Dynamics of Lake-Calving Glaciers: Yakutat Glacier, Alaska

University Of Alaska Fairbanks Campus, Fairbanks AK

Investigators

Abstract

Funds are provided to test a set of hypotheses that address the process of calving into a freshwater lake, the dynamical effect of a calving retreat on the glacier system, and the relative contributions of mass loss due to surface melting and calving. A ?whole glacier? approach of data acquisition and monitoring will be used to achieve these goals. These field components of the project will be complemented by the development of a lake glacier calving law that can be incorporated into dynamical models of glacier flow. Both observational and modeling results will be compared with data from other glaciers around the world through international collaborations established by the principal investigators.