Vital Sign Videos

These Vital Sign Videos are housed on the Alaska NPS YouTube Channel.
Audio described versions of these videos are available on this channel.

Landscape Processes

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  Ice Wedges

  Ice wedges resemble a giant quilt when seen from the air and form only where permafrost is found.

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  Pingos

  Pingos are hills that rise abruptly out of flat Arctic landscapes formed by ice expansion.

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  Permafrost Slumps in 3D

  When permafrost thaws, the results can include huge crater-like landforms called thermokarst slumps. We map the slumps in 3D.

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  Thermokarst in Alaska's Arctic

  Permafrost underlies most of Alaska's Arctic. Thawing of permafrost produces pits, ponds, lakes, slumps and landslides

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  Aufeis in Alaska's Arctic

  Also known as "icing," aufeis forms by the overflow and freezing of water during the winter.

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  Seasonal Changes in Arctic Parks

  Images from remote cameras at climate stations help us document seasonal changes across Arctic parks.

Vegetation

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  Birch, Aspen, and Poplar

  Arctic and subarctic hardwood forests are made up of just three tree species: aspen, birch, and poplar. Learn more about them.

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  Black Spruce

  Black spruce is well adapted to life in the north. It can survive in many places other trees can't.

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  Tundra Tussocks

  Tussocks are small mounds commonly found in the Arctic tundra. Most are made by a sedge, cotton grass, that thrives in the cold, wet Arctic.

Water

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  Lagoons of Arctic Alaska

  Lagoons dominate the remote shorelines of northern Alaska, yet are relatively unstudied.

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  Cleaning Up Marine Debris

  Marine debris is an issue of growing concern for Alaska's coastal parks. We work with partners to clean-up debris that's washed in.

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  What is Marine Debris?

  Marine debris washes in on the coasts of Alaska parks. We are working to clean it up.

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  Alaska Glaciers Status and Trends

  Glaciers in Alaska's parks are dynamic features that are vulnerable to climate change. We track changes in park glaciers.

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  Glaciers - Why Should We Care?

  Glaciers are enormous and dynamic features of Alaska’s parks that are rapidly changing.

Wildlife

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  Alaska's Yellow-billed Loons

  Yellow-billed Loons raise their young in Arctic Alaska, each year. We monitor the breeding population in Arctic parks. See video playlist.

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  Counting Sheep in Alaska

  Dall's sheep, are indicators of large-scale change in the alpine environment. Click here to see the video playlist for sheep studies.

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  The Great Journey North

  Over 160 species of birds migrate to Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. Explore their journey and motivations.