Research & Projects

Mendenhall Glacier and Lake (2023)

Objectives

Here, we focus on Mendenhall Glacier and Lake to assess proglacial lake characteristics. Mendenhall Glacier has been the cause of large hazardous Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) stemming from K’óox Ḵaadí Basin (commenly known as Suicide Basin) in 2023, 2024, and 2025. You can learn more about it on the Juneau Glacial Flood Dashboard.

Presentations and Publications

Benson, V., Sutherland, D., Hood, E., Connor, C., Amundson, J. (2023), Exploring Subaqueous Glacial Environments: Water Temperature Influences on Lake-Terminating Glaciers at Mendenhall Lake, AK, Geological Society of America Abstracts, 

This is a NSF funded project with Billy Armstrong (Appalachian State) and Irina Overeem (CU Boulder) focusing on three lake-terminating glaciers in the Juneau Icefield. Check out our 10 day field campaign timelapse at Gilkey Glacier. 

Objectives

Here we ask the questions: What are the glaciological, limnological, and sedimentary processes at ice-contact proglacial lakes? Can we quantify frontal ablation of lake-terminating glaciers? 

Presentations and Publications

Shake Glacier stems from the Stikine Icefield in SE Alaska. We are working with the Wrangell High School Shakes Glacier Survey Team. 

Objectives

We track the retreat of Shakes Glacier. We also measure the bathymetry, temperature, and turbidity of Shakes Lake. 

Presentations and Publications

Benson V., Sutherland, D. (2024), A Deep Dive into Hydrographic Observations of Proglacial Lakes in Southeast Alaska, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2024, C51B-04.