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Shop Donate UA Directory Intranet Quick Links Geophysical Institute Main navigation Home About Contact Information Contact UAF Directory Visitor Information About the GI Diversity & Inclusion GI Publications Timeline GI Quarterly People Leadership Researchers Graduate Student Researchers Emeriti Research Atmospheric Sciences Remote Sensing Seismology & Geodesy Snow, Ice & Permafrost Space Physics & Aeronomy Tectonics & Sedimentation Volcanology Facilities & Labs Services Design & Printing GI Human Resources Education Outreach Instrument Development Keith B. Mather Library Research Computing Systems News & Info News Alaska Science Forum Alaska Science Pod Science for Alaska Aurora Forecast Visitor Information & Tours Events Diversity & Inclusion Student Info Intranet Search Home Atmospheric Sciences The Atmospheric Sciences group studies the physical, chemical and dynamical processes of the atmosphere from the unique vantage point of the polar region. The group strives to understand the polar atmosphere and its role within the Earth system. Many topics bear directly on societal issues related to climate variability and change. Read more Space Physics and Aeronomy The Space Physics & Aeronomy research group studies Earth’s geospace environment, which extends from the surface of the sun to Earth’s atmosphere. The group uses ground-based observations of magnetic fluctuations, infrasound, light from auroral emissions, and radio signals reflected from ionospheric irregularities. Read more Snow, Ice and Permafrost The Snow, Ice & Permafrost research group seeks to understand the properties of Earth’s icy regions, known as the cryosphere, and the physical processes that occur within them. Scientists study the role of snow, ice and permafrost in shaping the landscape, and the changes that occur as the Arctic climate warms. Read more Seismology and Geodesy The Seismology group conducts research and monitors Alaska’s earthquakes and tsunamis. The group includes the State Seismology Lab. Alaska lies in a tectonically complex region bounded by a major subduction zone. The group carries out high-resolution seismic recordings and studies the motion and configuration of tectonic plates. Read more Tectonics and Sedimentation The Tectonics & Sedimentation research group strives to reconstruct the processes of Earth’s history over a variety of timescales. Alaska and the adjacent regions of the circumpolar north provide a rich environment for such research. The Pacific North American and Eurasian plates meet in Alaska, creating a natural laboratory for research in this area. Read more Remote Sensing The Remote Sensing group develops and uses data from satellite, ground-based and airborne sources to address Earth and planetary science topics. The group studies volcanology, sea ice, permafrost, crustal deformation, impact craters, land use and hazard monitoring. Read more Volcanology Alaska is the nation’s most volcanically active state, with eruptions of broad impact. The Volcanology group studies volcanoes and eruptions using remote sensing, infrasound, chemical analyses, and special instrumentation. The group also studies volcanoes throughout the world and maintains active collaborations with Alaska Volcano Observatory partners and with other universities worldwide. Read more Donate Monitors Real-time data from the world around you. Aurora Forecast See the lights dancing in the sky. Earthquake Information View the latest earthquakes in Alaska. Volcanic Activity What’s erupting & how we respond. Webcam & Weather Check out our current conditions. Smoke Forecast Wildfire smoke prediction for Alaska. Magnetometer How magnetic is Alaska? Hazards Portal Remote sensing-based hazard monitoring. Satellite Data Near real-time imagery of Alaska and the Arctic. In the News What’s happening at the Geophysical Institute. Solar storm – not HAARP – creates intense auroral display Geophysical Institute May 13, 2024 Night skies over the weekend erupted with vivid colors and awed people all around the globe as the solar wind from a severe geomagnetic storm... Read more UAF scientist’s research answers big question about our system’s largest planet Geophysical Institute May 3, 2024 New discoveries about Jupiter could lead to a better understanding of Earth’s own space environment and influence a long-running scientific... Read more Alaska high school students present research at seismology conference Geophysical Institute May 1, 2024 Radiation monitoring. Sea ice changes. Floodwater alerts. Coastal erosion. Speeding drivers. Landslide warnings. Thawing permafrost. Weather... Read more more news Student Scientists Meet some of UAF’s students conducting research at the GI. Kaytan Kelkar at AGU 2023 Kaytan Kelkar, doing doctoral research in geosciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, had a steady stream of... Read more Amy Jenson at AGU 2023 Snow, Ice & Permafrost Amy Jenson, Ph.D. glaciology student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is studying the velocity of Greenland Ice Sheet glaciers that flow... Read more Michael Cristoffersen at AGU23 Seismology & Geodesy Michael Cristoffersen, working toward a master’s degree in geodesy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, talks about his research into the... Read more Gabrielle Nowak at AGU23 Space Physics & Aeronomy Gabrielle Nowak, a space physics Ph.D. student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, has been researching the physical mechanisms that couple... Read more Meet Ph.D. student Amy Hendricks Atmospheric Sciences Just over 500 roadless miles southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska, sits the Kuskokwim River hub community of Bethel. The small spread-out city cradles... Read more Meet Ph.D. student Valerie Wasser Volcanology Valerie Wasser knew at a young age that her future lay with volcanoes. It started long ago when she watched a volcanology documentary with her... Read more Dillon Gillespie at AGU 2023 Space Physics & Aeronomy Dillon Gillespie. Ph.D student in space physics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, presented work regarding a specific type of aurora known... Read more Chynna Spitler at AGU23 Space Physics & Aeronomy Chynna Spitler, Ph.D. student in space physics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, examined six years of data from instruments aboard NASA’s... Read more Valerie Wasser at AGU23 Volcanology Valerie Wasser, Ph.D. student in volcanology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, has lots of hands-on experience with Alaska volcanoes. At the... Read more Victor Devaux-Chupin at AGU23 Snow, Ice & Permafrost Victor Devaux-Chupin of the UAF Geophysical Institute has been doing quite a lot of research about glaciers. He presented his latest work at the... Read more Meet Ph.D. student Austin Smith Space Physics & Aeronomy Austin Smith found himself with an opportunity in the summer of 2021 that would shape his academic future: a 10-week heliophysics internship with... Read more Anika Pinzner at AGU 2023 Snow, Ice & Permafrost Anika Pinzner, Ph.D. student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, researched water-related melt processes in Arctic tundra and sea-ice snow... Read more Meet Ph.D. student Amy Jenson Snow, Ice & Permafrost Amy Jenson was inside a vertical shaft of Mendenhall Glacier, which smothers the mountains above Juneau and sends meltwater into a lake that... Read more CeCe Borries-Strigle at AGU 2023 Atmospheric Sciences CeCe Borries-Strigle, a doctoral student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks doing research through the UAF Geophysical Institute, presented... Read more Sam McKay at AGU 2023 Space Physics & Aeronomy Sam McKay, a physics Ph.D. student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, has been doing research with high-frequency radio waves. He used the... Read more Meet master’s student Robin Carbaugh Robin Carbaugh has had quite the successful three years at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She’s just wrapped up her master’s in... Read more Salcha quake provided a...