Scientists has perfect name for Alaska, ‘an ideal laboratory’. They have said it so as Alaska has witnessing everything ranging from wildfires, melting glaciers and massive changes in animal behavior. Its environment is changing faster than anywhere else on earth.

It would not be wrong to say that Alaska is centre of attentions for many. On Monday, President Obama flew to Alaska to focus on climate change issues and also rename the tallest peak in Alaska from McKinley to Denali.

NASA officials have also announced of new programs of air flights, satellite passes and on-the-ground field work in Alaska. Through these programs, the officials want to know about what is actually happening, at what pace and why.

Scott Goetz, deputy director at Woods Hole Research Center in Falmouth, said, “The region is rapidly changing, and we’ve already seen a lot of that from field measurements and remote sensing. It’s an area that’s warming with climate change, and there’s a lot of potential for permafrost degradation”

Till now this year, more than 5 million acres in Alaska has been burnt, turning the years to be the second worst fire years on record for Alaska. Alaska tundra is witnessing big changes like more thunderstorms, more lightening strikes and more fires that have not been seen before.

Wildfires release large amount of carbon. Over the next decade, NASA and other organizations will investigate about the formidable region spanning around 2.5 million square miles.