Time-lapse Photography of Barter Island in Alaska

This time-lapse of Barter Island in Alaska during three summer months in 2014, shows the pack ice melting and the subsequent effects to the beach and permafrost cliffs from storms and summer temperatures. This camera sat on a fallen snow fence to capture storm events. As more storms hit the coast, winter ice no longer sticks around long enough to buffer them, and the waves eat away at the base of the bluffs. In three instances you can see sections of the cliff slump as it thaws. In fact, the camera taking this imagery starts to tilt as the ground beneath it begins to slump. Villages exist along this northern stretch of coastal Alaska where erosion may be caused by several environmental elements. Additional Credits: Thanks to Bruce Richmond, Ann Gibbs and Li Erikson for providing footage. ---------- Find this video and thousands more at https://usgs.gov/gallery. Stay up-to-date on USGS topics and news on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and more at https://usgs.gov/socialmedia. DYK? The USGS.gov site is completely mobile! Ditch the desktop and browse the latest earth science on your mobile device. Go to https://usgs.gov.