This image shows cloud heights in Fairbanks on Jan. 1 and 2, 2017. It reflects NASA Micro-Pulse Lidar Network level 1 normalized relative backscatter measurements. Heights are in kilometers above mean sea level. Cirrus cloud top heights reaching 13.2 kilometers are depicted by dashed white line.

NASA lidar on Elvey Building provides cloud data

August 3, 2017
A rapidly blinking green light beam has been flickering skyward through a foot-square quartz window in the north corner of the roof of the...
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This microwave image shows Russia, the Bering Sea and Alaska as photographed by the Suomi NPP Satellite on Jan. 21. The scale in the top left shows sea ice concentration in percent, with red and white showing the most ice and blue and purple showing the least. Image provided by Carl Dierking.

Using microwaves to see through clouds

August 3, 2017
The most common types of satellite images are only able to see the “top” of the sky — if it is a cloudy day, the satellite will only be able to...
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Shungnak students prepare to watch “Kiuguyat: The Northern Lights” in the UAF Geophysical Institute’s portable planetarium dome. Photo by Joan Reynolds.

New curriculum connects aurora, Iñupiat culture

January 26, 2017
A new curriculum that weaves aurora science with Iñupiat culture and language is now available for elementary and middle school teachers across...
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The Poker Flat Research Range, the site for five NASA launches planned between January and March to study auroras, lies north of Fairbanks in the Chatanika River valley. NASA photo by Jamie Adkins.

NASA sounding rockets to launch from Poker Flat Research Range

January 18, 2017
A NASA sounding rocket campaign starts Jan. 20 and will run through early March at the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska. The research rockets...
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Pavlof volcano erupts on March 28, 2016. The photo was taken looking northeast from a Coast Guard Hercules aircraft at 20,000 feet. Photo by U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Nahshon Almandmoss.

Volcano study examines relationship between seismic signals, sound waves

January 17, 2017
A study of relationships between seismic signals and sound waves from an erupting volcano in Alaska may someday help scientists infer the height...
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UAF researcher joins study of Arctic sea ice change

December 12, 2016
A University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher will participate in sea ice research that combines observations from unmanned aerial systems and...
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This bird’s-eye view of Southcentral Alaska’s glaciers shows their speed as measured from space. Scientists are now able to follow surges and seasonal changes in glacier speed over this region using images from Landsat 8. Graphic by Mark Fahnestock.

Satellite provides global view of the speed of ice

December 12, 2016
Glaciers and ice sheets move in unique and sometimes surprising patterns, as evidenced by a new capability that uses satellite images to map the...
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Martin Truffer of UAF’s GI, left, holds a core tube which has brought up a sample of sediment from the sea floor below Pine Island Glacier. Photo by Dale Pomraning.

West Antarctica’s largest glacier started retreating in 1940s

November 28, 2016
Pine Island Glacier — about the size of Florida and one of the largest ice streams in Antarctica — has been thinning and retreating at an...
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This high-altitude shuttle system was dropped from a balloon at 70,000 feet and glided to the ground in Oregon under the supervision of ACUASI personnel on Sept. 26. Photo courtesy Near Space Corp.

ACUASI team tests near-space glider

November 22, 2016
Staff at the University of Alaska Fairbanks helped with a successful test of a high-altitude glider to help evaluate how advanced surveillance...
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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.

2156 Koyukuk Drive
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775

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