Air Quality
Alaska generally enjoys clean air thanks to its low population density, though wintertime wood-smoke pollution creates recurring problems in Fairbanks.
Monitored days with good air quality
1990–2025U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County, all monitored Alaska counties.
Monitored days unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse
1990–2025U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County (AQI above 100).
| Indicator | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Days Above PM2.5 Standard (Fairbanks area) | 15 | 3 |
- •Fairbanks experiences some of the worst wintertime particulate pollution in the US due to wood smoke trapped by cold-air inversions.
Wildfires
Alaska's vast boreal forests and tundra can burn on an enormous scale, with bad fire seasons consuming well over a million acres.
| Indicator | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Average Annual Acres Burned (thousands of hectares) | 500 | 100 |
- •The 2004 Alaska fire season burned about 2.6 million hectares, the largest area on record for the state.
Drought
Drought is a rare and localized concern in Alaska compared to the Lower 48, though changing precipitation patterns have caused occasional dry spells in the Interior.
Area in drought (D1–D4), yearly average
2000–2025U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.
Area in extreme or exceptional drought (D3–D4)
2000–2025U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.
| Indicator | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Share of Land in Drought (%) | 5 | 25 |
- •Even mild dry spells in Alaska's Interior can sharply increase wildfire risk because of abundant boreal forest fuel.
Water Usage
Despite its abundant freshwater resources, Alaska has one of the lowest total water withdrawal volumes in the country due to its small population.
| Indicator | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Total Water Withdrawal (billion gallons/day) | 1.2 | 8 |
- •Alaska is home to an estimated 27,000 glaciers, more than any other US state.
Emissions
Cold climate heating, long-distance air travel, and an oil-driven economy give Alaska one of the highest per-capita greenhouse gas emission rates in the country.
Energy-related CO₂ emissions
1970–2021U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, all sectors and fuels (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTTTOAKA).
Transportation CO₂ emissions
1970–2021U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, transportation sector (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTCTOAKA).
| Indicator | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Per Capita CO2 Emissions (metric tons) | 55 | 15 |
- •Alaska's per-capita carbon emissions rank among the highest in the nation, driven largely by its oil and gas industry and aviation fuel use.
Climate Indicators
Alaska is warming two to three times faster than the global average, driving permafrost thaw, coastal erosion, and forced relocation of Native villages.
Average annual temperature
1925–2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December average.
Annual precipitation
1925–2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December total.
| Indicator | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Warming Rate Multiplier vs Global Average | 2.5 | 1 |
- •Several Alaska Native villages, including Newtok and Shishmaref, are actively relocating due to permafrost thaw and coastal erosion.