 thermistors are determined from the stored halfbridge voltages using known values for the excitation voltage 

and the circuit’s fixed resistors. The thermistor resistances 

are then converted to temperature using the same four-term 

calibration function (eq. 2) as for the air temperature sensor. In 

this case, the four calibration coefficients (a0

, a1, a2, a3) were 

determined from data for a “factory standard” MRC probe over 

the temperature range −40 °C to +10 °C. The stated uncertainty 

of the MRC measurements is 0.1 °C. To further reduce the 

uncertainty of the ground temperature measurements, a special 

set of orthonormal basis functions were fit to site specific zerocurtain ground temperature profiles in a least-squares sense 

where the number of basis functions retained was determined 

by the reduced chi-squared values. The difference between 

the zero-curtain temperature profiles (based on the factory 

standard calibration) and the resulting least-squares fit provided 

an estimate of the unique calibration offset for each thermistor 

relative to the factory standard. These calibration offsets were 

then applied as corrections to the data. With these corrections, 

the standard uncertainty of the ground temperature measurements is believed be in the range 0.02–0.05 °C. Small improvements from previously released USGS Data Series 812 and 

892 (Urban and Clow, 2014a, b) have been made to the data 

processing system such that the resulting ground temperatures 

are more complete and more accurate. The improvements are 

as follows, and details of the refined data processing algorithms 

are described in “DOI/GTN-P Climate-Station Data, Quality 

Assurance and Control Procedures” included in the USGS data 

release in ScienceBase at https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.

Each data logger has a unique internal voltage offset 

that affects the half-bridge voltage measurements used to 

determine the resistance of each thermistor. The resistances 

are now corrected for this offset, eliminating a small shift 

that occurred when data loggers were upgraded at each station. The excitation voltage used to drive the MRC probe 

is on occasion erroneously recorded even though the actual 

voltage was valid. Previously, when this occurred, the processing system masked the associated ground temperatures 

out of the data stream. Improved algorithms now allow 

recovery of the actual excitation voltages during these times; 

thus, ground temperatures can be reported when they were 

previously masked.

Beyond the general system problems (power loss, sensor 

or sensor cable damage, and so forth) that can lead to masking, 

the ground temperature instrument is subject to freeze-thaw 

processes inherent to its placement in permafrost. The MRC 

is a rigid instrument (the thermistors are encased in a hard 

epoxy potting in a long cylindrical shape), and permafrost and 

freeze-thaw processes periodically act to “jack” the instrument 

vertically out of its original position. The amount of jacking 

varies widely year to year and among stations. Many sites 

underwent no jacking, some sustained small (1–3 cm) documented amounts, and several sustained extreme (5–10 cm) 

amounts. The data processing system is used to mask data 

from the topmost thermistors at the 5- and sometimes 10-cm 

depths when their values during unfrozen time periods exceed 

local air temperatures. These criteria indicate that portions 

of the instrument are exposed to solar radiation above the 

tundra and that those thermistors are reporting values that are 

erroneously warm. Stations with extreme jacking amounts 

during some portion of their deployment include Marsh Creek, 

Camden Bay, Ikpikpuk, Piksiksak, and Awuna1. The threshold 

for calculating climate statistics for ground temperatures is 

95 percent data availability.

Incident and reflected solar flux.—The pyranometers 

that measure incoming and reflected shortwave radiation 

have a factory standard calibration factor applied to the raw 

measurements. Other than that, no corrections or calibrations are applied. Specific problems that can lead to masking 

of solar-flux values include significant ice or snow buildup, 

which prevent the sensor from functioning properly. This 

is generally much more of a problem for the downwelling 

(incident) radiation sensor than for the reflected flux sensor. 

Much of the radiation-data masking that is accomplished 

in the processing system is achieved by calculating ideal 

clear-sky radiation values at a given station location and then 

using differences between the calculated and observed values 

to identify times with potentially faulty data. The threshold 

for calculating climate statistics for incoming and reflected 

radiation is 95 percent data availability.

Rainfall.—Rainfall data are collected only during the 

summer months when air temperatures are above 0 °C. A conversion factor is applied for each rainfall gage to convert the 

measured values (tipping bucket counts) into total millimeters 

per hour. In the late summer and autumn, rain may be mixed 

with snow; these periods are difficult to identify and mask in 

the data. The data processing system is employed to mask any 

rainfall data that occur (a) when there is snow on the ground, 

(b) in midwinter during isolated events when air temperature 

is above freezing, causing any snow in the rain gage to melt 

and provide faulty rain gage readings, and (c) in midspring 

during snowmelt when snow in the rain gage bucket melts and 

creates faulty readings. The threshold for calculating climate 

statistics for rainfall is 95 percent data availability.
Data Overview 9

Snow depth.—Snow depth data are collected year round, 

and snow presence is confirmed by high-reflected solar-flux 

values. The distance to ground provided by the sensor during 

snow-free periods is included in the complete data files and 

can be utilized to some degree to investigate plant growth, 

foliar loss of tundra plants, and so forth. Negative values for 

snow depth are occasionally reported during snow-free periods 

and represent a deviation from what is determined as a local 

zero-depth value. Negative values are typically a result of 

changes in tundra surface characteristics, such as loss of leaves 

or grasses being matted down by wind and moisture. The snow 

depth sensor can return faulty values during periods of high 

wind and blowing snow. To detect this situation, the data processing system automatically flags snow depth values that are 

more than 3 standard deviations away from the running mean. 

The system color-codes the flagged (potentially bad) values 

according to wind speed to help determine whether masking 

is warranted. The high-wind flagged values are then masked 

along with those that occur during general system problems 

(for example, low power, damaged mast, and cable failure). 

The threshold for calculating climate statistics for snow depth 

is 90 percent data availability.

Soil moisture.—Factory standard conversion algorithms 

are applied to the raw data from the soil moisture sensor. 

Specific problems that can lead to masking of the soil moisture 

values include ground temperatures below −15 °C, at which 

point the sensor behaves erratically. Three-sigma statistics are 

calculated for soil moisture data, and values that exceed these 

limits are masked. The threshold for calculating climate statistics for soil moisture is 95 percent data availability.

Atmospheric pressure.—No calibration factors or corrections are currently applied to the atmospheric pressure 

measurements. Beyond the general system problems that can 

lead to masking, there are no specific problems related to this 

sensor. Three-sigma statistics are calculated for atmospheric 

pressure data, and values that exceed these limits are masked. 

The threshold for calculating climate statistics for atmospheric 

pressure is 95 percent data availability.

Data Overview

Figures A–3 through A–12 present overviews of each 

of the data variables at several temporal scales. Figure A–3 

shows the air temperature record from the Fish Creek monitoring station (lat 70°20.114'N., long 152°03.120'W.) at hourly 

resolution. The top panel shows the full record, the middle 

panel shows a single year of data, and the lower panels show 

1 week of winter data and 1 week of summer data. The annual 

seasonal cycle is clearly evident in the top panel with minimum winter air temperatures dropping to about −45 °C and 

maximum summer temperatures reaching +25 °C. In addition 

to the seasonal cycle, temperature excursions due to passing 

weather systems are discernible in the middle panel. These 

weather systems are the dominant source of air temperature 

variability during the winter (lower left panel). During the 

summer, air temperature variations are primarily related to 

changes in the incident solar radiation, which produces a 

strong diurnal cycle (lower right panel).

Figure A–4 shows the wind speed record from Fish Creek 

at hourly resolution. The top panel shows the full record, 

whereas the middle panel shows 1 full year, and the lower panels show 1 week of winter data and 1 week of summer data. 

Seasonal patterns are evident with the strongest wind events 

occurring during winter and the most consistent wind speeds 

occurring during the summer. The strongest winds, which are 

related to passing weather systems, are about 20 m/s at this 

site. Occasional gaps in the sub−0 °C portion of the record 

(upper and middle panels) are due to significant ice buildup 

on the wind monitor; the data have been masked during these 

periods. As with air temperature, passing weather systems 

are the dominant source of wind speed variability during the 

winter (lower left panel). A diurnal signal is apparent in the 

summer wind speed variability (lower right panel).

Figure A–5 shows windroses at the Fish Creek station 

for each of the four seasons: winter (December, January, 

February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, 

August), and autumn (September, October, November). 

Windroses are useful for showing how both wind speeds 

and directions are distributed at a particular site. For the 

DOI/GTN-P dataset, windroses are calculated by dividing 

the wind direction into 16 categories (22.5° each) and the 

wind speed into three classes: (a) less than 5 m/s, (b) between 

5 m/s and 10 m/s, and (c) greater than 10 m/s. The windroses 

show that winds at Fish Creek most frequently come out of 

the east and east-northeast. The strongest winds occur during 

the winter and tend to come out of the east with a secondary 

maximum out of the west. Strong winds also occur during the 

transition seasons, autumn and spring, again primarily coming 

out of the east with a secondary maximum out of the west.

Figure A–6 shows the ground temperature record from 

the Fish Creek monitoring station at hourly resolution. The top 

panel shows the full record, the middle panel shows a single 

year of data, and the lower panels show 1 week of winter data 

and 1 week of summer data. The annual seasonal cycle is 

clearly evident in the top panel with minimum winter ground 

temperatures near the surface (5 cm) dropping to about −20 °C 

and −15 °C at depth (120 cm). Maximum summer temperatures near the surface (5 cm) reach +10 °C and −2 °C at depth 

(120 cm). In the middle panel, seasonal changes are clearly 

evident with fast warming in the spring when snow melts and 

the low-albedo tundra surface is able to absorb shortwave 

radiation. In the autumn, the water-saturated soils take a long 

time to freeze solid due to the release of latent heat. In addition to the seasonal cycle, temperature excursions due to passing weather systems are discernible in the middle panel. These 

weather systems, as well as variability in snow cover, are the 

dominant source of ground temperature variability during the 

winter (lower left panel). During the summer, ground temperature variations in the active layer (0–25 cm at Fish Creek) are 

primarily related to changes in the incident solar flux, which 

produces a strong diurnal cycle (lower right panel). Ground 
10 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

temperatures below the active layer in summer are reflective 

of longer term (annual) conditions including air temperature 

and previous winter snow cover.

Figure A–7 shows the incident solar flux from the Fish 

Creek monitoring station at hourly resolution. The top panel 

shows the full record; the bottom panel shows a single year of 

data. The annual seasonal cycle is clearly evident with maximum flux values in midsummer of about 600 to 700 watts per 

square meter with near 24 hours of daylight and values that 

drop to zero for about 2 months of winter when there is little 

or no daylight at this latitude. Cloudy periods are often evident 

in the peak summer months (June, July, and August) when 

temperatures are above freezing and sea ice in the adjacent 

ocean is far offshore, providing a consistent moisture source 

for cloud formation.

Figure A–8 shows the reflected shortwave radiation 

flux from the Fish Creek monitoring station at hourly resolution. The top panel shows the full record; the bottom panel 

shows a single year of data. The annual seasonal cycle is 

clearly evident with maximum flux values in midspring of 

about 600 watts per square meter and values that drop to zero 

for about 2 months of winter. A distinguishing feature of the 

reflected solar-flux data is the extremely rapid decrease in 

values during snowpack disintegration. This transition from 

snow cover to bare tundra usually occurs in late May or early 

June, and in the span of 5–7 days reflected solar-flux values 

drop from 600 to 150 watts per square meter.

Figure A–9 shows the entire accumulated rainfall record 

from the Inigok monitoring station (lat 69°59.377'N., long 

153°05.630'W.) at four different resolutions: seasonal (top left 

panel), monthly (top right panel), weekly (bottom left panel), 

and daily (bottom right panel). The rainfall season typically 

begins in early June and ends in late September to early October, with the greatest rainfall amounts occurring in August.

Figure A–10 shows the snow depth record from the 

Inigok monitoring station. The top panel shows the full 

record at hourly resolution; the bottom panel shows a single 

year of data at daily resolution. The annual seasonal cycle is 

evident with snow accumulation typically beginning in late 

September to early October and snowmelt occurring in late 

May to early June. The snowpack gradually increases through 

the autumn (October–November), sometimes plateauing in the 

winter (January–March). Common snowpack features include 

midwinter wind scour (evident in the lower panel in late 

January), and early spring (April–May) snow depth increases 

immediately prior to snowmelt. A consistent aspect of the 

snowpack in this region is the extremely rapid disintegration 

that occurs in late May or early June. Once snowmelt ensues, 

the entire snowpack is usually gone in 7–10 days. Snow depth 

varies from station to station with a general trend of increasing depths away from the coast as elevation increases from the 

coast towards the Brooks Range (5–785 m).

Figure A–11 shows the hourly resolution soil moisture 

record at 15-cm depth from the Inigok (lat 69°59.377'N., long 

153°05.630'W.) monitoring station. Data gaps in winter occur 

when the ground temperature falls below about −15 °C and 

the sensor does not report valid values. The top panel shows 

the full record, the bottom panel shows a single year of data, 

and the inset shows soil-moisture-response details during one 

summer season. Typical water-fraction values are about 0.4 

when the active layer is thawed and near zero when the active 

layer is frozen. The inset displays a common feature, higher 

initial water fraction in the soils after snowmelt that gradually dissipates, usually by the end of July. Rains in August and 

September are often reflected in temporary increases in the 

water fraction.

Figure A–12 shows the surface pressure record from 

the Fish Creek monitoring station at hourly resolution. The 

top panel shows the full record; the bottom panel shows a 

single year of data. A seasonal cycle is evident with fewer 

high-amplitude pressure changes in spring and summer (late 

March through mid-October) than in the autumn and winter 

(November through February).
Data Overview 11

−40

−30

−20

−10

0

10

20

30

Air temperature

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Month

2006

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

−40

−35

−30

−25

−20

Air temperature

January

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

−5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Air temperature

July

2006 2006

Fish Creek

Fish Creek Fish Creek

Year

−40

−30

−20

−10

0

10

20

30

Temperature, in degrees Celsius Temperature, in degrees Celsius Temperature, in degrees Celsius

All air temperature Fish Creek

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Figure A–3. Sample air temperature record from Fish Creek station. Data are presented at several resolutions with each 

highlighted section expanded. The top panel shows the full record for the station, the middle panel shows 1 full year (2006), the 

lower left panel shows 1 week during the winter of 2006, and the lower right panel shows 1 week during the summer of 2006.
12 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

0

2

4

8

6

12

10

14

16

18

20

Wind speed

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Month

2006

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

2

0

4

10

8

6

12

14

16

20

18

Wind speed

February

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

1

2

0

3

4

5

7

6

8

10

9

Wind speed

July

2006 2006

Fish Creek

Fish Creek Fish Creek

Year

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Wind speed, in meters per second Wind speed, in meters per second Wind speed, in meters per second

All wind speed Fish Creek

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Figure A–4. Sample wind speed record from Fish Creek station. Data are presented at several resolutions with each 

highlighted section expanded. The top panel shows the full record for the station, the middle panel shows 1 full year (2006), the 

lower left panel shows 1 week during the winter of 2006, and the lower right panel shows 1 week during the summer of 2006.
Data Overview 13

Figure A–5. Sample windroses from Fish Creek station. The wind direction and speed data for a site are divided into 16 wind

direction categories (22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: (a) less than 5 meters per second (m/s), (b) between 5 m/s and 

10 m/s, and (c) greater than 10 m/s. The percentage of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category 

(concentric rings) is presented for each season: winter (December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer 

(June, July, August), and autumn (September, October, November). (U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)
14 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure A–6. Sample ground temperature record from Fish Creek station. Data are presented at several resolutions with each 

highlighted section expanded. The top panel shows the full record for the station, the middle panel shows 1 full year (2008), the 

lower left panel shows 2 months during the winter of 2008, and the lower right panel shows 2 months during the summer of 2008. 

(cm, centimeter)

−20

−15

−10

−5

0

5

10

Ground temperature

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Month

2008

6 13 20 27 3 10 17 24

−18

−16

−14

−12

−10

−8

Ground temperature

January February

6 13 20 27 3 10 17 24 31

−6

−4

−2

0

2

4

6

8

10

Ground temperature

July August

2008 2008

Fish Creek

Fish Creek Fish Creek

5

10

15

20

25

30

45

70

95

120

Color codes,

in centimeters

EXPLANATION

Year

−20

−15

−10

−5

0

5

10

Temperature, in degrees Celsius Temperature, in degrees Celsius Temperature, in degrees Celsius

All ground temperature Fish Creek

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Data Overview 15

Figure A–7. Sample incident solar-flux record from Fish Creek station. Data are presented at two resolutions with one 

highlighted section expanded. The top panel shows the full record for the station; the bottom panel shows 1 full year (2007).

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Incident solar flux

December January February March April May June July August September October November December

Month

2007

Fish Creek

Year

100

0

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Shortwave flux, in watts per meter squared Shortwave flux, in watts per meter squared

All incident solar flux Fish Creek

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
16 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure A–8. Sample reflected solar-flux record from Fish Creek station. Data are presented at two resolutions with one 

highlighted section expanded. The top panel shows the full record for the station; the bottom panel shows 1 full year (2006).

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Reflected solar flux

December January February March April May June July August September October November December

Month

2006

Fish Creek

Year

100

0

200

300

400

500

600

700

Shortwave flux, in watts per meter squared Shortwave flux, in watts per meter squared

All reflected solar flux Fish Creek

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Data Overview 17

Figure A–9. Sample rainfall record from Inigok station. Data are presented at several resolutions. The top left panel shows 

the accumulated rainfall at seasonal resolution, the top right panel shows the accumulated rainfall at monthly resolution, the 

bottom left panel shows the accumulated rainfall at weekly resolution, and the bottom right panel shows the accumulated 

rainfall at daily resolution.

5

0

10

15

20

40

35

30

25

Accumulated weekly rainfall

Year

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Accumulated daily rainfall

Year

Year Year

Inigok

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

100

Accumulated seasonal rainfall

0

5

10

15

20

40

35

30

25

45

50 Accumulated monthly rainfall

Inigok

Inigok Inigok

Rain, in millimeters

Rain, in millimeters

Rain, in millimeters

Rain, in millimeters

2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2015 2007 2009 2011 2013 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2015 2007 2009 2011 2013

2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2015 2007 2009 2011 2013 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2015 2007 2009 2011 2013
18 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure A–10. Sample snow depth record from Inigok station. Data are presented at two resolutions with one highlighted 

section expanded. The top panel shows the full record for the station; the bottom panel shows daily averages for one full snowcover season, September 2007 through June 2008.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40 Daily average snow depth

September October November December January February March April May June

Month

2007 2008

Inigok

Year

10

0

20

30

40

50

60

70

Snow depth, in centimeters Snow depth, in centimeters

All hourly snow depth Inigok

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Data Overview 19

Figure A–11. Sample soil moisture record at 15-centimeter depth from Inigok station. Data are presented at several resolutions 

with each highlighted section expanded. The top panel shows the full record for the station, the bottom panel shows 1 full year

(2006), and the inset shows detail during the unfrozen season, July through October, 2006.

0.05

0

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

Soil moisture

Inigok

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Month

2006

Inigok

July August September

0.35

0.36

0.37

0.38

0.39

0.4

0.41

0.42

0.43

0.44

Year

0.1

0.05

0

0.15

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

Soil moisture, water fraction by volume Soil moisture, water fraction by volume Soil moisture,

water fraction by volume

All soil moisture Inigok

Soil moisture

Month

2006

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
20 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

980

970

990

1,000

1,010

1,020

1,030

1,040

1,050 Surface pressure

January February March April May June July August September October November December

Month

2009

Fish Creek

Year

990

980

970

1,000

1,010

1,020

1,030

1,040

1,050

Surface pressure, in millibars Surface pressure, in millibars

All surface pressure Fish Creek

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Figure A–12. Sample surface pressure record from Fish Creek station. Data are presented at two resolutions with one 

highlighted section expanded. The top panel shows the full record for the station; the bottom panel shows 1 full year (2009).
B. Drew Point 21

B. Drew Point

GTN-P code: U20

Latitude: 70°51.872'N

Longitude: 153°54.405'W

Elevation: 5 meters above mean sea level

Installation date: 18 AUG 1998

Figure B–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Drew Point site and its spatial relation to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

0 50 100 MILES

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM)

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Drew Point
22 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure B–2. Drew Point station in summer 2008.
B. Drew Point 23

Figure B–3. Drew Point seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction 

categories (22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. 

The percentage of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for 

each season: winter (December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn 

(September, October, November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
24 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

C. Inigok

GTN-P code: U21

Latitude: 69°59.377'N

Longitude: 153°05.630'W

Elevation: 53 meters above mean sea level

Installation date: 17 AUG 1998

Figure C–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Inigok site and its spatial relation to other sites in the monitoring 

network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
C. Inigok 25

Figure C–2. Inigok station in summer 2008.
26 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure C–3. Inigok seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction categories 

(22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. The percentage 

of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for each season: winter 

(December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn (September, October, 

November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
D. Fish Creek 27

D. Fish Creek

GTN-P code: U22 

Latitude: 70° 20.114'N 

Longitude: 152° 03.120'W 

Elevation: 31 meters above mean sea level 

Installation date: 18 AUG 1998

Figure D–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Fish Creek site and its spatial relationship to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
28 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure D–2. Fish Creek station in summer 2008.
D. Fish Creek 29

Figure D–3. Fish Creek seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction 

categories (22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. 

The percentage of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented 

for each season: winter (December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and 

autumn (September, October, November). (m/s, meter per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
30 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

E. Awuna1

GTN-P code: U23

Latitude: 69°10.226'N

Longitude: 158°00.402'W

Elevation: 362 meters above mean sea level

Installation date: 19 AUG 1998

Figure E–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Awuna1 site and its spatial relation to other sites in the monitoring 

network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
E. Awuna1 31

Figure E–2. Awuna1 station in summer 2008.

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
32 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

F. Umiat

GTN-P code: U24

Latitude: 69°23.741'N

Longitude: 152°08.568'W

Elevation: 201 meters above mean sea level

Installation date: 20 AUG 1998

Figure F–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Umiat site and its spatial relation to other sites in the monitoring 

network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A
F. Umiat 33

Figure F–2. Umiat station in summer 2008.
34 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure F–3. Umiat seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction categories 

(22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. The percentage 

of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for each season: winter 

(December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn (September, October, 

November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
G. Tunalik 35

G. Tunalik

GTN-P code: U25 

Latitude: 70°11.756'N 

Longitude: 161°04.687'W 

Elevation: 26 meters above mean sea level 

Installation date: 20 AUG 1998

Figure G–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Tunalik site and its spatial relation to other sites in the monitoring 

network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
36 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure G–2. Tunalik station in summer 2008.
G. Tunalik 37

Figure G–3. Tunalik seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction categories 

(22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. The percentage 

of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for each season: winter 

(December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn (September, October, 

November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
38 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

H. Koluktak

GTN-P code: U30 

Latitude: 69°45.096'N 

Longitude: 154°37.054'W 

Elevation: 60 meters above mean sea level 

Installation date: 27 AUG 1999

Figure H–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Koluktak site and its spatial relation to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65
H. Koluktak 39

Figure H–2. Koluktak station in summer 2008.
40 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure H–3. Koluktak seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction categories 

(22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. The percentage 

of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for each season: winter 

(December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn (September, October, 

November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
I. South Meade 41

I. South Meade

GTN-P code: U33 

Latitude: 70°37.708'N 

Longitude: 156°50.119'W 

Elevation: 15 meters above mean sea level 

Installation date: 08 AUG 2003

Figure I–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the South Meade site and its spatial relation to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
42 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure I–2. South Meade station in summer 2008.
I. South Meade 43

Figure I–3. South Meade seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction 

categories (22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. 

The percentage of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for 

each season: winter (December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn 

(September, October, November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
44 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

J. Awuna2

GTN-P code: U35 

Latitude: 69°09.331'N 

Longitude: 158°01.827'W 

Elevation: 343 meters above mean sea level 

Installation date: 22 AUG 2003

Figure J–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Awuna2 site and its spatial relation to other sites in the monitoring 

network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
J. Awuna2 45

Figure J–2. Awuna2 station in summer 2008.
46 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure J–3. Awuna2 seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction categories 

(22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. The percentage 

of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for each season: winter 

(December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn (September, October, 

November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
K. Piksiksak 47

K. Piksiksak

GTN-P code: U37 

Latitude: 70°02.197'N 

Longitude: 157°04.882'W 

Elevation: 33 meters above mean sea level 

Installation date: 08 AUG 2004

Figure K–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Piksiksak site and its spatial relation to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
48 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure K–2. Piksiksak station in summer 2008.
K. Piksiksak 49

Figure K–3. Piksiksak seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction categories 

(22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. The percentage 

of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for each season: winter 

(December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn (September, October, 

November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
50 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure L–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the East Teshekpuk site and its spatial relation to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

L. East Teshekpuk

GTN-P code: U38 

Latitude: 70°34.111'N 

Longitude: 152°57.899'W 

Elevation: 7 meters above mean sea level 

Installation date: 10 AUG 2004

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
L. East Teshekpuk 51

Figure L–2. East Teshekpuk station in summer 2008.
52 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure L–3. East Teshekpuk seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction 

categories (22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. 

The percentage of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for 

each season: winter (December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn 

(September, October, November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
M. Ikpikpuk 53

Figure M–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Ikpikpuk site and its spatial relation to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

M. Ikpikpuk

GTN-P code: U39 

Latitude: 70°26.499'N 

Longitude: 154°21.938'W 

Elevation: 5 meters above mean sea level 

Installation date: 21 AUG 2005

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
54 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure M–2. Ikpikpuk station in summer 2008.
M. Ikpikpuk 55

Figure M–3. Ikpikpuk seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction categories 

(22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. The percentage 

of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for each season: winter 

(December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn (September, October, 

November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
56 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure N–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Lake 145 site and its spatial relation to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

N. Lake 145

GTN-P code: — 

Latitude: 70°41.388'N 

Longitude: 152°37.995'W 

Elevation: 6 meters above mean sea level 

Installation date: 13 AUG 2007

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

0 50 100 MILES

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM)

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65
N. Lake 145 57

Figure N–2. Lake 145 station in summer 2008.
58 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure N–3. Lake 145 seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction categories 

(22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. The percentage 

of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for each season: winter 

(December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn (September, October, 

November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
O. Niguanak 59

Figure O–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Niguanak site and its spatial relation to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

O. Niguanak

GTN-P code: U29

Latitude: 69°53.363'N

Longitude: 142°59.037'W

Elevation: 84 meters above mean sea level

Installation date: 18 AUG 2000

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
60 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure O–2. Niguanak station in summer 2008.
O. Niguanak 61

Figure O–3. Niguanak seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction categories 

(22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. The percentage 

of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for each season: winter 

(December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn (September, October, 

November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
62 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

P. Marsh Creek

GTN-P code: U31

Latitude: 69°46.657'N

Longitude: 144°47.595'W

Elevation: 260 meters above mean sea level

Installation date: 03 AUG 2001

Figure P–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Marsh Creek site and its spatial relation to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
P. Marsh Creek 63

Figure P–2. Marsh Creek station in summer 2008.
64 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure P–3. Marsh Creek seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction 

categories (22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. 

The percentage of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for 

each season: winter (December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn 

(September, October, November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
Q. Camden Bay 65

Q. Camden Bay

GTN-P code: U34

Latitude: 69°58.317'N

Longitude: 144°46.234'W

Elevation: 4 meters above mean sea level

Installation date: 14 AUG 2003

Figure Q–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Camden Bay site and its spatial relation to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
66 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure Q–2. Camden Bay station in summer 2008.
Q. Camden Bay 67

Figure Q–3. Camden Bay seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction 

categories (22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. 

The percentage of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for 

each season: winter (December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn 

(September, October, November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
68 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

R. Red Sheep Creek

GTN-P code: U36

Latitude: 68°40.898'N

Longitude: 144°50.524'W

Elevation: 785 meters above mean sea level

Installation date: 03 AUG 2004

Figure R–1. Location map presenting the specific location of the Red Sheep Creek site and its spatial relation to other sites in the 

monitoring network. (NPR-A, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska; ANWR, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

160° 155° 150° 145° 140°

71°

70°

69°

68°

67°

ALASKA

CANADA

ANWR

USGS Permafrost and Climate-Monitoring Networks

Arctic Alaska

Awuna2

Tunalik

Piksiksak

Koluktak Umiat

Inigok

Fish Creek

Marsh Creek

Niguanak

Lake 145

Drew Point

Camden

Bay

Red Sheep Creek

South Meade

East Teshekpuk

Ikpikpuk

ARCTIC OCEAN

Awuna1

NPR–A

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, National Elevation Database (NED), 2010, 300-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) 0 50 100 MILES

Albers Equal Area Conic

Central Meridian -154

Standard Parallel1 55

Standard Parallel2 65

Map

area

ALASKA CANADA
R. Red Sheep Creek 69

Figure R–2. Red Sheep Creek station in summer 2008.
70 DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR

Figure R–3. Red Sheep Creek seasonal windroses. The wind direction and speed data are divided into 16 wind direction 

categories (22.5° each) and 3 wind speed classes: less than 5 m/s, between 5 m/s and 10 m/s, and greater than 10 m/s. 

The percentage of time that wind speeds occupy each class and directional category (concentric rings) is presented for 

each season: winter (December, January, February), spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), and autumn 

(September, October, November). (m/s, meters per second; U, wind speed; N, north; E, east; S, south; W, west)

Data Access

List of station data ScienceBase data release files and 

summary tables for this report are available at 

https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VX0FGB.
References Cited 71

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Clow, G.D., DeGange, A.R., Derksen, D.V., and Zimmerman, 

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Urban, F.E., and Clow, G.D., 2014a, DOI/GTN-P climate 

and active-layer data acquired in the National Petroleum 

Reserve–Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 

1998–2011: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 812, 

accessed August 1, 2015, at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ds812.

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and active-layer data acquired in the National Petroleum 

Reserve–Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 

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accessed August 1, 2015, at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ds892.

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and active-layer data acquired in the National Petroleum 

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1998–2014: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 977, 

accessed July 1, 2016, at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ds977.

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permafrost, and impacts on civil infrastructure: U.S. Arctic 

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p. S3–S22.

Publishing support provided by the Science Publishing Network, 

Denver Publishing Service Center

For more information concerning the research in this report, 

contact the 

Center Director, USGS Geosciences and Environmental Change 

Science Center

Box 25046, Mail Stop 980

Denver, CO 80225

(303) 236-5344

Or visit the Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center 

website at

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/gecsc
Urban and Clow—DOI/GTN-P Climate and Active-Layer Data Acquired in the NPR–Alaska and the ANWR, 1998–2016—Data Series 1092

ISSN 2327-638X (online)

https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1092