Annual Water Balance and Agricultural Development in Alaska

Abstract

Mean annual precipitation in Alaska varies from 10 cm in the north to well over 500 cm in the southeast. Much of the interior has a macro—scale negative mean water balance, whereas coastal areas are very humid. Most land areas with the potential for agricultural development lie along the major interior river valleys. Nearly all of these land areas have long—term negative water balances. Should agricultural development take place in these areas, this negative water balance is likely to be magnified. Only those potential agricultural lands in the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak—Aleutian Island chain, and the southeast coastal regions lack water limitations when subjected to intensive crop production.