Alaska coastal ice season shrinks by up to 57 days as Arctic landfast ice reaches record lows

New UAF analysis shows the Alaska landfast ice season has shrunk by up to 57 days, threatening coastal safety and traditional hunting.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 5:37 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from University of Alaska Fairbanks

The Erosion of Alaska's Frozen Infrastructure

Sea ice that remains anchored to the shoreline, known as landfast ice, is vanishing at an accelerating rate according to nearly three decades of longitudinal data. Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute have found that this stable ice is sticking to the northern coast for significantly less time each year. Unlike drifting pack ice, landfast ice serves as a vital platform for human activity, and its degradation represents a direct threat to the safety and economic stability of Alaskas coastal regions.

Shattering Decades of Stability in the Beaufort Sea

While the Chukchi Sea has seen a steady decline in ice for decades, the new study highlights a troubling shift in the Beaufort Sea, which had remained relatively stable from the 1970s through the early 2000s. According to research professor Andrew Mahoney, the Beauforts landfast ice has recently begun a notable retreat, no longer extending to the 20 meter depths that once characterized the region. This shift suggests that the mechanisms maintaining ice stability in the high Arctic are fundamentally breaking down under current climate pressures.

A Shrinking Window for Hunting and Industry

The practical implications of a shorter ice season are profound for both indigenous communities and industrial operations. Residents rely on the frozen surface to travel to traditional hunting and fishing grounds, while the oil and gas industry utilizes the ice to construct seasonal roads for nearshore facilities. Mahoney notes that the shortening of the season may be more impactful than the total loss of ice area, as it creates a period of extreme uncertainty for those who depend on the ice for their livelihoods.