SNAP GeoNetwork
SNAP GeoNetwork (Scenarios Network for Alaska & Arctic Planning)
Scenarios Network for Alaska & Arctic Planning
Continents, countries, sea regions of the world.
Historical Monthly Precipitation Products - 10 min CRU TS 3.22
This set of files includes downscaled historical estimates of monthly total precipitation (in millimeters, no unit conversion necessary, rainwater equivalent) from 1901 - 2013 (CRU TS 3.22) at 10 min x 10 min spatial resolution with global coverage. The downscaling process utilizes CRU CL v. 2.1 climatological datasets from 1961-1990.
Projected Monthly and Derived Temperature Products - 771m CMIP5/AR5
This set of files includes downscaled projections of monthly means, and derived annual, seasonal, and decadal means of monthly mean temperatures (in degrees Celsius, no unit conversion necessary) from Jan 2006 - Dec 2100 at 771x771 meter spatial resolution. For seasonal means, the four seasons are referred to by the first letter of 3 months making up that season: * `JJA`: summer (June, July, August) * `SON`: fall (September, October, November) * `DJF`: winter (December, January, February) * `MAM`: spring (March, April, May) The downscaling process utilizes PRISM climatological datasets from 1971-2000. Each set of files originates from one of five top-ranked global circulation models from the CMIP5/AR5 models and RCPs or is calculated as a 5 Model Average.
Annual maximum precipitation projections for Alaska
Annual maximum series-based precipitation frequency estimates with 90% confidence intervals for Alaska derived from WRF-downscaled reanalysis (ERA-Interim) and CMIP5 GCM (GFDL-CM3, NCAR-CCSM4) precipitation data with the RCP 8.5 scenario. Estimates and confidence intervals are based on exceedance probabilities and durations used in the NOAA Atlas 14 study. Projections are present for three future time periods: 2020-2049, 2050-2079, and 2080-2099.
Chukchi Sea Landfast Sea Ice Extent Summarized by Month and 9-year Periods
A landfast ice dataset along the Chukchi Sea continental shelf, spanning 1996-2023. Spatial resolution is 100 m. Each month of the ice season (October through July) is summarized over three 9-year periods (1996-2005, 2005-2014, 2014-2023) using the minimum, maximum, median, and mean distance of SLIE from the coastline. The minimum extent indicates the region that was always occupied by landfast ice during a particular calendar month. The median extent indicates where landfast occurred at least 50% of the time. The maximum extent represents regions that may only have been landfast ice on one occasion during the selected time period. The mean SLIE position for the each month and and time period is also included. The dataset is derived from three sources: seaward landfast ice images derived from synthetic aperture radar images from the RadarSAT and EnviSAT constellations (1996-2008), the Alaska Sea Ice Program (ASIP) ice charts (2008-2017, 2019-2022), and the G10013 SIGID-3 Arctic Ice Charts produced by the National Ice Center (NIC; 2017-2019, 2022-2023). Within each GeoTIFF file there are 8 different pixel values representing different characteristics: 0 - Ocean 1 - Maximum Landfast Ice Extent 2 - Median Landfast Ice Extent 3 - Minimum Landfast Ice Extent 4 - Mean Landfast Ice Edge 5 - Land 6 - Out of Domain 7 - Coast Vector Shadow The file naming convention is as follows: Chukchi_$month_$era_SLIE_MMM_summary.tif For example, the name Chukchi_05_2005-2014_SLIE_MMM_summary.tif indicates the file represents data for May 2005-2014. These data were updated on August 21, 2025 to rectify the omission of some NIC chart data sources for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
Historical and Projected Rain On Snow (ROS) events across the State of Alaska and Surrounding Regions from 1979 to 2100
Rain on snow (ROS) events were derived from 20km dynamically downscaled ERA-Interim reanalysis and global climate model (GCM) climate projections data. The GCM data were from RCP 8.5 of GFDL-CM3 and NCAR-CCSM4. The amount of liquid precipitation for each day is provided in the database for each grid cell and was determined to be a ROS event by the temperature being at or near freezing and/or the presence of snow on the ground.
These data represent the highest quality climate projections for Alaska and Western Canada. They are updated to improve quality as issues are discovered.
Historical and Projected Decadal Average Monthly Snowfall Equivalent and the Ratio of Snowfall Equivalent to Precipitation 771m CMIP5/AR5/CRU TS3.1
These files include climatological summaries of downscaled historical and projected decadal average monthly derived snow variables and summaries at 771 meter spatial resolution across Alaska. There are three types of files: 1). The historical and future snowfall water equivalent (SWE) in millimeters, produced by multiplying snow-day fraction by decadal average monthly precipitation and summing over 6 months from October to March to estimate the total SWE on April 1. 2). The historical and future ratio of SWE to total precipitation (SFEtoP) in percent. SFEtoP is calculated as (SWE / total precipitation) and also represents the six month October to March period. 3). The future difference in SWE with respect to the historical baseline (dSWE) in percent. dSWE is calculated as ((future SWE – historical SWE) / historical SWE) * 100. These data are also summary for the six month October to March period. The historical baseline period is 1970-1999, (file naming convention “H70.99”) and data are calculated from downscaled CRU TS 3.1 data. Projected variables exist for RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 emission scenarios and for 5 GCMs: NCAR-CCSM4, GFDL-CM3, GISS-E2-R, IPSL-CM5, and MRI-CGCM3. The 5-model mean (file naming convention "5MM") was also computed. Projections exist for three thirty-year climatologies: the 2020s (2010-2039), the 2050s (2040-2069), and the 2080s (2070-2099). The snow-day fraction data used can be found here: http://ckan.snap.uaf.edu/dataset/projected-decadal-averages-of-monthly-snow-day-fraction-771m-cmip5-ar5 http://ckan.snap.uaf.edu/dataset/historical-decadal-averages-of-monthly-snow-day-fraction-771m-cru-ts3-0-3-1 The precipitation data used can be found here: http://ckan.snap.uaf.edu/dataset/projected-monthly-and-derived-precipitation-products-771m-cmip5-ar5 http://ckan.snap.uaf.edu/dataset/historical-monthly-and-derived-precipitation-products-771m-cru-ts Note: In Littell et al. 2018, "SWE" is referred to as "SFE", and "SFEtoP" as "SFE:P"
Historical Monthly and Derived Precipitation Products Downscaled from CRU TS data via the delta method - 2 km
This dataset includes downscaled historical estimates of monthly average, minimum, and maximum precipitation and derived annual, seasonal, and decadal means of monthly total precipitation (in millimeters, no unit conversion necessary) from 1901 to 2006 (CRU TS 3.0), 2009 (CRU TS 3.1), 2015 (CRU TS 4.0), 2020 (CRU TS 4.05), or 2023 (CRU TS 4.08) at 2km x 2km spatial resolution. CRU TS 4.0 is only available as monthly averages, minimum, and maximum files. CRU TS 4.05 and 4.08 data are only available as monthly averages. The downscaling process utilizes PRISM climatological datasets from 1961-1990.
SNAP downscaled data products are value added products that build off of other datasets that have been accepted by the scientific community as some of the highest quality climate data available. Please see https://uaf-snap.org/ to explore how our data is produced.
Historical and projected climatic protection from spruce beetle infestation in Alaska, 1988-2099
This dataset is the product of a climate-driven model of beetle survival and reproduction in Alaska. We used that model to create this dataset of landscape-level “risk” of the climatic component of beetle infestation across the forested areas of Alaska. This risk component can best be applied as protection of the landscape offered by the climate and is categorized as high, medium, and low. It does not consider other major factors, such as existing beetle and predator populations or forest susceptibility. We computed these values over one historical period (1988-2017) using Daymet data, and three future periods (2010-2039, 2040-2069, 2070-2099) using four statistically downscaled global climate model projections, each run under two plausible greenhouse gas futures (RCP 4.5 and 8.5).
Beaufort Sea Landfast Sea Ice Extent Summarized by Month and 9-year Periods
A landfast ice dataset along the Beaufort Sea continental shelf, spanning 1996-2023. Spatial resolution is 100 m. Each month of the ice season (October through July) is summarized over three 9-year periods (1996-2005, 2005-2014, 2014-2023) using the minimum, maximum, median, and mean distance of SLIE from the coastline. The minimum extent indicates the region that was always occupied by landfast ice during a particular calendar month. The median extent indicates where landfast occurred at least 50% of the time. The maximum extent represents regions that may only have been landfast ice on one occasion during the selected time period. The mean SLIE position for the each month and and time period is also included. The dataset is derived from three sources: seaward landfast ice images derived from synthetic aperture radar images from the RadarSAT and EnviSAT constellations (1996-2008), the Alaska Sea Ice Program (ASIP) ice charts (2008-2017, 2019-2022), and the G10013 SIGID-3 Arctic Ice Charts produced by the National Ice Center (NIC; 2017-2019, 2022-2023). Within each GeoTIFF file there are 8 different pixel values representing different characteristics: 0 - Ocean 1 - Maximum Landfast Ice Extent 2 - Median Landfast Ice Extent 3 - Minimum Landfast Ice Extent 4 - Mean Landfast Ice Edge 5 - Land 6 - Out of Domain 7 - Coast Vector Shadow The file naming convention is as follows: Beaufort_$month_$era_SLIE_MMM_summary.tif For example, the name Beaufort_05_2005-2014_SLIE_MMM_summary.tif indicates the file represents data for May 2005-2014. These data were updated on August 21, 2025 to rectify the omission of some NIC chart data sources for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
Southeast Alaska High Resolution WRF: Hourly dynamically downscaled climate model simulations at 1- and 4-km spatial resolution for both historical (1981-2019) and future periods (2031-2060)
Southeast Alaska is a topographically complex region that is experiencing rapid rates of change with climate regimes that range from temperate rainforest to expansive glaciers and icefields. Global climate models – with a typical spatial resolution of 100 km – poorly resolve this area, while recent downscaling efforts have sought to improve upon existing deficiencies. This research produced hourly dynamically downscaled climate model simulations at 1- and 4-km spatial resolution for both historical (1981-2019) and future periods (2031-2060) across Southeast Alaska. Particular focus was placed on three key watersheds: 1) Montana Creek near Juneau, 2) Indian River near Sitka and 3) Staney Creek on Prince of Wales Island. The projected simulations were based on the representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) emissions scenario. The simulations included the historical Climate Forecast System Reanalysis, and two climate models (the Community Climate System Model, version 4 and the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Climate Model, version 3), which were both run for historical and future periods. All downscaling simulations were run using a 17-month spin-up period to sufficiently generate the land surface state and the lateral boundary conditions for each were updated every 6 hours to constrain the output. The downscaling was completed using the Weather and Research Forecasting Model, version 4.0.
URL to web-accessible folder containing downloads for this data set.
URL to web-accessible folder containing downloads for this data set
A website for exploring this dataset via an interactive map
Anticipated Changes in Alaska Extreme Precipitation
Chukchi Sea Seaward Landfast Ice Edge (SLIE) Extent Summarized by Month and 9-year Periods
Mahoney AR, Bieniek P, Danielson S, Einhorn AH, Hedstrom KS, Jones JM, Klenz, T. (University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK). 2024. Landfast ice climatology within the Arctic OCS. Anchorage (AK): U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. 121 p. Report No.: OCS Study BOEM 2024-034
Mahoney, A. R., H. Eicken, A. G. Gaylord, and R. Gens (2014), Landfast sea ice extent in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas: The annual cycle and decadal variability, Cold Reg. Sci. Tech., 103(0), 41-56, doi:
Elsner et al., 2010: Implications of 21st century climate change for the hydrology of Washington State
McAfee et al., 2014: Statistically downscaled projections of snow/rain partitioning for Alaska
Walsh et al., 2018: Downscaling of climate model output for Alaskan stakeholders
Littell et al., 2018: Alaska Snowpack Response to Climate Change: Statewide Snowfall Equivalent and Snowpack Water Scenarios
URL to web-accessible folder containing dataset
Fresco et al., 2025: Modeling the loss of climate protection from spruce beetles (Dendroctonus rufipennis) under changing conditions in Alaska's forests
Beaufort Sea Seaward Landfast Ice Edge (SLIE) Extent Summarized by Month and 9-year Periods
Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning