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Zachary Miller

My research is focused on snow and ice in mountain environments. I use modern remote sensing tools along with traditional manual measurement techniques to study snow distribution, avalanche processes, and mountain meteorology to better understand our frozen hydrological resources.

Biography:

My interest in snow science developed throughout my undergraduate studies, internships, professional avalanche work, and masters studies. My main research focus is snow distribution in mountain environments and is closely tied to avalanche science, meteorology, hydrology, ecology, and glaciology. I use modern remote sensing tools along with traditional manual measurement techniques to explore the interactions of these systems on the processes of snow accumulation, redistribution and ablation. I currently work with the Climate Change in Mountain Ecosystems group at Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center conducting research in and around Glacier National Park.

Education and Certifications

  • MS. Earth Sciences (Snow Science). 2021. Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

  • BA. Geography. 2011. University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Science and Products

link
Researchers prepare to fly drone in snowy mountain terrain

Remote Sensing Tools Advance Avalanche Research

The USGS Snow and Avalanche Project (SNAP) uses remotely sensed technologies to understand snowpack changes that influence water storage, recreation, avalanche hazard and acts as a driver of landscape change. Satellites, uninhabited aerial systems (UAS), and structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry are some of the tools scientists use to collect high resolution imagery that supports ongoing snow...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
link

Remote Sensing Tools Advance Avalanche Research

The USGS Snow and Avalanche Project (SNAP) uses remotely sensed technologies to understand snowpack changes that influence water storage, recreation, avalanche hazard and acts as a driver of landscape change. Satellites, uninhabited aerial systems (UAS), and structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry are some of the tools scientists use to collect high resolution imagery that supports ongoing snow...
Learn More
link
avalanche forecaster approaches debris of old avalanche

USGS Snow and Avalanche Project

Snow avalanches are a widespread natural hazard to humans and infrastructure as well as an important landscape disturbance affecting mountain ecosystems. Forecasting avalanche frequency is challenging on various spatial and temporal scales, and this project aims to fill a gap in snow science by focusing on reconstructing avalanche history on the continental mountain range scale - throughout the...
By
Climate Research and Development Program
link

USGS Snow and Avalanche Project

Snow avalanches are a widespread natural hazard to humans and infrastructure as well as an important landscape disturbance affecting mountain ecosystems. Forecasting avalanche frequency is challenging on various spatial and temporal scales, and this project aims to fill a gap in snow science by focusing on reconstructing avalanche history on the continental mountain range scale - throughout the...
Learn More
link
It requires heavy machinery to remove snow and debris along the road. In this image, crews are removing 20+ feet of snow from th

Going-to-the-Sun Road Avalanche Forecasting Program

As the most popular attraction in Glacier National Park (GNP), the Going-to-the-Sun Road traverses scenic alpine zones and crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (2026m or 6,647' elevation). The Park closes a 56km (34.8 mile) section of the road each winter due to inclement weather, heavy snowfall, and avalanche hazards. Annual spring opening of the road is a highly anticipated event for...
By
Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
link

Going-to-the-Sun Road Avalanche Forecasting Program

As the most popular attraction in Glacier National Park (GNP), the Going-to-the-Sun Road traverses scenic alpine zones and crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (2026m or 6,647' elevation). The Park closes a 56km (34.8 mile) section of the road each winter due to inclement weather, heavy snowfall, and avalanche hazards. Annual spring opening of the road is a highly anticipated event for...
Learn More

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

2020 winter timeseries of UAS derived digital surface models (DSMs) from the Hourglass study site, Bridger Mountains, Montana, USA

Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights were conducted over the headwaters of the South Fork of Brackett Creek in the Bridger Mountains of SW Montana during the winter of 2020. The flights collected overlapping imagery focused on a steep mountain couloir study site known locally as "the Hourglass." Structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry was used to process the collected imagery
By
Climate Research and Development Program, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Glacier-Wide Mass Balance and Compiled Data Inputs: 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
Climate Research and Development Program, Alaska Science Center

Avalanche occurrence records along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana from 2003-2022 (ver. 2.0, November 2022)

Starting in 2003, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center in West Glacier, MT, in collaboration with the National Park Service, collected avalanche observations along the Going to the Sun Road during the spring road-clearing operations. The spring road-clearing along Going to the Sun Road utilized a team of avalanche specialists from the USGS and Glacier National P
By
Northern Rocky Mountain 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

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

Assessing the seasonal evolution of snow depth spatial variability and scaling in complex mountain terrain

Dynamic natural processes govern snow distribution in mountainous environments throughout the world. Interactions between these different processes create spatially variable patterns of snow depth across a landscape. Variations in accumulation and redistribution occur at a variety of spatial scales, which are well established for moderate mountain terrain. However, spatial patterns of snow depth v
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
snow covered steep mountain slopes
link
uncrewed aircraft system landing zone in Bridger Mountains
link
link

USGS Snow and Avalanche Research in the News

USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center snow and avalanche scientists are asked by the media to comment on a wide variety of topics including...

Read Article

Science and Products

  • Science
    link
    Researchers prepare to fly drone in snowy mountain terrain

    Remote Sensing Tools Advance Avalanche Research

    The USGS Snow and Avalanche Project (SNAP) uses remotely sensed technologies to understand snowpack changes that influence water storage, recreation, avalanche hazard and acts as a driver of landscape change. Satellites, uninhabited aerial systems (UAS), and structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry are some of the tools scientists use to collect high resolution imagery that supports ongoing snow...
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
    link

    Remote Sensing Tools Advance Avalanche Research

    The USGS Snow and Avalanche Project (SNAP) uses remotely sensed technologies to understand snowpack changes that influence water storage, recreation, avalanche hazard and acts as a driver of landscape change. Satellites, uninhabited aerial systems (UAS), and structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry are some of the tools scientists use to collect high resolution imagery that supports ongoing snow...
    Learn More
    link
    avalanche forecaster approaches debris of old avalanche

    USGS Snow and Avalanche Project

    Snow avalanches are a widespread natural hazard to humans and infrastructure as well as an important landscape disturbance affecting mountain ecosystems. Forecasting avalanche frequency is challenging on various spatial and temporal scales, and this project aims to fill a gap in snow science by focusing on reconstructing avalanche history on the continental mountain range scale - throughout the...
    By
    Climate Research and Development Program
    link

    USGS Snow and Avalanche Project

    Snow avalanches are a widespread natural hazard to humans and infrastructure as well as an important landscape disturbance affecting mountain ecosystems. Forecasting avalanche frequency is challenging on various spatial and temporal scales, and this project aims to fill a gap in snow science by focusing on reconstructing avalanche history on the continental mountain range scale - throughout the...
    Learn More
    link
    It requires heavy machinery to remove snow and debris along the road. In this image, crews are removing 20+ feet of snow from th

    Going-to-the-Sun Road Avalanche Forecasting Program

    As the most popular attraction in Glacier National Park (GNP), the Going-to-the-Sun Road traverses scenic alpine zones and crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (2026m or 6,647' elevation). The Park closes a 56km (34.8 mile) section of the road each winter due to inclement weather, heavy snowfall, and avalanche hazards. Annual spring opening of the road is a highly anticipated event for...
    By
    Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
    link

    Going-to-the-Sun Road Avalanche Forecasting Program

    As the most popular attraction in Glacier National Park (GNP), the Going-to-the-Sun Road traverses scenic alpine zones and crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (2026m or 6,647' elevation). The Park closes a 56km (34.8 mile) section of the road each winter due to inclement weather, heavy snowfall, and avalanche hazards. Annual spring opening of the road is a highly anticipated event for...
    Learn More
  • Data

    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

    2020 winter timeseries of UAS derived digital surface models (DSMs) from the Hourglass study site, Bridger Mountains, Montana, USA

    Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights were conducted over the headwaters of the South Fork of Brackett Creek in the Bridger Mountains of SW Montana during the winter of 2020. The flights collected overlapping imagery focused on a steep mountain couloir study site known locally as "the Hourglass." Structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry was used to process the collected imagery
    By
    Climate Research and Development Program, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

    Glacier-Wide Mass Balance and Compiled Data Inputs: 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
    Climate Research and Development Program, Alaska Science Center

    Avalanche occurrence records along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana from 2003-2022 (ver. 2.0, November 2022)

    Starting in 2003, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center in West Glacier, MT, in collaboration with the National Park Service, collected avalanche observations along the Going to the Sun Road during the spring road-clearing operations. The spring road-clearing along Going to the Sun Road utilized a team of avalanche specialists from the USGS and Glacier National P
    By
    Northern Rocky Mountain 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

    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
  • Publications

    Assessing the seasonal evolution of snow depth spatial variability and scaling in complex mountain terrain

    Dynamic natural processes govern snow distribution in mountainous environments throughout the world. Interactions between these different processes create spatially variable patterns of snow depth across a landscape. Variations in accumulation and redistribution occur at a variety of spatial scales, which are well established for moderate mountain terrain. However, spatial patterns of snow depth v
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
  • Multimedia
    snow covered steep mountain slopes
    link
    uncrewed aircraft system landing zone in Bridger Mountains
    link
  • News
    link

    USGS Snow and Avalanche Research in the News

    USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center snow and avalanche scientists are asked by the media to comment on a wide variety of topics including...

    Read Article