( Google Maps ) The park is centered around the Harding Icefield, the largest ice field in the United States from which nearly 40 glaciers flow. Our 8.5 Hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise travels farther into Kenai Fjords National Park than any other cruise. While preparing for outdoor activities it is a good idea to be prepared for cool, rainy weather. What choices as an. Anthropogenic Climate Change inKenai Fjords National Park Patrick Gonzalez Page 10 Figure 6. Kenai Fjords National Park was established as a national monument in 1978. My family did the Kenai Fjords Glacier tour today, stopping at Fox Island. By conducting an emission The sunlight reflected off of the water or ice can be very intense. The Kenai Fjords National Park has a name that comes from 2 very different places. Learn more about the, Climate change has consequences for parks, people,and the planet.How is climate change, The National Park Service is responding with practices that address climate change. This video explores how park staff and scientists at Kenai Fjords National Park seek to better understand current and future glacial change and adapt in the face of an ever-changing park. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska, USA - Detailed 10-day weather forecast. "Kenai Fjords is extensively glaciated, with 51% of the park covered by ice. Kenai is adapted from the name of the Athabaskan indigenous group that historically lived in the area. As climate changes and glaciers recede, pioneer plants move in to prepare the land for the forests to come. Climate information with charts. Physical changes to the Earth and its climate have already impacted these people, and will continue in the future. It is not unusual to get several long periods of continuous rain in the summer months, but we do have some glorious sunny days as well. Hi/Low, RealFeel®, precip, radar, & everything you need to be ready for the day, commute, and weekend! Get the forecast for today, tonight & tomorrow's weather for Kenai Fjords National Park, AK. Monthly averages Kenai Longitude: -151.258, Latitude: 60.5544 Average weather Kenai, AK - 99611. "I believe climate change is fundamentally the greatest threat to the integrity of our national parks that we have ever experienced. It’s a scenic mashup of sky-high peaks, temperate rainforest, pristine inlets and ice—a whole lot of ice. The weather changes rapidly. Each small dot is the output of a single general circulation model. Winter temperatures can range from the low 30s to -20 (Fahrenheit). Get the forecast for today, tonight & tomorrow's weather for Kenai, AK. Dressing in layers is the best way to go and always carry rain gear - no matter how nice the weather looks when you're starting out. Country: Alaska, USA, City: Kenai Fjords National Park. Kenai Fjords National Park is a geological wonderland where glaciers and ice caps meet the ocean. The Kenai Fjords has one of the largest ice fields called Harding Icefields. Kenai Fjords weather forecast updated daily. The current science confirms the planet is warming and the effects are here and now. As your visit gets closer, check out the various forecasts for the area. The Exit Glacier area averages close to 200 inches of snowfall annually, but conditions vary greatly. To do so, our crew climbed into the rugged mountains of Kenai Fjords … The movement of glaciers shapes the shoreline. KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK BECOMES A CLIMATE FRIENDLY PARK As a participant in the Climate Friendly Parks program, Kenai Fjords National Park belongs to a network of parks that are putting climate friendly behavior at the forefront of sustainability planning in national parks. This includes weather stations positioned throughout the park where current (and historical) temperature and precipitation amounts can be tracked. Its landscape is marked by icy waters, coastal fjords, spruce forests, mountains, glaciers, and icefields, such as the Harding Icefield—the largest in the United States. long-term record because they have of 43°F (6°C), 2.5°F (1.4°C) above Glacial Change at Kenai Fjords National Park. Featuring breathtaking valleys, towering ice walls, and some of North America’s most unique wildlife, the Kenai Fjords, and surrounding waters are indeed a sight to behold. Mean monthly air temperatures from remote automated weather stations (RAWS) in Kenai Fjords show climatic differences due to elevation. Take Dramamine or wear one of those wrist bands. Glacial melt is perhaps one of the more visually obvious effects of our changing climate. Here in Kenai Fjords, we will be watching as the glaciers of the Harding Icefield respond to a changing climate and the slow processes of time. Park staff discuss managing uncertainty in planning for climate change effects at Kenai Fjords National Park. Now all these unique animals are going to learn how to adapt to a new environment, now that global warming is speeding up its pace. Kenai Fjords National Park lies along the coastline of the Kenai Peninsula. Ideal for photographers, birders, and whale-watching enthusiasts, this small vessel adventure cruise explores the remote, untouched area of Northwestern Fjord in Kenai Fjords National Park. NOAA weather radar, satellite and synoptic charts. Summer daytime temperatures range from the mid 40s to the low 70s (Fahrenheit). Overcast and cool rainy days are frequent, but we do have some glorious sunny days as well. Weather Underground provides local & long-range weather forecasts, weatherreports, maps & tropical weather conditions for the Kenai area. Find out Kenai Fjords how is, The choices that we make now may help to avoid catastrophic impacts in the future. Monthly: 1981-2010 normals History: 2007-2019 Established on December 1, 1978, the park protects 669,984 acres (2,711.33 km 2 ). Most people visit Kenai Fjords National Park to explore the Exit Glacier. Kenai Fjords Marine Weather. Kenai Fjords, Alaska, became an official National Park on December 2, 1980. The clearer part of the year in Kenai begins around February 15 and lasts for 2.2 months, ending around April 21.On March 15, the clearest day of the year, the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 48% of the time, and overcast or mostly cloudy 52% of the time. There are a couple short (but steep) trails that go up to a viewpoint of the Exit Glacier, or visitors can hike the 8.2-mile round trip Harding Icefield Trail. Boat tour tickets can be hard to get in peak season. Current conditions, warnings and historical records Providing water taxi services from Seward, Alaska to Kenai Fjords National Park, Weather Permitting is the most reliable choice. Country: Alaska, USA, City: Kenai Fjords National Park. Be prepared for rough seas, especially if you are prone to seasickness. More general information on Kenai Fjords National Park is available at: Kenai Fjords National Park We would like to thank the NPS for the above information. Dress in layers. Plan ahead. Kenai Fjords is located about 2.5 hours drive south of Anchorage, in the coastal fishing town of Seward, Alaska. It became a national park in 1980 to preserve the fjord and rainforest ecosystems, Harding Icefield, abundant wildlife and historical and archeological remains, and to provide visitor access. Fjord is an Old Norse word for a long, glacier carved inlet. Annual Weather Averages in Kenai. The weather at Kenai Fjords is difficult to predict and can change rapidly. ", Jon Jarvis National Park Service Director, 2009. Wildlife on the Kenai Peninsula has learned to adapt to the icy waters and forests. Harding Icefield at 4,000 feet is the coldest and Pederson Lagoon at 480 feet is the warmest. Since this is a temperate rainforest, it's a good idea to be prepared for cool, rainy weather - but don't forget your sunglasses and sunscreen either. Glacial Change at Kenai Fjords National Park, Climate change is happening and human activities are contributing to and accelerating it. There are lots of other national parks in Alaska but Kenai Fjords National Park should on top of the list of the places visited in Alaska. We, at Kenai Fjords National Park, as part of the greater National Park Service, are committed to the following: Glacial melt is perhaps one of the more visually obvious effects of our changing climate. Summer daytime temperatures range from the mid 40s to the low 70s (Fahrenheit). Climate data and weather averages in Kenai. Kenai Fjords has a maritime climate. Seward, Alaska (SOO-word) Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park Recommended Activities and Tours • Lodging • Recommend Reading. Hi/Low, RealFeel®, precip, radar, & everything you need to be ready for the day, commute, and weekend! Current Population: 2,693 (2010) Borough Located In: Kenai Peninsula Borough Taxes: 4% Sales, 3% Borough, Bed 4% Location and Climate According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the Plant Hardiness zone at Exit Glacier Visitor Center at 463 ft (141 m) elevation is 4b with an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -20.3 °F (-29.1 °C). More than half of Kenai Fjords is obscured by it, and glaciers are one of Alaska’s coolest natural attractions. Kenai Fjords National Park is a unique place to see in Alaska with its numerous glaciers, icefields, vast forests and wildlife and of course cold. Kenai Fjords National Park, on the Kenai Peninsula in south-central Alaska, covers more than 500 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. This National Park is full of lush forests surrounding ice and glaciers. Kenai Fjords area as well as most of Alaska's coastline is a temperate rainforest. Practical Info for Visiting Kenai Fjords National Park: The season is short. Snow often remains in the higher elevations through June or July. It's best to dress in layers and always carry raingear - no matter how nice the weather looks when you're starting out. Glacial melt is perhaps one of the more visually obvious effects of our changing climate. Kenai Fjords National Park is comprised of more than 1,000 square miles and more than three dozen individual glaciers, making it a magnet for nature lovers, photographers, and all-around lovers of the great outdoors. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska, USA - Current weather, an hourly forecast for today, tomorrow, detailed 10-day weather forecast and long range monthly outlook. Winter temperatures can range from the low 30s to -20. Kenai Fjords National Park is a vast, jagged wilderness, carved into existence by ancient icefields and the passage of time. Call us for water taxi services, kayak shuttle services, freight hauling, recovery services, film equipment platform and kayak day trips. Get the weather forecast with today, tomorrow, and 10-day forecast graph. We had horrible weather and were not able to get out to the glacier. Long-term weather report. Based on weather reports collected during 1985–2015. Visitors can walk around the bottom of Exit Glacier and learn about climate change in the nature center. Doppler radar and rain conditions from Weather Underground. Kenai Fjords National Park is actively involved in the. Storms dumping several feet of snow are common, as are rainy mid-winter days with temperatures hovering in the mid-upper 30s. More than half of the park is covered by glaciers and ice. The estimated total volume change of the Harding Icefield and associated glaciers, more than 50% of which are contained in Kenai Fjords National Park, decreased by 34 km3 (8.1 miles3), with an average decrease in elevation of 21 m (68.7 ft), between the 1950s and the mid-1990s (Aðalgeirsdóttir et al. Projections of future climate for the area within the boundaries of Kenai Fjords National Park, relative to 1971-2000 average values. The area generally enjoys a relatively temperate maritime climate, primarily due to the influence of the Japanese current that flows through the Gulf of Alaska. Station Data. History [] Landscape []. In Kenai, the average percentage of the sky covered by clouds experiences mild seasonal variation over the course of the year.. May through September. Kenai Fjords National Park is actively involved in the research and monitoring of the climate. Kenai Weather Forecasts. 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