Synoptic drivers of Canadian Cordilleran Icefield Snowpack Response: Columbia Icefield and Brintnell Glacier

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The proposed research seeks to determine whether projected winter warming can result in an increase in snow retention on two major Cordilleran icefields: Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, and Brintnell Glacier, the largest icefield within the recently expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve. The hypothesized mechanism for increasing snow retention is enhanced formation of snow crusts. This could result in a decrease in the rate of loss of snow and ice, which is contrary to trends being observed on smaller outlet glaciers. This proposal requests funds to support several graduate students with research stipends and with travel and field support to conduct research work and training necessary to address this question. A separate request to the NSERC RTI program has been made to obtain funds to purchase research equipment. The required equipment consists of two 10m towers, one for each location, outfitted with instrumentation designed to record data concerning atmospheric and snowpack conditions many times each day. This work will also utilize analyses of weather charts such that observed snowpack response is explained in terms of broad atmospheric conditions. This would include timing of crust formation and whether snow is more difficult to remove by wind at certain times. A particular emphasis will center around "atmospheric rivers", during which warm, moist air from farther south moves over the Cordillera. This work is novel in part because this type of detailed weather linkage work has not been performed on the icefields in the winter.