Warming in the northern high latitudes is expected to alter freeze and break-up dates of lake ice, affecting lake ecosystems, wildlife migration and habitat, human subsistence, and recreation. The Southwest Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program is using daily MODIS satellite imagery to document the dates of freeze-up and ice break-up on lakes in southwest Alaska. The study shows substantial interannual variability in freeze-up dates but the timing of break-up appears relatively constant from year to year.
Date of final break-up of lake ice for 17 lakes during 2002-2010.