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

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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.