Data Spotlight: Projecting Alaska Snowpack Response to Climate Change Release Date: Snow: More than just a Weather Phenomena Figure 1. Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL, 21 total) and snowcourse sites (170 total) used in this study, 13 Alaska climate divisions (black boundaries), and 1970–1999 historical snowfall equivalent (SFE). (Public domain.) Snow is an iconic and integral part of the Alaskan landscape, serving many functions to both the people and wildlife that live there. Snow provides crucial habitat for species such as the native Alaskan snowshoe hare, wolverine, and lynx, and plant life is affected by the timing of the onset and end of the snow season. Glaciers, which are the result of centuries of snow accumulation and compaction, harbor snowfields that melt later than other snow and contribute to streamflow important to resident and migratory fish. Local hydroelectric power systems, recreation-seekers, and transportation infrastructure all rely on accurate predictions of snowfall.