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Graduate student researcher Emily Fedders sits on top of an ice island with the portable interferometric radar. The ice island is in landfast sea ice on Alaska’s Arctic coast near Utqiaġvik. Photo courtesy of Andy Mahoney.
Graduate student researcher Emily Fedders sits on top of an ice island with the portable interferometric radar. The ice island is in landfast sea ice on Alaska’s Arctic coast near Utqiaġvik. Photo courtesy of Andy Mahoney.
Graduate student researchers Claire Puleio left, and Valerie Wasser walk to another location to test for CO2 gas along Mt. Edgecumbe's summit, Wednesday, June 7, 2023, on Kruzof Island. UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta.
Graduate student researchers Claire Puleio left, and Valerie Wasser walk to another location to test for CO2 gas along Mt. Edgecumbe's summit, Wednesday, June 7, 2023, on Kruzof Island. UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta.
Thermokarst terrain has been formed by beaver hydrologic engineering and permafrost thaw on Alaska’s Seward Peninsula in August 2021. Photo by Ken Tape.
Thermokarst terrain has been formed by beaver hydrologic engineering and permafrost thaw on Alaska’s Seward Peninsula in August 2021. Photo by Ken Tape.
UAF Geophysical Institute associate professor Ronni Grapenthin digs the seismometer hole at a new Alaska Volcano Observatory monitoring site on the northwest side of Mount Edgecumbe in late August 2023. Photo by Max Kaufman.
UAF Geophysical Institute associate professor Ronni Grapenthin digs the seismometer hole at a new Alaska Volcano Observatory monitoring site on the northwest side of Mount Edgecumbe in late August 2023. Photo by Max Kaufman.
The community of Chignik Bay, one of the project partners, is located on the Alaska Peninsula. Photo by Chris Maio.
The community of Chignik Bay, one of the project partners, is located on the Alaska Peninsula. Photo by Chris Maio.
A panorama photograph shows the payload portions of the NASA sounding rockets in the payload assembly area at Poker Flat Research Range. Photo by Rod Boyce
A panorama photograph shows the payload portions of the NASA sounding rockets in the payload assembly area at Poker Flat Research Range. Photo by Rod Boyce
A four-stage NASA sounding rocket launches from Poker Flat Research Range on Nov. 9, 2023. The rocket was carrying instruments for the Beam-Plasma Interactions Experiment. NASA photo by Lee Wingfield.
A four-stage NASA sounding rocket launches from Poker Flat Research Range on Nov. 9, 2023. The rocket was carrying instruments for the Beam-Plasma Interactions Experiment. NASA photo by Lee Wingfield.
A pre-flood buildup of aufeis is seen as the leading cause of the chaotic flooding of the Sagavanirktok River in 2015. Photograph shows flooding at the end of the Dalton Highway near Deadhorse, Alaska, May 20, 2015 Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities photo.
A pre-flood buildup of aufeis is seen as the leading cause of the chaotic flooding of the Sagavanirktok River in 2015. Photograph shows flooding at the end of the Dalton Highway near Deadhorse, Alaska, May 20, 2015 Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities photo.
The Sagavanirktok River flooded a wide area in northern Alaska during spring 2015 breakup. The Dalton Highway was closed for several days due to flood damage. Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities photo.
The Sagavanirktok River flooded a wide area in northern Alaska during spring 2015 breakup. The Dalton Highway was closed for several days due to flood damage. Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities photo.
This conceptual image reveals what the Kasei Valles region on Mars may have looked like 3 billion years ago. White areas are glaciers and blue represents ocean. Image by F. Schmidt/NASA
This conceptual image reveals what the Kasei Valles region on Mars may have looked like 3 billion years ago. White areas are glaciers and blue represents ocean. Image by F. Schmidt/NASA
Visitors gather at the University of Alaska Fairbanks exhibitor booth at the AGU Fall Meeting 2022 in Chicago, IL. UAF GI Photo by Rod Boyce.
Visitors gather at the University of Alaska Fairbanks exhibitor booth at the AGU Fall Meeting 2022 in Chicago, IL. UAF GI Photo by Rod Boyce.
NASA personnel at the Poker Flat Research Range payload assembly area work on the payload for the two-stage rocket for the Dissipation experiment. Photo by Rod Boyce
NASA personnel at the Poker Flat Research Range payload assembly area work on the payload for the two-stage rocket for the Dissipation experiment. Photo by Rod Boyce
Geoff Reeves of Los Alamos National Laboratory stands in the Poker Flat Research Range payload assembly area with the upper portion of the four-stage NASA sounding rocket that will carry his Beam-PIE science instruments. Reeves is the experiment’s principal investigator. Photo by Rod Boyce
Geoff Reeves of Los Alamos National Laboratory stands in the Poker Flat Research Range payload assembly area with the upper portion of the four-stage NASA sounding rocket that will carry his Beam-PIE science instruments. Reeves is the experiment’s principal investigator. Photo by Rod Boyce
A portable interferometric radar unit sits atop an ice island near Utqiaġvik, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Emily Fedders.
A portable interferometric radar unit sits atop an ice island near Utqiaġvik, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Emily Fedders.
David Newman. UAF photo by Todd Paris
David Newman. UAF photo by Todd Paris
Ph.D. student Sebin John presents his research on observing the impact of ocean storms and sea ice on seismic background noise across Alaska. Photo by Mike West
Ph.D. student Sebin John presents his research on observing the impact of ocean storms and sea ice on seismic background noise across Alaska. Photo by Mike West
Four members of an international science team led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute stand at the rim of Mount Edgecumbe volcano in Southeast Alaska in early June 2023. Photo by Rod Boyce.
Four members of an international science team led by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute stand at the rim of Mount Edgecumbe volcano in Southeast Alaska in early June 2023. Photo by Rod Boyce.

2023: A year of continued research leadership by the UAF Geophysical Institute

December 21, 2023 / Rod Boyce

2023, like the years and decades before it, showed the strength and significance of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute as a leader in research, especially in Arctic research.

Geophysical Institute scientists — research faculty, graduate students and undergrads — study permafrost, ice, snow, sea ice, the depths of the Arctic Ocean, coastal erosion, seismicity and volcanology of Alaska, tectonics, the Arctic atmosphere, the aurora and other aspects of near-Earth space. And more. The Geophysical Institute is particularly strong in climate change research.

The year 2023 had it all. Here’s a sampling of the year’s research:

Research explains strength of earthquake shaking in Nenana Basin

FAA grants wide authority to UAF unmanned aircraft center

UAF research contributes to progress on fusion energy

UAF researchers aiding NASA in developing Venus seismometer

New method of monitoring shore ice could improve public safety

Research reveals geologic history of critical Alaska graphite deposit

Paleomagnetism aids research on the Northern Hemisphere Glaciation

Geophysical Institute research on display at European science meeting

UAF researchers show work at Seismological Society of America meeting

Scientists find novel way to aid earthquake magnitude determination

UAF scientists to hunt for clues about Arctic Ocean glaciation

International science team explores gassing of Mt. Edgecumbe volcano

Research reveals sources of CO2 from Aleutian-Alaska Arc volcanoes

Polar Aeronomy and Radio Science Summer School returns to HAARP

New analysis finds real, though rare, tsunami threat to upper Cook Inlet

UAF scientists heading to Greenland for glacier research, museum project

New research explains “Atlantification” of the Arctic Ocean

Beaver activity in the Arctic increases emission of methane greenhouse gas

First seismic network installed on Mount Edgecumbe volcano

ACUASI completes first drone flight from Nenana to Fairbanks International Airport

Study: Near-surface permafrost will be nearly gone by 2100

New Mars gravity analysis improves understanding of possible ancient ocean

UAF-led group gets $13.9 million to aid coastal climate resilience

Flooding that closed Dalton Highway also caused widespread ground sinking

UAF scientist to aid NASA’s space weather forecasting

UAF scientists receive grant to improve study of rising sea levels

HAARP artificial airglow may be widely visible in Alaska

Two launches to mark start of Poker Flat rocket range season

First NASA rocket of season flies high out of Poker Flat Research Range

Second NASA sounding rocket launches from Poker Flat Research Range

More than 100 UAF researchers presenting work at national science conference

CONTACTS:

• Rod Boyce, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, 907-474-7185, rcboyce@alaska.edu

 


About

Since it was established by an Act of Congress in 1946, scientists at the Geophysical Institute have studied geophysical processes from the center of the Earth to the surface of the sun and beyond, turning data and observations into information useful for state, Arctic and national priorities.

Contact info

The GI is located on the West Ridge of the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.

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