The Pacific Decadal Oscillation is all the rage now.  There have been many studies about the PDO and it seems as though everyone is trying to reconstruct this index using tree-rings.  I present this figure only to show the strong correltation between coastal Alaskan temperatures and the PDO.  Since the PDO index is calculated by using sea surface temperatures and pressures in the Pacific Ocean, it is only logical that we would see this strong correlation. 

Given this strong influence of the PDO on weather patterns in this part of Alaska, the question of how this has varied through time is relevant.  For instance, would fire occurrence increase during times of a positive index (during which times temperatures are warmer)?