Surge of the West Fork Glacier, Alaska

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HARRISON This award supports observations of the completion of the surge of West Fork Glacier, Alaska, and its effects on the Susitna River, into which it drains. The results will be analyzed in the context of pre-surge studies of the flow regime of the glacier, and the sediment regime of the river. Observations of the surge and of the drainage system were begun early in the surge using resources from an ongoing project. It is anticipated that the additional information will be particularly important when compared with that from the detailed studies of Variegated glacier. Also, it will be the first time that the effects of a major surge on a large river have been studied. Results will impact our understanding of the rapid glacial surge mechanism, and will have significance for understanding the dynamics of large continental glaciers, such as the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.