Icefields to Oceans (Ice2O)
Rates of freshwater discharge from watersheds in the Gulf of Alaska are among the highest on Earth (1-10 m/yr w.e). This densely glacierized region of Alaska is undergoing rapid glacier volume loss. Glacier runoff accounts for about half the total runoff from into the Gulf of Alaska.Abstract
Rapid mass loss from the Alaska Region’s glaciers impacts the flow and chemistry of rivers and the nearshore marine ecosystems of the Gulf of Alaska and Arctic coasts. Integrating the physical, chemical, and ecological processes and feedbacks over a broad range of time scales will increase understanding of biophysical coupling in this economically-important ecosystem. A robust baseline understanding is, in turn, important in forming projections of how the various ecosystem components will fare given ongoing climate warming and change. Currently, this project is centered on Wolverine Glacier, where we are building on the established mass balance record and measuring several biological, chemical and physical processes.
Contacts
Arendt, Anthony , 907-474-7427Hood, Eran , 907-796-6277
O'Neel, Shad R., 907-786-7088
Status: onGoing
Start Year: 2011
End Year:
Project Sites
Collaborators
University of Alaska FairbanksUniversity of Alaska Southeast