Glacier mass balance variability in a small subarctic mountain range, southwest Yukon Territory

圣埃利亚斯山脉的冰原是世界上面积最大的冰原之一。该区域的冰川质量正在以有记录以来最高的速度减少，对全球海平面的贡献很大。因此，迫切需要能够准确反映区域范围内冰川-气候相互作用的可靠模型。这类模型正在开发中，但在高纬度和偏远环境中缺乏足够的验证数据。提出了一个区域地面观测计划，其中将在圣埃利亚斯山脉的一个子范围内测量气象变量和冰川质量平衡。积雪(降雪)和消融(融化)将在一年两次的实地活动中分开衡量，其战略旨在确定代表较大范围的指标点。雪样的稳定同位素分析将被用来确定积雪来源，作为区域地形降水模型的约束。物质平衡数据为目前正在开发的分布式能量平衡模型提供了必要的边界条件和验证，以准确地模拟复杂地形中的熔体。这项研究计划将为至少两名博士和三名硕士论文提供核心材料，并将为至少五名本科生提供机会。实地研究机会是许多潜在学生的门户，这使得这笔资金成为该项目培训潜力的关键。将通过在加拿大公园的支持下组织的社区科学专题讨论会，促进与当地社区的接触，包括香槟-爱诗希克人和克鲁恩第一民族。还将寻求帕克斯的合作，以赞助克鲁恩第一民族青年参与研究计划。该项目利用了NSERC资助的克鲁恩湖研究站的后勤支持，该研究站计划在今年进行重大升级。随着加拿大北部加速变暖，可靠的环境变化预测是制定有效适应战略的先决条件。这项拟议的研究为以此为目标的区域冰川模型提供了重要的观测约束。

The icefields of the St. Elias Mountains are some of the most extensive in the world. Glacier mass loss in this region is occurring at one of the highest recorded rates, resulting in a significant contribution to global sea level. Reliable models that accurately represent glacier-climate interactions at regional scales are therefore urgently needed. Such models are under development but lack sufficient validation data at high latitudes and in remote environments. A regional ground-based observational program is proposed in which meteorological variables and glacier mass balance will be measured across a sub-range of the St. Elias Mountains. Accumulation (snowfall) and ablation (melt) will be measured separately in biannual field campaigns with a strategy designed to identify indicator sites representative of the larger range. Stable isotopic analysis of snow samples will be used to identify accumulation sources as a constraint on regional orographic precipitation models. The mass balance data provide essential boundary conditions and validation for distributed energy balance models currently being developed to accurately model melt in complex terrain. This research program would provide the core material for at least two doctoral and three Master's theses, and would offer opportunities for at least five undergraduates. Field research opportunities act as a gateway for many prospective students, making this funding key to the program's training potential. Engagement with the local communities, including the Champagne-Aishihik and Kluane First Nations, will be promoted through a community science symposium organized with support from Parks Canada. Cooperation from Parks will also be sought to sponsor participation of Kluane First Nation youth in the research program. This program capitalizes on logistical support from the NSERC-funded Kluane Lake Research Station, scheduled for a major upgrade this year. With accelerated warming in store for Canada's North, reliable projections of environmental change are prerequisite to developing effective adaptation strategies. The proposed research contributes significant observational constraints for regional glaciological models targeted to this purpose.