Dangerous Ice Research Project

By Karen Brewster

The Elmer E. Rasmuson Library Oral History Program and the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are pleased to announce the completion of the Dangerous Ice Research Project. With funding from the National Science Foundation, this research brought scientists and local experienced river travelers together to investigate ice conditions on the Tanana River in Interior Alaska.

From 2004 to 2013, local experts provided historical perspective, personal experience, and traditional knowledge about the ever-changing Tanana River. Scientific measurements of water temperature, depth and chemical composition, and ice thickness established better understanding of the river system dynamics and the influence of groundwater upwelling on ice conditions. Photo and video documentation of our site visits can be found at the project website: http://jukebox.uaf.edu/dangerice

In addition, a booklet, On Dangerous Ice: Changing Ice Conditions on the Tanana River, that explains ice dynamics and gives travel advice for the general public, is available at no cost or for download at bit.ly/1bpiO1D. Please contact Leslie McCartney (lmccartney@alaska.edu or 907-474-7737) for copies.

The Fairbanks Daily News Miner newspaper published an article about the project and the booklet on Friday, November 22, which provides some additional information. This article can be viewed at http://www.newsminer.com/features/outdoors/uaf-study-of-tanana-river-ice-leads-researchers-to-write/article_e9c5bc32-5356-11e3-a7c4-001a4bcf6878.html