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| Keywords: sunset mountain river noat noatak river noatakriver geology maiyumerak mountains maiyumerakmountains baird mountains bairdmountains tree nps ccrp climate change climatechange global warming globalwarming outdoor This time of year, the sun never sets in Noatak National Preserve, a park protecting the Noatak River and its surrounding forest and tundra in northwest Alaska. Researchers have observed the forest in Noatak expanding northward into tundra; elsewhere, like in Yosemite National Park, forests have moved upslope into higher mountains. As the climate continues to warm, we’re studying these high-latitude and high-elevation ecosystems with particular interest. How different might these ecosystems look in another 50 years, and which plants and wildlife will successfully adapt? Here, the sun casts a spectacular pink light on the Maiyumerak Mountains which lie on the south side of the Noatak River. This time of year, the sun never sets in Noatak National Preserve, a park protecting the Noatak River and its surrounding forest and tundra in northwest Alaska. Researchers have observed the forest in Noatak expanding northward into tundra; elsewhere, like in Yosemite National Park, forests have moved upslope into higher mountains. As the climate continues to warm, we’re studying these high-latitude and high-elevation ecosystems with particular interest. How different might these ecosystems look in another 50 years, and which plants and wildlife will successfully adapt? Here, the sun casts a spectacular pink light on the Maiyumerak Mountains which lie on the south side of the Noatak River. | ||||
