Significant change has been observed in sea-ice conditions along the northern coast of Alaska. These changes could represent alterations in the proportion of sunlight reaching the surface, in the quality and quantity of back radiation into the atmosphere from the surface, or in changes in heat content of land and coastal seas. To provide basic information about the radiation inputs, losses, and heat fluxes, 4 sites near Barrow Alaska have been established for detailed monitoring of solar and atmospheric heat fluxes as experienced by snow, sea-ice, near-surface waters, and land. The goal is to establish the local heat budgets, seasonal timing of key thermal events (snow melt, sea-ice melt, freezing onset, etc), and feedback mechanisms. Apart from these sites, the approach comprises transect line sampling on frequent useful intervals to obtain spatial averages and variability, and aircraft sampling and satellite data to evaluate larger scale conditions in the vicinity of Barrow.