May 18, 2018: Updated North Slope Infrastructure: Roads and Developed Areas

The North Slope Science Initiative (NSSI) together with the Alaska Center for Conservation Science (ACCS) has compiled GIS datasets that represent maintained roads and developed areas (gravel pads, excavations, villages) within the North Slope region. These data were compiled from a variety of public data sources and manually updated using recent orthoimagery.

For further information: Click Here

February 28, 2018: USGS Science for Decision Making

The USGS has developed a web list of recent USGS publications that could be relevant for decision making in Alaska and the Arctic. It provides a quick NEPA-related annotation, the final abstract of the paper and a link to the online version of the publication. Topic areas include: birds, pacific walrus, fish, aquatic plants, habitat and refugia.

For further information: Click Here

January 19, 2018: Summary of wildlife-related research on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, 2002–17

The USGS and USFWS have completed a summary of recent (2002–17) publicly available information from studies within the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as well as terrestrial and coastal ecosystems elsewhere on the Arctic Coastal Plain that are relevant to the 1002 Area.

For further information: Click Here

USGS Updated Bibliography: Click Here

January 8, 2018: The State of Alaska’s ANILCA Section 1002(e) Exploration Plan, Special Use Permit Application and Supporting Materials

This document, completed in July 2013, presents the State of Alaska’s plan for exploratory activity within the 1002 Area and application for a special use permit that was submitted to the U.S. Department of Interior. The report evaluates the petroleum resource potential of ANWR’s 1002 Area and outlines the standards for environmental protection and limited impacts that it will adhere to. The plan also provides a review of natural resources within ANWR including wildlife and habitats as well as oil and gas.

For further information: Click Here

December 24, 2017: Update to ADOG Oil and Gas Activity Map

The State of Alaska, Division of Oil and Gas (ADOG) provides maps of oil and gas activity as well as working interest and lease ownership for the North Slope of Alaska.

For Oil and Gas Activity (December 2017): Click Here

For Working Interest Ownership (January 2017): Click Here

For North Slope Lease Ownership by Notification Lessee (November 2017): Click Here

December 7, USGS National Assessment of Coastal Shoreline Change

The U.S.G.S Coastal and Marine Geology Program has provided an excellent summary of their coastal shoreline change research on the North Slope. This summary provides an introduction to the USGS National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards Project and includes descriptions of results, coastal image and elevation data sets as well as their ongoing research. Links and references to more detailed analysis and data are provided.

For further information: Click Here

December 1, 2017: Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology Joint Industry Programme (JIP)

The JIP was initiated in 2012 under the auspices of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), and completed in 2017. The programme built on over four decades of extensive research and experience to further improve Arctic oil spill response capabilities. The JIP provided a vehicle for sharing knowledge among the participants and disseminating information to a broad range of stakeholders. The summary and synthesis reports are provided which present the JIP’s results within the context of historical research, and explains the broad significance of the JIP’s findings in improving Arctic response capabilities. The final report for the remote sensing (RS) component of the JIP is also provided. This document covers a fully integrated experiment, testing a variety of RS tools for detecting oil from above and below sea-ice. A link to the Arctic Response Technology website is also provided.

For further information: Click Here

November 22, 2017: Environmental and ecological conditions at Arctic breeding sites have limited effects on true survival rates of adult shorebirds

Many Arctic shorebird populations are declining, and quantifying adult survival and the effects of anthropogenic factors is a crucial step toward a better understanding of population dynamics. This study used a recently developed, spatially explicit Cormack–Jolly–Seber model in a Bayesian framework to obtain broad-scale estimates of true annual survival rates for 6 species of shorebirds at 9 breeding sites across the North American Arctic in 2010–2014. No factors broadly affected survival across species. Overall, the findings suggest that annual survival rates of adult shorebirds are generally robust to conditions at Arctic breeding sites. Instead, conditions at migratory stopovers or overwintering sites might be driving adult survival rates and should be the focus of future studies.

For further information: Click Here

September 22, 2017: Indigenous peoples and responsible data

The Responsible Data community has compiled an introductory reading list about responsible data protocols for indigenous communities. Together, they offer an introduction to the topic of responsible data protocols for indigenous communities. The suggested works are divided into sections: examples of ethical research guidelines for working with indigenous people, responsible data research guidelines, examples of indigenous data initiatives, and upcoming projects.

For further information: Click Here

August 21, 2017: Meteorological Monitoring Program – BLM NPRA – Data Summaries

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has established a meteorological monitoring station in a remote location of the southeastern NPR-A where there is a lack of high quality dispersion meteorological data for use in modeling and climatological data representing the region between the North Slope Coastal Plain and Brooks Range foothills. Annual data summaries for observations during 2014-2017 are provided along with quality assurrance reports.

For further information: Click Here

August 18, 2017: Regional Cover Mapping of Tundra Plant Functional Types in Arctic Alaska (circa 2015)

Ecosystem maps are foundational tools that support multi-disciplinary study design and applications including wildlife habitat assessment, monitoring, and earth-system modeling. Here we present continuous-field cover maps for tundra plant functional types (PFTs) across ~125,000 km² of Alaska’s North Slope at 30 m resolution.

For further information: Click Here

August 8, 2017: Ecological Atlas of the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas

Audubon Alaska has produced an Ecological Atlas of the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas that provides a description of the natural history and ecological relationships in the Arctic marine environment. This trans-boundary atlas contains over 100 maps of Arctic marine mammals, seabirds, sea ice, subsistence, and more. The Atlas is organized into six sections: physical setting, biological setting, fishes, birds, mammals and human uses.

For more information: Click Here

Ecological Atlas of Alaska’s Western Arctic 3rd Ed: Click Here

July 24, 2017: A Literature Review of the Effects of Helicopter Disturbance and Noise on Selected Wildlife Species

This document provides a summary of literature that evaluates the effects of noise, primarily from helicopters, on large mammals and migratory birds. The literature was compiled by ABR for the U.S. Army as part of an EIS and was prepared in 2007.

For further information: Click Here

July 19, 2017: Effects of Industrial and Investigator Disturbance on Arctic-Nesting Geese

USGS investigators monitored nests of greater white-fronted geese with digital cameras and periodic nest visits during 2013-2014 at two sites on the Arctic Coastal Plain to estimate effects of industrial activity and investigator disturbance on avian productivity. Results of this study are summarized in a Journal article and at a USGS website.

For further information: Click Here

June 21, 2017: BLM Aviation Rules and Actions to Reduce Disturbance

Distrubance from aircraft is viewed as a threat to subsistence activities consequently it is important that all researchers on the North Slope consider best practices to minimize conflict. This document summarizes BLM understanding of the problem, provides a summary of BLM regulations for aircraft in NPR-A and presents best managment practices for aircraft operations. These guidelines are intended to help minimize conflicts between subsistence activities and aircraft operations on the North Slope.

To download the document: Click Here

June 8, 2017: Chukchi Shelf Bathymetry and Shallow Geology Compilation

Shell Exploration & Production Company (Shell) contracted with Canadian Seabed Research Ltd. to compile and analyze bathymetry seafloor shallow geology data for the Chukchi Sea. The reports and data from this study are available for download.

For Shallow Geology Data and Reports: Click Here

For Bathymetry Data and Reports: Click Here

May 5, 2017: Invasive Species Database

The Alaska Center for Conservation Science (ACCS) maintains the Alaska Exotic Plants Information Clearinghouse (AKEPIC) that provides information about non-native plant species in Alaska and neighboring Canadian Territories. ACCS has compiled biographies for over half of the 350 non-native plant species that are known or likely to occur in Alaska. In addition, CAFF and PAME have recently produced an action plan.

To access the ACCS Website: Click Here

For CAFF/PAME Report: Click Here

April 27, 2017: ADOG Map of Oil and Gas Activity and North Slope Working Interest Maps

Alaska Division of Oil and Gas provides maps of oil and gas activity as well as working interesdt maps for the North Slope of Alaska. This map shows locations and operator activities throughout the North Slope.

For Oil and Gas Activity (April 2017): Click Here

For Working Interest Ownership (January 2017): Click Here

April 9, 2017: Ozone Monitoring Pilot Project National Petroleum Reserve Inigok, Alaska

This report summarizes and analyzes ozone data measured at the BLM Inigok site located in a remote area on Alaska’s North Slope in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) during the 2014 field season. Results from this effort are compared to data collected during the same time period at Barrow and Umiat.

For further information: Click Here

March 20, 2017: Reliability Based Design Criteria for Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Structures

Design values for the North Slope region are required to produce safe and reliable offshore structure designs. This project included identification of appropriate, existing metocean data. Bulk statistics were calculated from the samples that were relevant for offshore structure design. These statics include parameters with a low rate of occurrence.

For further information: Click Here

February 23, 2017: Hilcorp Ecological Study Reports for 2015

In 2014, Hilcorp Alaska, LLC assumed interests the Milne Point Unit, Northstar Island and Endicott Island. As part of this transfer, Hilcorp Alaska, LLC assumed responsibility for ecological monitoring projects associated with those assets. Annual reports that are generated include:

• Summary of 2015 Subsistence Whaling Season at Cross Island
• Beaufort Sea Fish Monitoring Study of Nearshore Fishes in the Prudhoe Bay Region: 2015 Annual Report
• Monitoring of industrial sounds, seals and bowhead whales near Hilcorp Northstar Oil Development, Alaska Beaufort Sea 2015 Summary Report

To access these reports: Click Here

February 1, 2017: Upward Looking Sonar (ULS) and Acoustic Dopler Current Profiler(ADCP) Data

As part of the Shell data delivery, ULS and ADCP data for the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas are now available for download. These data and the associated reports and documentation are processed data for ice keel depth, ice velocity and ocean current profile measurements and include vessel observations. Deployment of ULS and ADCP started in 2005 for the Beaufort Sea and in 2008 for the Chukchi Sea. This work continued through 2014. Unprocessed data can be made available separately. Please contact the Catalog Data Manager for further information.

For further information: Click Here

January, 18, 2017: Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria

The Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria brings together regional herbaria in an online portal to information about the flora of Pacific Northwest North America. Over 35,000 records for collections on the North Slope region of Alaska are available from this portal. Specimens from the Alaska State Museum, University of Alaska – Anchorage and University of Alaska – Fairbanks can be found. The portal includes geographic locations (map) as well as photographs and descriptions.

For further information: Click Here

December 12, 2016: Shell Exploration Data and Reports

NSSI is working together with Shell and their associated contractors, to release environmental data that were collected as part of their exploration on Alaska’s North Slope. These data include reports and data associated with grounded ice features, onshore environmental assessment, hydrology, freeze up, ice drift, coastal and overflooding as well as upward looking sonar. These data are a valuable contribution toward our understanding of this region. We will continue to update our holdings as we process the data.

To view Shell Data and Reports: Click Here

November 7, 2016: Air Quality Database for Arctic Alaska – 2016 and NPRA Meteorological Assessment and Gap Analysis

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation have completed an update of the Air Quality Database (AQD). This database contains a listing of data, literature and models that are relevant to addressing air quality management questions on the North Slope of Alaska. The AQD allows a user to search and view descriptions of air quality information. Links to the data, literature and models are provided. The BLM has also completed a meteorological assessment and gap analysis for the NPRA to assess climate data for Atqasut Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) and considers whether additional meteorologic stations are needed for non-coastal NPRA.

For further information regarding AQD:Click Here

For further information regarding the NPRA meteorological assessment and gap analysis:Click Here

October, 25, 2016: Arctic Circumpolar Distribution and Soil Carbon of Thermokarst Landscapes, 2015

This data set provides the distribution of thermokarst landscapes in the boreal and tundra ecoregions within the northern circumpolar permafrost zones. This dataset provides an areal estimate of wetland, lake, and hillslope thermokarst landscapes as of 2015. Estimates of soil organic carbon (SOC) content associated with thermokarst and non-thermokarst landscapes were based on available circumpolar 0 to 3 meter SOC storage data.

For further information: Click Here

September 11, 2016: NSSI Scenarios: Prioritizing Science Needs Through Participatory Scenarios for Energy and Resource Development on the North Slope and Adjacent Seas

The North Slope Science Initiation (NSSI) commissioned a scenario project to provide NSSI member agencies with guidance for implementing research and monitoring recommendations and priorities. The scenarios identified a plausible range of potential future conditions in the region through 2040. These scenarios do not represent a development plan for the region but can provide a basis for discussion to help identify future research and monitoring priorities. These outcomes do not set priorities for NSSI or its individual member entities and is not a policy document.

For Scenarios Reports: Click Here

For Scenarios Mapping Results: Click Here

For Scenarios spatial data: Click Here

September 7, 2016: Arctic Vegetation Archive (AVA AK)

The Alaska Arctic Vegetation Archive is a free, publically available archive of vegetation-plot data from the Arctic tundra region of northern Alaska. The archive currently contains 24 datasets with 3,026 non-overlapping plots. Species cover data and header data are stored in a Turboveg database. A standardized Pan Arctic Species List provides a consistent nomenclature for vascular plants, bryophytes, and lichens in the archive. A web-based online Alaska Arctic Geoecological Atlas (AGA-AK) allows viewing and downloading of data.

To access the AVA Portal: Click Here

September 1, 2016: ArcticDEM v1.0 Alaska

ArcticDEM is an initiative to automatically produce a high-resolution, high quality, digital surface model (DSM) of the Arctic using optical stereo imagery, high-performance computing, and open source photogrammetry software. ArcticDEM data is constructed from in-track, high-resolution (~0.5 meter) imagery acquired by the DigitalGlobe constellation of optical imaging satellites and licensed through the NGA NextView contract.

For more information: Click Here