Collaborative Research: IPY: Dynamic Controls on Tidewater Glacier Retreat

PIs:W.T. Pfeffer, CU INSTAAR/CEAEShad O’Neel, INSTAAR and Scripps/IGPPIan Howat, OSU Byrd PolarHoward Conway, University of Washington EES

Collaborators:Jacek Jania, University of SilesiaManfred Stober, Stuttgart University of Applied SciencesEberhard Gülch, Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences Michael Hahn, Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences Al Rasmussen, University of Washington EESAndreas Vieli, Durham University

INSTAAR Univ. of Colorado NSF Arctic Program

Columbia Glacier, Alaska W.T. Pfeffer

Collaborative Research: IPY: Dynamic Controls on Tidewater Glacier Retreat

INSTAAR Univ. of Colorado NSF Arctic Program

1979 1993

W.T. Pfeffer (CU INSTAAR) September 2004

2004

Columbia Glacier, Prince William Sound:

• 1000 km2, 50 km long in 2007• 17 km retreat since ~1982, average retreat rate ~ 0.6 km yr-1

• Flow speed as great as 27 m d-1 (9.8 km yr-1)• Average iceberg discharge 1982-2006 ~4 km3 yr-1, Max discharge 7 km3 yr-1

• Ungauged basin delivering ~2-3 km3 yr-1 fresh water to PWS• Complete photogrammetric coverage: 134 aerial photo surveys 1976-2007

Most complete data on marine-based glacier instability and dynamic retreat and best location to study ice dynamics (accelerated iceberg discharge) contributions to sea level rise.

Collaborative Research: IPY: Dynamic Controls on Tidewater Glacier Retreat

INSTAAR Univ. of Colorado NSF Arctic Program

Terminus and velocity field 8 June – 7 July 2005

2008 – 2011 Program Objectives:

Obtain better understanding of interaction between climate forcing, marine-grounded glacier dynamics, and sea level rise, using:

•Existing record of motion and retreat 1980s-present.•Seismic record of iceberg calving.•Time-lapse sequences of terminus behavior and calving.•New data acquisition including airborne radar, aerial photogrammetry, terrestrial time-lapse sequences.

Analysis, including numerical modeling.

Data archival: 30+ record, presently held in several locations, to be cataloged and placed in single, central source (NSIDC/WDC-A)

New methods:

•Improved seismic filters for identifying iceberg calving.•Automated photogrammetric analysis of time-lapse sequences

Collaborative Research: IPY: Dynamic Controls on Tidewater Glacier Retreat

INSTAAR Univ. of Colorado NSF Arctic Program

Collaborative Plan

Columbia Glacier 2008-2011Data ArchivalNew Imagery

Seismics

Data ArchivalPfeffer, O’Neel

USGSNSIDC/WDC-A

CADIS

Field CollaborationColumbia Svalbard

Pfeffer JaniaO’Neel ddddd

New Data AcquisitionPfeffer – Aerial and time lapse imagery

O’Neel – Imagery, seismicsConway – Airborne radar

Analysis

Photogrammetric Image Processing – Howat, Pfeffer, Gulch, Hahn

Terrestrial Photogrammetry – Pfeffer, O’Neel, Jania, Stober, Gulch, Hahn

Seismic – O’Neel, Rasmussen

Airborne Radar – Conway, O’Neel, Rasmussen

Modeling – Pfeffer, O’Neel, Vieli, CReSIS (van der Veen)

Outreach/EducationNSF EHR/DRL

CU-Boulder CIRES OutreachNational Geographic/NOVA

BBC

INSTAAR Univ. of Colorado NSF Arctic Program