Cloud makers: How Alaska's seasons paint the sky

The Alaska ecosystem is changing, but some of the most powerful drivers of its weather are completely invisible to the naked eye. From spring tree pollen wafting off rainforests to summer microscopic life blooming in glacial fjords, living particles drift into the sky to become the 'seeds' that create clouds and fog. Yet we have very limited understanding of how these living ingredients are shaping local weather.

Join NSF NCAR researchers Yingxiao Zhang and Kristina Black, and UCAR COMET Deputy Director Wendy Gram as they share results from the first year of a multi-year expedition through the Alaska sub-Arctic in partnership with HX Expeditions. Learn how ocean and air samples collected reveal a shifting atmosphere, how these findings are improving weather models, and what a fast-changing sub-Arctic means for environments worldwide.

This is a free public event recommended for ages 12+

This event is brought to you by the Education, Engagement & Early-Career Development (EdEC) team. Learn more on our website. For more information about public engagement and to watch archived lectures, visit the NSF NCAR Explorer Series webpage.