Researchers approach Blackfoot Glacier in Glacier National Park.
Erich Peitzsch, Ph.D
My main interests lie in the realm of snow and ice.
Research Interests
Previous projects include investigating wet snow avalanche processes, such as water movement in the snowpack and its implications for wet slab avalanches. Working as an avalanche forecaster for the spring opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park allows me to continue work on wet snow avalanche projects such as glide slab avalanches. I am also interested in investigating ecological change associated with avalanches, avalanche runout probability, and the relationship between climate and avalanches. Other research interests include monitoring mass balance of small mountain catchment glaciers.
Professional Experience
Supervisory Research Physical Scientist, USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, West Glacier, Montana
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Earth Sciences, Snow Science. 2020. Montana State University, Bozeman
MS. Earth Sciences (Snow Science). 2009. Montana State University, Bozema
BA. Environmental Studies. 2000. Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR
Science and Products
Snowpack Futures: Developing Management Tools to Address Snow as a Water Resource and Hazard
Evaluating How Snow Avalanches Impact Mountain Goat Populations in Southeast Alaska
Wet Snow Avalanche Research
Remote Sensing Tools Advance Avalanche Research
Examining Snow Avalanche Frequency and Magnitude
Glaciers—Understanding Climate Drivers
USGS Snow and Avalanche Project
Science in Glacier National Park
Time Series of Glacier Retreat
Climate Change in Mountain Ecosystems (CCME)
Going-to-the-Sun Road Avalanche Forecasting Program
Repeat Photography Project
Tree ring dataset for a regional avalanche chronology in Colorado 1319-2022
Historical simulated snowpack and other hydrometeorology data at 30 m for the Crown of the Continent and vicinity, United States and Canada, water years 1981-2020
Historical simulated snowpack and other hydrometeorology data at 90 m for the Crown of the Continent and vicinity, United States and Canada, water years 1981-2020
Tree ring dataset for a regional avalanche chronology in southeast Alaska, 1396 - 2019
USGS Benchmark Glacier Mass Balance and Project Data
2020 winter timeseries of UAS derived digital surface models (DSMs) from the Hourglass study site, Bridger Mountains, Montana, USA
Glacier-Wide Mass Balance and Compiled Data Inputs
Glaciers of Glacier National Park Repeat Photography Collection
Avalanche occurrence records along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana from 2003-2024 (ver. 4.0, November 2024)
Tree ring dataset for a regional avalanche chronology in northwest Montana, 1636-2017
Raw Ground Penetrating Radar Data on North American Glaciers
High Altitude Weather Station Data at USGS Benchmark Glaciers
Researchers approach Blackfoot Glacier in Glacier National Park.
The Garden Wall Weather Station is situated below the Garden Wall and adjacent to the Haystack Creek avalanche path in Glacier National Park. It provides meteorological data for avalanche forecasting and research, including wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and net radiation measurements.
The Garden Wall Weather Station is situated below the Garden Wall and adjacent to the Haystack Creek avalanche path in Glacier National Park. It provides meteorological data for avalanche forecasting and research, including wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and net radiation measurements.
USGS Physical Scientist Erich Peitzsch sets up a weather station on Snowslip Mountain in Glacier National Park. It provides meteorological data for avalanche forecasting and research, including wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and net radiation measurements.
USGS Physical Scientist Erich Peitzsch sets up a weather station on Snowslip Mountain in Glacier National Park. It provides meteorological data for avalanche forecasting and research, including wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and net radiation measurements.
Cryospheric sciences at the U.S. Geological Survey
Snow avalanches are a primary climate-linked driver of mountain ungulate populations
Characterizing vegetation and return periods in avalanche paths using lidar and aerial imagery
Comparing snowpack meteorological inputs to support regional wet snow avalanche forecasting
The relationship between whumpf observations and avalanche activity in Colorado, USA
Mapping a glide avalanche with terrestrial lidar in Glacier National Park, USA
Under-forecasting wet avalanche cycles: Case studies and lessons learned from two wet avalanche cycles in northwest Montana and central Colorado
Temporal evolution of slab and weak layer properties during the transition from dry to wet snowpack conditions
Spatial extent of forested avalanche terrain impacted by wildfire across the Sawtooth National Forest
Big avalanches in a changing climate: Using tree-ring derived avalanche chronologies to examine avalanche frequency across multiple climate types
Using tree rings to compare Colorado’s 2019 avalanche cycle to previous large avalanche cycles
Tree-ring derived avalanche frequency and climate associations in a high-latitude, maritime climate
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Snowpack Futures: Developing Management Tools to Address Snow as a Water Resource and Hazard
Evaluating How Snow Avalanches Impact Mountain Goat Populations in Southeast Alaska
Wet Snow Avalanche Research
Remote Sensing Tools Advance Avalanche Research
Examining Snow Avalanche Frequency and Magnitude
Glaciers—Understanding Climate Drivers
USGS Snow and Avalanche Project
Science in Glacier National Park
Time Series of Glacier Retreat
Climate Change in Mountain Ecosystems (CCME)
Going-to-the-Sun Road Avalanche Forecasting Program
Repeat Photography Project
Tree ring dataset for a regional avalanche chronology in Colorado 1319-2022
Historical simulated snowpack and other hydrometeorology data at 30 m for the Crown of the Continent and vicinity, United States and Canada, water years 1981-2020
Historical simulated snowpack and other hydrometeorology data at 90 m for the Crown of the Continent and vicinity, United States and Canada, water years 1981-2020
Tree ring dataset for a regional avalanche chronology in southeast Alaska, 1396 - 2019
USGS Benchmark Glacier Mass Balance and Project Data
2020 winter timeseries of UAS derived digital surface models (DSMs) from the Hourglass study site, Bridger Mountains, Montana, USA
Glacier-Wide Mass Balance and Compiled Data Inputs
Glaciers of Glacier National Park Repeat Photography Collection
Avalanche occurrence records along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana from 2003-2024 (ver. 4.0, November 2024)
Tree ring dataset for a regional avalanche chronology in northwest Montana, 1636-2017
Raw Ground Penetrating Radar Data on North American Glaciers
High Altitude Weather Station Data at USGS Benchmark Glaciers
Researchers approach Blackfoot Glacier in Glacier National Park.
Researchers approach Blackfoot Glacier in Glacier National Park.
The Garden Wall Weather Station is situated below the Garden Wall and adjacent to the Haystack Creek avalanche path in Glacier National Park. It provides meteorological data for avalanche forecasting and research, including wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and net radiation measurements.
The Garden Wall Weather Station is situated below the Garden Wall and adjacent to the Haystack Creek avalanche path in Glacier National Park. It provides meteorological data for avalanche forecasting and research, including wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and net radiation measurements.
USGS Physical Scientist Erich Peitzsch sets up a weather station on Snowslip Mountain in Glacier National Park. It provides meteorological data for avalanche forecasting and research, including wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and net radiation measurements.
USGS Physical Scientist Erich Peitzsch sets up a weather station on Snowslip Mountain in Glacier National Park. It provides meteorological data for avalanche forecasting and research, including wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and net radiation measurements.
Cryospheric sciences at the U.S. Geological Survey
Snow avalanches are a primary climate-linked driver of mountain ungulate populations
Characterizing vegetation and return periods in avalanche paths using lidar and aerial imagery
Comparing snowpack meteorological inputs to support regional wet snow avalanche forecasting
The relationship between whumpf observations and avalanche activity in Colorado, USA
Mapping a glide avalanche with terrestrial lidar in Glacier National Park, USA
Under-forecasting wet avalanche cycles: Case studies and lessons learned from two wet avalanche cycles in northwest Montana and central Colorado
Temporal evolution of slab and weak layer properties during the transition from dry to wet snowpack conditions
Spatial extent of forested avalanche terrain impacted by wildfire across the Sawtooth National Forest
Big avalanches in a changing climate: Using tree-ring derived avalanche chronologies to examine avalanche frequency across multiple climate types
Using tree rings to compare Colorado’s 2019 avalanche cycle to previous large avalanche cycles
Tree-ring derived avalanche frequency and climate associations in a high-latitude, maritime climate
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.