Sedimentary rocks of the Cantwell Formation, representing a prehistoric floodplain environment, are shown in this June 2017 photograph. Dinosaur tracks are visible at the base of the thick, upper sandstone bed. Photo by Paul McCarthy

Precipitation helped drive distribution of Alaska dinosaurs

April 29, 2022
Precipitation more than temperature influenced the distribution of herbivorous dinosaurs in what is now Alaska, according to new research...
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The image shows the distribution of surface ice at the moon’s south pole (left) and north pole (right), detected by NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument in 2009. Blue represents the ice locations, and the gray scale corresponds to surface temperature. Photo courtesy of NASA

Earth’s atmosphere may be source of some lunar water

April 27, 2022
Hydrogen and oxygen ions escaping from Earth’s upper atmosphere and combining on the moon could be one of the sources of the known lunar water...
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Gabriel Low talks about earthquake facts and information to a group of West Valley High School students in Fairbanks during a presentation by the Alaska Earthquake Center on Monday, March 6, 2022. UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta.

UAF student gets K-12 classrooms jumping with seismology project

April 8, 2022
In Quinhagak, a village nearly 600 miles from Fairbanks in Southwest Alaska, a small seismometer sits on a corner counter in the classroom of...
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The Black Brant IX rocket launched from Poker Flat Research Range north of Fairbanks at 4:47 a.m. Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Terry Zaperach/NASA Wallops

Two rockets launch from Poker Flat in aurora experiment

April 7, 2022
Two sounding rockets soared northward from Poker Flat Research Range early Thursday morning in an experiment to study how energy behaves during...
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This color image of Mercury was generated from three Messenger images taken through filters sensitive to light in different wavelengths. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington

UAF researcher part of team that proves Mercury has magnetic storms

March 30, 2022
An international team of scientists has proved that Mercury, our solar system’s smallest planet, has geomagnetic storms similar to those on Earth...
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Graduate student Reyce Bogardus and Roberta Glenn survey Kanakanak Beach using real-time kinematic GPS May 28, 2021, in Dillingham, Alaska. UAF/GI photo by Chris Maio.

UAF students aid Bristol Bay communities in coastal erosion research

March 29, 2022
University of Alaska Fairbanks students will return to several Bristol Bay communities this year to continue quantifying and mapping widespread...
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One of two Ion-Neutral Coupling during Active Aurora payloads begins its trip to the launch pad at Poker Flat Research Range where it will be mated with a NASA Black Brant IX sounding rocket. Photo by NASA/Terry Zaperach

Poker Flat rocket launch to study energy movement during aurora

March 22, 2022
Two sounding rockets are scheduled to launch from Poker Flat Research Range just minutes apart in an experiment aimed at learning how energy is...
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The snow kit contains a booklet and supplies. UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta.

Free educational kits teach about snow, Alaska Native culture

March 18, 2022
How much do you know about snow? Sure, it’s cold, it’s white, and it’s a regular part of life in the Far North. But how much do you really know...
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A NASA Black Brant IX sounding rocket launches from Poker Flat Research Range north of Fairbanks at 2:27 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2022. Photo by NASA/Terry Zaperach

NASA rocket launches from Poker Flat in search of aurora answers

March 5, 2022
A NASA Black Brant IX sounding rocket soared high out of Poker Flat Research Range north of Fairbanks at 2:27 a.m. Saturday to learn more about...
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About

Since it was established by an Act of Congress in 1946, scientists at the Geophysical Institute have studied geophysical processes from the center of the Earth to the surface of the sun and beyond, turning data and observations into information useful for state, Arctic and national priorities.

Contact info

The GI is located on the West Ridge of the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.

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University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775

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