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Emily Baker

Emily is a Geophysicist for the Alaska Science Center.

Science and Products

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South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State

Glaciers and Climate Project

Mountain glaciers are dynamic reservoirs of frozen water closely coupled to ecosystems and climate. Glacier change in North America has major socioeconomic impacts, including global sea level change, tourism disruption, natural hazard risk, fishery effects, and water resource alteration. Understanding and quantifying precise connections between glaciers and climate is critical to decision makers...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center
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Glaciers and Climate Project

Mountain glaciers are dynamic reservoirs of frozen water closely coupled to ecosystems and climate. Glacier change in North America has major socioeconomic impacts, including global sea level change, tourism disruption, natural hazard risk, fishery effects, and water resource alteration. Understanding and quantifying precise connections between glaciers and climate is critical to decision makers...
Learn More

Firn Density and Stratigraphy Observations from USGS Benchmark Glaciers

This dataset contains observations of snow and firn density and stratigraphy from Site EC on Wolverine Glacier. Site EC is located in the accumulation zone on the northwest flank of the upper glacier at 1350m. Cores were recovered using a FELICS corer to approximately 25m depth at the end of the accumulation season and the end of ablation season starting in 2016. Additional cores were drilled thro
By
Alaska Science Center

USGS Benchmark Glacier Mass Balance and Project Data

Since the late 1950s, the USGS has maintained a long-term glacier mass-balance program at three North American glaciers. Measurements began on South Cascade Glacier, WA in 1958, expanding to Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK in 1966, and later Sperry Glacier, MT in 2005. Additional measurements have been made on Lemon Creek Glacier, AK to compliment data collected by the Juneau Icefield Research
By
Alaska Science Center

Point Raw Glaciological Data: Ablation Stake, Snow Pit, and Probed Snow Depth Data on USGS Benchmark Glaciers

Since the late 1950s, the USGS has maintained a long-term glacier mass-balance program at three North American glaciers. Measurements began on South Cascade Glacier, WA in 1958, expanding to Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK in 1966, and later Sperry Glacier, MT in 2005. Additional measurements have been made on Lemon Creek and Taku glaciers, AK to compliment data collected by the Juneau Icefield
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Geodetic Data for USGS Benchmark Glaciers: Orthophotos, Digital Elevation Models, Glacier Boundaries and Surveyed Positions

Since the late 1950s, the USGS has maintained a long-term glacier mass-balance program at three North American glaciers. Measurements began on South Cascade Glacier, WA in 1958, expanding to Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK in 1966, and later Sperry Glacier, MT in 2005. Additional measurements have been made on Lemon Creek Glacier, AK to compliment data collected by the Juneau Icefield Research
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Glacier-Wide Mass Balance and Compiled Data Inputs

Since the late 1950s, the USGS has maintained a long-term glacier mass-balance program at three North American glaciers. Measurements began on South Cascade Glacier, WA in 1958, expanding to Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK in 1966, and later Sperry Glacier, MT in 2005. The Juneau Icefield Research Program has measured surface mass balance on Lemon Creek and Taku Glacier since the mid-1940s, wit
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Glacier-Wide Mass Balance and Compiled Data Inputs: Juneau Icefield Glaciers

Since the 1940s, the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) has been measuring surface mass balance on the Juneau Icefield. This is the longest ongoing program of its kind in North America. The program nominally occurs between late June and late August, traversing between Juneau, Alaska and Atlin, British Columbia. JIRP has examined the surface mass balance of the Juneau Icefield since 1946, with
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Geochemistry of Water Sources in the Wolverine Glacier Watershed, Alaska in 2016 and 2017

Glaciers are critical sources of water and solutes to downstream riverine and marine ecosystems. Samples were collected from surface streams, groundwater, rain, snow, and ice in the Wolverine Glacier basin and analyzed for a broad suite of geochemical constituents including common field parameters, major ions, stable isotopes of water, nutrients, metals, and dissolved organic carbon.
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Raw Ground Penetrating Radar Data on North American Glaciers

U.S. Geological Survey researchers conducted time-series ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys with a Sensors and Software 500-MHz Pulse Ekko Pro system. This data release contains ground-based (ski and snowmobile) as well as airborne common-offset profiles. All profiles are linked to coincident GPS observations. Additionally, common-midpoint data was collected at specific glacier locations. Coin
By
Alaska Science Center

Geodetic Data for Juneau Icefield Glaciers: Orthophotos, Digital Elevation Models, and Glacier Boundaries

Since the 1940s, the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) has been measuring surface mass balance on the Juneau Icefield. This is the longest ongoing program of its kind in North America. The program nominally occurs between late June and late August, traversing between Juneau, Alaska and Atlin, British Columbia. JIRP has examined the surface mass balance of the Juneau Icefield since 1946, with
By
Alaska Science Center

Weather Station Data on the Juneau Icefield

Since the 1940s, the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) has been measuring surface mass balance on the Juneau Icefield. This is the longest ongoing program of its kind in North America. The program nominally occurs between late June and late August, traversing between Juneau, Alaska and Atlin, British Columbia. JIRP has examined the surface mass balance of the Juneau Icefield since 1946, with
By
Alaska Science Center

High Altitude Weather Station Data at USGS Benchmark Glaciers

Since the late 1950s, the USGS has maintained a long-term glacier mass-balance program at three North American glaciers. Measurements began on South Cascade Glacier, WA in 1958, expanding to Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK in 1966, and later Sperry Glacier, MT in 2005. Additional measurements have been made on Lemon Creek Glacier, AK to compliment data collected by the Juneau Icefield Research
By
Alaska Science Center
Animated image showing glacier changes on Wolverine Glacier from 2012 to 2022
Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)
Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)
Animated image showing glacier changes on Wolverine Glacier from 2012 to 2022

Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)

Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)

The timelapse imagery provided here shows the lower half of Wolverine Glacier from 2012 to 2022. This imagery gives an intuitive view of the scale of change happening at glaciers across Alaska.

By
Alaska Science Center
Animated image showing glacier changes on Wolverine Glacier from 2012 to 2022

Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)

Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)

The timelapse imagery provided here shows the lower half of Wolverine Glacier from 2012 to 2022. This imagery gives an intuitive view of the scale of change happening at glaciers across Alaska.

By
Alaska Science Center
Two scientists on South Cascade Glacier carrying ablation stakes attached to backpacks.
Scientists collecting ablation stakes
Scientists collecting ablation stakes
Two scientists on South Cascade Glacier carrying ablation stakes attached to backpacks.

Scientists collecting ablation stakes

Scientists collecting ablation stakes

Scientists collect exposed ablation stakes during fall fieldwork on South Cascade Glacier in Washington. 

By
Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center
Two scientists on South Cascade Glacier carrying ablation stakes attached to backpacks.

Scientists collecting ablation stakes

Scientists collecting ablation stakes

Scientists collect exposed ablation stakes during fall fieldwork on South Cascade Glacier in Washington. 

By
Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center
Scientist sitting on snowmobile at Wolverine Glacier in Alaska. He is writing notes in notebook.
Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK
Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK
Scientist sitting on snowmobile at Wolverine Glacier in Alaska. He is writing notes in notebook.

Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK

Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK

Lucas Zeller takes notes on firn core density and stratigraphy as part of a larger study on Wolverine Glacier, AK.

By
Alaska Science Center
Scientist sitting on snowmobile at Wolverine Glacier in Alaska. He is writing notes in notebook.

Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK

Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK

Lucas Zeller takes notes on firn core density and stratigraphy as part of a larger study on Wolverine Glacier, AK.

By
Alaska Science Center
Aerial view of the upper cracks in the Wolverine Glacier icefall as sunset approaches.
Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall
Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall
Aerial view of the upper cracks in the Wolverine Glacier icefall as sunset approaches.

Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall

Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall

An aerial view of the upper cracks in the Wolverine Glacier icefall as sunset approaches.

By
Alaska Science Center
Aerial view of the upper cracks in the Wolverine Glacier icefall as sunset approaches.

Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall

Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall

An aerial view of the upper cracks in the Wolverine Glacier icefall as sunset approaches.

By
Alaska Science Center
USGS scientist, examines a full firn core taken on Wolverine Glacier in Alaska.
Scientist examines firn core
Scientist examines firn core
USGS scientist, examines a full firn core taken on Wolverine Glacier in Alaska.

Scientist examines firn core

Scientist examines firn core

USGS scientist Louis Sass examines a full firn core taken on Wolverine Glacier, making observations of any notable dust or dirt layers in the snow and firn stratigraphy.

By
Alaska Science Center
USGS scientist, examines a full firn core taken on Wolverine Glacier in Alaska.

Scientist examines firn core

Scientist examines firn core

USGS scientist Louis Sass examines a full firn core taken on Wolverine Glacier, making observations of any notable dust or dirt layers in the snow and firn stratigraphy.

By
Alaska Science Center

GNSS reflectometry from low-cost sensors for continuous in situ contemporaneous glacier mass balance and flux divergence

Recent advances in remote sensing have produced global glacier surface elevation change data. Parsing these elevation change signals into contributions from the climate (i.e. climatic mass balance) and glacier dynamics (i.e. flux divergence) is critical to enhance our process-based understanding of glacier change. In this study, we evaluate three approaches for direct, continuous measurements of t
Authors
Albin Wells, David R. Rounce, Louis C. Sass, Caitlyn Florentine, Adam Garbo, Emily Baker, Christopher J. McNeil
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Direct measurements of firn-density evolution from 2016 to 2022 at Wolverine Glacier, Alaska

Knowledge of snow and firn-density change is needed to use elevation-change measurements to estimate glacier mass change. Additionally, firn-density evolution on glaciers is closely connected to meltwater percolation, refreezing and runoff, which are key processes for glacier mass balance and hydrology. Since 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark Glacier Project has recovered firn cores from
Authors
Max Stevens, Louis C. Sass, Caitlyn Florentine, Christopher J. McNeil, Emily Baker, Katherine Eleanore Bollen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

How to handle glacier area change in geodetic mass balance

Innovations in geodesy enable widespread analysis of glacier surface elevation change and geodetic mass balance. However, coincident glacier area data are less widely available, causing inconsistent handling of glacier area change. Here we quantify the bias introduced into meters water equivalent (m w.e.) specific geodetic mass balance results when using a fixed, maximum glacier area, and illustra
Authors
Caitlyn Florentine, Louis C. Sass, Christopher J. McNeil, Emily Baker, Shad O'Neel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Beyond glacier-wide mass balances: Parsing seasonal elevation change into spatially resolved patterns of accumulation and ablation at Wolverine Glacier, Alaska

We present spatially distributed seasonal and annual surface mass balances of Wolverine Glacier, Alaska, from 2016 to 2020. Our approach accounts for the effects of ice emergence and firn compaction on surface elevation changes to resolve the spatial patterns in mass balance at 10 m scale. We present and compare three methods for estimating emergence velocities. Firn compaction was constrained by
Authors
Lucas Zeller, Daniel J McGrath, Louis C. Sass, Shad O'Neel, Christopher J. McNeil, Emily Baker
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Seasonality of solute flux and water source chemistry in a coastal glacierized watershed undergoing rapid change: Wolverine Glacier watershed, Alaska

As glaciers around the world rapidly lose mass, the tight coupling between glaciers and downstream ecosystems is resulting in widespread impacts on global hydrologic and biogeochemical cycling. However, a range of challenges make it difficult to conduct research in glacierized systems and our knowledge of seasonally changing hydrologic processes and solute sources and signatures is limited. This i
Authors
Anna Bergstrom, Joshua C. Koch, Shad O'Neel, Emily Baker
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

f. Glaciers and ice caps outside Greenland

No abstract available.
Authors
Gabe Wolken, M. Sharp, L. M. Andreassen, Emily Baker, B. Wouters, D. Burgess, B. Luks, J. Kohler, Shad O'Neel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Explaining mass balance and retreat dichotomies at Taku and Lemon Creek Glaciers, Alaska

We reanalyzed mass balance records at Taku and Lemon Creek Glaciers to better understand the relative roles of hypsometry, local climate and dynamics as mass balance drivers. Over the 1946–2018 period, the cumulative mass balances diverged. Tidewater Taku Glacier advanced and gained mass at an average rate of +0.25±0.28 m w.e. a–1, contrasting with retreat and mass loss of –0.60±0.15 m w.e. a-1 at
Authors
Christopher J. McNeil, Shad O'Neel, Michael Loso, Mauri Pelto, Louis C. Sass, Emily Baker, Seth Campbell
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Reanalysis of the U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark Glaciers: Long-term insight into climate forcing of glacier mass balance

Mountain glaciers integrate climate processes to provide an unmatched signal of regional climate forcing. However, extracting the climate signal via intercomparison of regional glacier mass balance records can be problematic when methods for extrapolating and calibrating direct glaciological measurements are mixed or inconsistent. To address this problem, we reanalyzed and compared long-term mass
Authors
Shad O'Neel, Christopher J. McNeil, Louis C. Sass, Caitlyn Florentine, Emily Baker, Erich Peitzsch, Daniel J McGrath, Andrew G. Fountain, Daniel B. Fagre
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Interannual snow accumulation variability on glaciers derived from repeat spatially extensive ground-penetrating radar surveys

There is significant uncertainty regarding the spatiotemporal distribution of seasonal snow on glaciers, despite being a fundamental component of glacier mass balance. To address this knowledge gap, we collected repeat, spatially extensive high-frequency ground-penetrating radar (GPR) observations on two glaciers in Alaska for five consecutive years. GPR measurements showed steep snow water equiva
Authors
Daniel J McGrath, Louis Sass, Shad O'Neel, Christopher J. McNeil, Salvatore G Candela, Emily Baker, Hans P. Marshall
By
Alaska Science Center
Glacier change in the western U.S. and Alaska: New insights from reanalysis of old data

Glacier change in the western U.S. and Alaska: New insights from reanalysis of old data

This article is part of the Spring 2020 issue of the Earth Science Matters Newsletter.

Read Article

Science and Products

link
South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State

Glaciers and Climate Project

Mountain glaciers are dynamic reservoirs of frozen water closely coupled to ecosystems and climate. Glacier change in North America has major socioeconomic impacts, including global sea level change, tourism disruption, natural hazard risk, fishery effects, and water resource alteration. Understanding and quantifying precise connections between glaciers and climate is critical to decision makers...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center
link

Glaciers and Climate Project

Mountain glaciers are dynamic reservoirs of frozen water closely coupled to ecosystems and climate. Glacier change in North America has major socioeconomic impacts, including global sea level change, tourism disruption, natural hazard risk, fishery effects, and water resource alteration. Understanding and quantifying precise connections between glaciers and climate is critical to decision makers...
Learn More

Firn Density and Stratigraphy Observations from USGS Benchmark Glaciers

This dataset contains observations of snow and firn density and stratigraphy from Site EC on Wolverine Glacier. Site EC is located in the accumulation zone on the northwest flank of the upper glacier at 1350m. Cores were recovered using a FELICS corer to approximately 25m depth at the end of the accumulation season and the end of ablation season starting in 2016. Additional cores were drilled thro
By
Alaska Science Center

USGS Benchmark Glacier Mass Balance and Project Data

Since the late 1950s, the USGS has maintained a long-term glacier mass-balance program at three North American glaciers. Measurements began on South Cascade Glacier, WA in 1958, expanding to Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK in 1966, and later Sperry Glacier, MT in 2005. Additional measurements have been made on Lemon Creek Glacier, AK to compliment data collected by the Juneau Icefield Research
By
Alaska Science Center

Point Raw Glaciological Data: Ablation Stake, Snow Pit, and Probed Snow Depth Data on USGS Benchmark Glaciers

Since the late 1950s, the USGS has maintained a long-term glacier mass-balance program at three North American glaciers. Measurements began on South Cascade Glacier, WA in 1958, expanding to Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK in 1966, and later Sperry Glacier, MT in 2005. Additional measurements have been made on Lemon Creek and Taku glaciers, AK to compliment data collected by the Juneau Icefield
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Geodetic Data for USGS Benchmark Glaciers: Orthophotos, Digital Elevation Models, Glacier Boundaries and Surveyed Positions

Since the late 1950s, the USGS has maintained a long-term glacier mass-balance program at three North American glaciers. Measurements began on South Cascade Glacier, WA in 1958, expanding to Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK in 1966, and later Sperry Glacier, MT in 2005. Additional measurements have been made on Lemon Creek Glacier, AK to compliment data collected by the Juneau Icefield Research
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Glacier-Wide Mass Balance and Compiled Data Inputs

Since the late 1950s, the USGS has maintained a long-term glacier mass-balance program at three North American glaciers. Measurements began on South Cascade Glacier, WA in 1958, expanding to Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK in 1966, and later Sperry Glacier, MT in 2005. The Juneau Icefield Research Program has measured surface mass balance on Lemon Creek and Taku Glacier since the mid-1940s, wit
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Glacier-Wide Mass Balance and Compiled Data Inputs: Juneau Icefield Glaciers

Since the 1940s, the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) has been measuring surface mass balance on the Juneau Icefield. This is the longest ongoing program of its kind in North America. The program nominally occurs between late June and late August, traversing between Juneau, Alaska and Atlin, British Columbia. JIRP has examined the surface mass balance of the Juneau Icefield since 1946, with
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Geochemistry of Water Sources in the Wolverine Glacier Watershed, Alaska in 2016 and 2017

Glaciers are critical sources of water and solutes to downstream riverine and marine ecosystems. Samples were collected from surface streams, groundwater, rain, snow, and ice in the Wolverine Glacier basin and analyzed for a broad suite of geochemical constituents including common field parameters, major ions, stable isotopes of water, nutrients, metals, and dissolved organic carbon.
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Raw Ground Penetrating Radar Data on North American Glaciers

U.S. Geological Survey researchers conducted time-series ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys with a Sensors and Software 500-MHz Pulse Ekko Pro system. This data release contains ground-based (ski and snowmobile) as well as airborne common-offset profiles. All profiles are linked to coincident GPS observations. Additionally, common-midpoint data was collected at specific glacier locations. Coin
By
Alaska Science Center

Geodetic Data for Juneau Icefield Glaciers: Orthophotos, Digital Elevation Models, and Glacier Boundaries

Since the 1940s, the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) has been measuring surface mass balance on the Juneau Icefield. This is the longest ongoing program of its kind in North America. The program nominally occurs between late June and late August, traversing between Juneau, Alaska and Atlin, British Columbia. JIRP has examined the surface mass balance of the Juneau Icefield since 1946, with
By
Alaska Science Center

Weather Station Data on the Juneau Icefield

Since the 1940s, the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) has been measuring surface mass balance on the Juneau Icefield. This is the longest ongoing program of its kind in North America. The program nominally occurs between late June and late August, traversing between Juneau, Alaska and Atlin, British Columbia. JIRP has examined the surface mass balance of the Juneau Icefield since 1946, with
By
Alaska Science Center

High Altitude Weather Station Data at USGS Benchmark Glaciers

Since the late 1950s, the USGS has maintained a long-term glacier mass-balance program at three North American glaciers. Measurements began on South Cascade Glacier, WA in 1958, expanding to Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK in 1966, and later Sperry Glacier, MT in 2005. Additional measurements have been made on Lemon Creek Glacier, AK to compliment data collected by the Juneau Icefield Research
By
Alaska Science Center
Animated image showing glacier changes on Wolverine Glacier from 2012 to 2022
Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)
Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)
Animated image showing glacier changes on Wolverine Glacier from 2012 to 2022

Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)

Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)

The timelapse imagery provided here shows the lower half of Wolverine Glacier from 2012 to 2022. This imagery gives an intuitive view of the scale of change happening at glaciers across Alaska.

By
Alaska Science Center
Animated image showing glacier changes on Wolverine Glacier from 2012 to 2022

Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)

Timelapse imagery from Wolverine Glacier, Alaska (2012 - 2022)

The timelapse imagery provided here shows the lower half of Wolverine Glacier from 2012 to 2022. This imagery gives an intuitive view of the scale of change happening at glaciers across Alaska.

By
Alaska Science Center
Two scientists on South Cascade Glacier carrying ablation stakes attached to backpacks.
Scientists collecting ablation stakes
Scientists collecting ablation stakes
Two scientists on South Cascade Glacier carrying ablation stakes attached to backpacks.

Scientists collecting ablation stakes

Scientists collecting ablation stakes

Scientists collect exposed ablation stakes during fall fieldwork on South Cascade Glacier in Washington. 

By
Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center
Two scientists on South Cascade Glacier carrying ablation stakes attached to backpacks.

Scientists collecting ablation stakes

Scientists collecting ablation stakes

Scientists collect exposed ablation stakes during fall fieldwork on South Cascade Glacier in Washington. 

By
Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center
Scientist sitting on snowmobile at Wolverine Glacier in Alaska. He is writing notes in notebook.
Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK
Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK
Scientist sitting on snowmobile at Wolverine Glacier in Alaska. He is writing notes in notebook.

Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK

Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK

Lucas Zeller takes notes on firn core density and stratigraphy as part of a larger study on Wolverine Glacier, AK.

By
Alaska Science Center
Scientist sitting on snowmobile at Wolverine Glacier in Alaska. He is writing notes in notebook.

Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK

Lucas Zeller at Wolverine Glacier, AK

Lucas Zeller takes notes on firn core density and stratigraphy as part of a larger study on Wolverine Glacier, AK.

By
Alaska Science Center
Aerial view of the upper cracks in the Wolverine Glacier icefall as sunset approaches.
Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall
Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall
Aerial view of the upper cracks in the Wolverine Glacier icefall as sunset approaches.

Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall

Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall

An aerial view of the upper cracks in the Wolverine Glacier icefall as sunset approaches.

By
Alaska Science Center
Aerial view of the upper cracks in the Wolverine Glacier icefall as sunset approaches.

Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall

Aerial view of Wolverine Glacier icefall

An aerial view of the upper cracks in the Wolverine Glacier icefall as sunset approaches.

By
Alaska Science Center
USGS scientist, examines a full firn core taken on Wolverine Glacier in Alaska.
Scientist examines firn core
Scientist examines firn core
USGS scientist, examines a full firn core taken on Wolverine Glacier in Alaska.

Scientist examines firn core

Scientist examines firn core

USGS scientist Louis Sass examines a full firn core taken on Wolverine Glacier, making observations of any notable dust or dirt layers in the snow and firn stratigraphy.

By
Alaska Science Center
USGS scientist, examines a full firn core taken on Wolverine Glacier in Alaska.

Scientist examines firn core

Scientist examines firn core

USGS scientist Louis Sass examines a full firn core taken on Wolverine Glacier, making observations of any notable dust or dirt layers in the snow and firn stratigraphy.

By
Alaska Science Center

GNSS reflectometry from low-cost sensors for continuous in situ contemporaneous glacier mass balance and flux divergence

Recent advances in remote sensing have produced global glacier surface elevation change data. Parsing these elevation change signals into contributions from the climate (i.e. climatic mass balance) and glacier dynamics (i.e. flux divergence) is critical to enhance our process-based understanding of glacier change. In this study, we evaluate three approaches for direct, continuous measurements of t
Authors
Albin Wells, David R. Rounce, Louis C. Sass, Caitlyn Florentine, Adam Garbo, Emily Baker, Christopher J. McNeil
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Direct measurements of firn-density evolution from 2016 to 2022 at Wolverine Glacier, Alaska

Knowledge of snow and firn-density change is needed to use elevation-change measurements to estimate glacier mass change. Additionally, firn-density evolution on glaciers is closely connected to meltwater percolation, refreezing and runoff, which are key processes for glacier mass balance and hydrology. Since 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark Glacier Project has recovered firn cores from
Authors
Max Stevens, Louis C. Sass, Caitlyn Florentine, Christopher J. McNeil, Emily Baker, Katherine Eleanore Bollen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

How to handle glacier area change in geodetic mass balance

Innovations in geodesy enable widespread analysis of glacier surface elevation change and geodetic mass balance. However, coincident glacier area data are less widely available, causing inconsistent handling of glacier area change. Here we quantify the bias introduced into meters water equivalent (m w.e.) specific geodetic mass balance results when using a fixed, maximum glacier area, and illustra
Authors
Caitlyn Florentine, Louis C. Sass, Christopher J. McNeil, Emily Baker, Shad O'Neel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Beyond glacier-wide mass balances: Parsing seasonal elevation change into spatially resolved patterns of accumulation and ablation at Wolverine Glacier, Alaska

We present spatially distributed seasonal and annual surface mass balances of Wolverine Glacier, Alaska, from 2016 to 2020. Our approach accounts for the effects of ice emergence and firn compaction on surface elevation changes to resolve the spatial patterns in mass balance at 10 m scale. We present and compare three methods for estimating emergence velocities. Firn compaction was constrained by
Authors
Lucas Zeller, Daniel J McGrath, Louis C. Sass, Shad O'Neel, Christopher J. McNeil, Emily Baker
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Seasonality of solute flux and water source chemistry in a coastal glacierized watershed undergoing rapid change: Wolverine Glacier watershed, Alaska

As glaciers around the world rapidly lose mass, the tight coupling between glaciers and downstream ecosystems is resulting in widespread impacts on global hydrologic and biogeochemical cycling. However, a range of challenges make it difficult to conduct research in glacierized systems and our knowledge of seasonally changing hydrologic processes and solute sources and signatures is limited. This i
Authors
Anna Bergstrom, Joshua C. Koch, Shad O'Neel, Emily Baker
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

f. Glaciers and ice caps outside Greenland

No abstract available.
Authors
Gabe Wolken, M. Sharp, L. M. Andreassen, Emily Baker, B. Wouters, D. Burgess, B. Luks, J. Kohler, Shad O'Neel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Explaining mass balance and retreat dichotomies at Taku and Lemon Creek Glaciers, Alaska

We reanalyzed mass balance records at Taku and Lemon Creek Glaciers to better understand the relative roles of hypsometry, local climate and dynamics as mass balance drivers. Over the 1946–2018 period, the cumulative mass balances diverged. Tidewater Taku Glacier advanced and gained mass at an average rate of +0.25±0.28 m w.e. a–1, contrasting with retreat and mass loss of –0.60±0.15 m w.e. a-1 at
Authors
Christopher J. McNeil, Shad O'Neel, Michael Loso, Mauri Pelto, Louis C. Sass, Emily Baker, Seth Campbell
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Reanalysis of the U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark Glaciers: Long-term insight into climate forcing of glacier mass balance

Mountain glaciers integrate climate processes to provide an unmatched signal of regional climate forcing. However, extracting the climate signal via intercomparison of regional glacier mass balance records can be problematic when methods for extrapolating and calibrating direct glaciological measurements are mixed or inconsistent. To address this problem, we reanalyzed and compared long-term mass
Authors
Shad O'Neel, Christopher J. McNeil, Louis C. Sass, Caitlyn Florentine, Emily Baker, Erich Peitzsch, Daniel J McGrath, Andrew G. Fountain, Daniel B. Fagre
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Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Land Change Science Program, Alaska Science Center

Interannual snow accumulation variability on glaciers derived from repeat spatially extensive ground-penetrating radar surveys

There is significant uncertainty regarding the spatiotemporal distribution of seasonal snow on glaciers, despite being a fundamental component of glacier mass balance. To address this knowledge gap, we collected repeat, spatially extensive high-frequency ground-penetrating radar (GPR) observations on two glaciers in Alaska for five consecutive years. GPR measurements showed steep snow water equiva
Authors
Daniel J McGrath, Louis Sass, Shad O'Neel, Christopher J. McNeil, Salvatore G Candela, Emily Baker, Hans P. Marshall
By
Alaska Science Center
Glacier change in the western U.S. and Alaska: New insights from reanalysis of old data

Glacier change in the western U.S. and Alaska: New insights from reanalysis of old data

This article is part of the Spring 2020 issue of the Earth Science Matters Newsletter.

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