Unalaska, AK – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is funding new research in Alaskan coastal communities that will help people adapt to new weather patterns caused by climate change. Researcher and University of Alaska Fairbanks graduate student Phillip Loring says he's focusing on how weather patterns affect people's lives and how this information can be used to improve weather forecasts and models.

"We can take the observations of the past 5 or 10 years, that people have said that, 'Well this year was terrible because of this, this, and this and these storms were horrible,'" Loring explained. "Then we can find those in the records and tell the computers, 'This is what's important, now tell us what with climate change in the next five years, how often is this going to happen again.'"

Loring says NOAA is using the research to make weather forecasting models and reports more useful for local people. He says they are trying to account for changing weather cues that traditionally have helped people determine their food gathering activities, like fishing and hunting.

"These seasonality issues of water and freezing and what not are unprecedented such that what we've been taught doesn't necessarily apply," he said. "So the cues that we use to read 'Okay next week we need to go fishing' or 'This means spring is here'-- the cues aren't necessarily as reliable any more. So then there are issues: Is it safe to go out in the wind? Is the water going to be too high? Is the water going to be too low? So on and so forth."

Loring is also looking at climate change and flexibility within food-related activities. He says the more flexible you can be with your schedule, the more easily you can work around problems like weather. But there are barriers to flexibility, like fuel prices and laws that say when you can fish. Loring says some of his research indicates that the laws can improve flexibility as well.

"The flexibility afforded by the fishing quota down here, everybody has said has been great. You don't have to go out and fish intensely all at the same time, regardless of the weather, regardless of how dangerous it is. You can be more flexible."

Loring says he hopes his research will inform decision makers who can have an impact on flexibility issues.

Loring is seeking research participants from Unalaska, Togiak, and Emmonak. He can be reached by email at ftpal@uaf.edu.