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Streams and Rivers of Alaska: A High Latitude Perspective on Running Waters

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Freshwaters of Alaska

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 119))

Abstract

Alaska is a frontier, both geographically and scientifically. The yearly dearth and seasonal extremes of sunlight create a cold-dominated landscape of short summers and long cold winters (Fig. 13.1), limiting human population densities and molding ecosystem properties. However, Alaska encompasses tremendous physiographic diversity (Milner et al., 1996, Chapter 1). Ecosystems range over the latitudinal gradient from the cool rainforest of southeast Alaska with maritime climate and dense riparian vegetation (Fig. 13.2), to the taiga forest of Interior Alaska, with a continental climate and modest riparian vegetation (Fig. 13.3), to the Arctic tundra of the North Slope, with virtually no riparian vegetation (Fig. 13.4). This latitudinal range makes it impossible to characterize typical “Alaskan” streams, although all Alaskan streams share a suite of high latitude characteristics that distinguish them from the lower latitude streams of temperate climates.

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Authors
  1. Mark W. Oswood
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775-7220, USA

    Alexander M. Milner

  2. Environment and Natural Resources Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 707 A Street, Anchorage, AK, 99501, USA

    Alexander M. Milner

  3. Department of Biology and Wildlife and Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, 99775-6100, USA

    Mark W. Oswood

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Oswood, M.W. (1997). Streams and Rivers of Alaska: A High Latitude Perspective on Running Waters. In: Milner, A.M., Oswood, M.W. (eds) Freshwaters of Alaska. Ecological Studies, vol 119. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0677-4_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0677-4_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-6866-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-0677-4

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