The average weather characteristics and patterns of an area (such as temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed and direction, and precipitation amounts), observed over years, determine a region's climate. Over the past century, there has been an observable change in Earth's climate: average global temperatures have risen about 0.8°C. Alaska and the Arctic have seen an even more alarming rate of change, especially in winter temperatures, which have risen about 4°C. Such changes in climate inevitably mean changes for the entire ecosystem—the environment, vegetation, animals, and people are all affected. For example, warmer winters mean changes in the extent and thickness of sea ice, which affect the range and behavior of marine animals (such as seals, walruses, and polar bears), which impact the subsistence harvest. Alaska Native communities that rely on natural resources from the land and sea are finding that they must adapt to rapid climate change.

Weather is inherently hard to forecast because it depends on the complex interaction of many variables. Nonetheless, over thousands of years of hunting and living on the land, Alaska Native peoples have gained significant knowledge about how to read the weather. Keen observations of the environment, combined with knowledge about local weather patterns, have enabled Alaska Native peoples to hunt and travel safely for generations. However, the climate is changing so quickly that traditional wisdom is no longer as reliable as it once was.

For example, there has been increased rain and snowfall in some regions of Alaska. Warmer temperatures increase evaporation, which in turn leads to more precipitation. As evaporation and precipitation patterns change, some regions may experience more variable and extreme weather such as stronger storms, floods, and droughts. Alaska Native peoples also report that the wind patterns have changed, leaving them unsure about how to read natural weather signs and predict conditions. Furthermore, although average temperatures have shown a warming trend, there is variability from year to year and the weather from one year does not necessarily indicate what will happen the next year; for instance, it is not a given that the ice will break up earlier every year.

Alaska Native communities have no choice but to find ways to adapt to the environmental changes and uncertainty. In the past, these communities were more nomadic and migrated with the changes. But today, most Alaska Native peoples live in permanent settlements and therefore must make use of technologies such as motorized boats, snowmachines, and planes (which allow them to travel faster and farther) to reach food sources that have moved farther away. Navigational aids, such as the Global Positioning Systems (GPS), can help orient hunters in unfamiliar conditions. In addition, satellite and Internet technologies provide information on weather, snow, and ice conditions, and provide more reliable communication for hunters while they are away from their settlements. These technologies complement traditional Alaska Native ways of knowing.

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