ALASKA COASTAL OBSERVATORY
Every coast
has a story.
Multi-decadal shoreline change from satellite records,
refined with UAV surface models and imagery.
Regional observations.
Community-scale assessment.
Arctic coast → Gulf of Alaska
01 / OBSERVATION COVERAGE
Community Coastal Atlas
Select a community. ↙
Try a shorter name or another coast.
Community index
62 placesNo matches. Clear your search or choose another coast.
Selected community · Markers locate communities, not study boundaries.Locations: Alaska DCRA · Land outline: project DNR source
02 / SHORELINE INDICATORS
Shoreline Change
Indicators
Two boundaries.
Complementary observations.
Multi-decadal records of waterline and vegetation-boundary change.
The waterline (WLI) and vegetation line (VL) provide complementary indicators of coastal position. Their separation helps characterize shoreline variability, vegetation-edge retreat and differences between short-term and longer-term change.
High-resolution photogrammetric digital surface models (DSMs) and UAV imagery refine satellite-derived shoreline products. LiDAR observations are integrated separately as a complementary dataset.
The Wainwright case study compares modeled WLI and VL positions at fixed coastal reference points. Annual rates use actual elapsed reference intervals; cumulative and selected-date comparisons report displacement. Detailed workspaces for the other communities are not yet available.
Cloud, snow, ice, water level and sensor differences affect boundary interpretation. Model-based change estimates are presented with observation support and quality information.
Connecting Regional and Local Evidence
Regional satellite observations guide targeted UAV and ground-based investigation.
Integrated observations support interpretation of coastal and permafrost change.