Researchers use lasers to get a new view of Oregon’s glaciers

Adapted from a story written by Laurel Hamers

(JULY 15, 2022) Researchers from the University of Oregon in Eugene have developed a portable tool that uses lasers to measure the ice of glaciers. This data can help determine how fast the ice is melting. The instrument fits in a backpack and can be used to study glaciers in remote areas, such as Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. It can help verify satellite data collected about bigger glaciers, like those in Greenland and Antarctica.

Oregon’s glaciers feed mountain streams. They help protect against drought in the late summer. Their cold water is also important for fish like salmon and trout. But the glaciers are now getting smaller very fast. This is because of global climate change.

“Studying how these glaciers respond to climate change is important," says Johnny Ryan. He is a geographer at the University of Oregon. He uses the new instrument in his research. Plus, “Many of the processes that we observe on Oregon glaciers also occur on the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Oregon’s glaciers provide a great testing ground.”

The new tool shoots a laser beam into the ice. Photons (tiny particles of light) bounce back when they hit air bubbles in the ice. The researchers measure the time it takes for the photons to reach another piece of equipment. This data helps the researchers guess what the composition of the ice. This information tells researchers how much sunlight the glacier is absorbing or reflecting. With that data, researchers can estimate how fast the ice is melting.

Markus Allgaier is a physicist. He led the design of the tool. He says, "We're hoping to take the instrument to Alaska and use what we've learned to do ground truthing of satellite data." That means researchers can verify, or check, the satellite data with information from this tool on the ground. They can correct errors in satellite data, and that will help improve predictions about climate and the environment.