Did you know Alaska has rainforests?

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS):

Did you know Alaska has rainforests? Rainforests aren’t always tropical. They’re mainly characterized by high amounts of precipitation, a criterion that is easily met by the Gulf of Alaska’s temperate forests. This ecosystem can receive hundreds of inches of snow each winter. Over time, accumulated snow that survives the summer months form glaciers across large areas of the region. As they melt, these glaciers contribute to substantial runoff (on-land water flow), and temperate rainforest watersheds have some of the highest freshwater runoff rates on Earth. The warming climate in Alaska is resulting in rapid glacier loss and increased rates of runoff, which have the potential to affect the chemistry and ecology of downstream freshwater and nearshore marine ecosystems. Researchers at the Alaska Climate Science Center, managed by USGS, examined the effects of these increasing runoff rates in the Gulf of Alaska on coastal ecosystems, livelihoods, recreation, and infrastructure. To learn more, visit bit.ly/1XrBFzo#ClimateChange #Alaska Photo: Mendenhall Glacier in Tongass National Forest, AK. Credit: William Welch, USDA