May 12, 2005. This is Global Warming in that it is melting snow and ice more rapidly. With the warming has come a drought to Alaska that is killing off it's tundra. There is shrinking snow on the mountains; here in Palmer, Alaska; because in addition to the heating of the troposphere there is no 'recharge' to the snow fields, ice fields and hence to the glaciers. The tundra is drying up and dying.