Alaska’s coastal temperate rainforest is expected to see an increase of 1.7-3.7 °C in air temperature in the next 80 years. This will have diverse effects on rivers throughout the region by altering tree lines, shifting the percent of moisture that falls as rain and snow and altering river water temperature all of which will change the habitats within these rivers and streams. Dr. Hood and his student Michael Windfree are working to quantify these effects to better understand the current relationship between landscape patterns and instream water temperature. With a better understanding of how land cover influences stream temperature future models will better be able to predict how changes to temperature and land cover may impact pacific salmon populations.
