With 365,000,000 acres, Alaska’s variable terrain creates distinct climate regions, curious weather conditions and unique local concerns. Whether it is extreme weather events due to diminished sea ice impacting northwest communities or compromised air quality from cruise ships sailing through Southeast, Alaska’s atmospheric conditions are ripe for investigation. In a two-day workshop, more than 50 scientists from Alaska and the Lower 48 will converge at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute Elvey Auditorium to discuss such issues at the Alaska Weather Symposium, March 12-13, 2013.