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Glacier melt over debris-covered Kennicott Glacier, Alaska

This project is part of a larger NSF project to better understand and model glacier melt of debris-covered glaciers. Many glaciers in Alaska are covered by debris especially at their lower parts. If the debris is thin, glacier melt is amplified since the dark debris absorbs more solar heat, but if the debris is thick (more than a few cm), the debris insulates the ice and melting is suppressed.
In this project a student will participate in fieldwork on Kennicott Glacier, a heavily debris-covered glacier in the Wrangell Mountains in central Alaska (9 hr drive from Fairbanks). We plan to install weather stations and perform glacier mass balance measurements. One or two field trips are planned during the REU period. In Fairbanks the student will work on a topic related to the overall goals of the project. Topics may, for example, include computing energy fluxes and melt over glacier ice, or remote sensing analyses of debris cover and ice cliffs. Details and focus of the project will be adjusted to your interests and background.

Lead instructors:   Regine Hock (rehock@alaska.edu)
                                    Eric Petersen (ericpetersen@email.arizona.edu)

Requirements
A background in geophysics, physics, math, computer science, engineering, or any other related field with at least some university level math/science background is required. Programming skills (in Python or any other programming language) are needed to handle and analyze data and make figures. GIS and remote sensing experience are beneficial depending on the exact project topic. A background in glaciology is helpful but not necessary. What is required is an interest in glaciers and working with datasets. Good physical fitness is needed to navigate long hikes over difficult terrain including hummocky debris-covered glacier ice and to carry heavy equipment.

For more information about the NSF project and Kennicott Glacier (a heavily debris-covered glacier, photo above), see also:

https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1917536

https://glaciers.gi.alaska.edu/courses/summerschool/