Understanding past climate and landscape evolution through modern glacial processes

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The research proposed here focuses on quantifying the relationship between climate, ice dynamics and glacial sediment production across a range of temporal scales and climate regimes. These topics will be investigated using a combination of theoretical models and empirical field observations. Specific projects and locations include (1) exploring the influence of regional surface and ocean warming on the ice dynamics of polar outlet glaciers in Greenland and the Canadian Arctic (2) quantifying current changes in ice fluxes and sediment fluxes from temperate advancing and retreating glaciers in Patagonia and BC, and (3) exploring the signatures of glacial, fluvial and tectonic influences on the evolution of topography in the Pacific Northwest.The expected outcomes of this novel combination of field observations and theoretical modeling will be of considerable interest to the research community exploring the links between tectonics, climate and topography, as well as of great interest to the paleoclimate community attempting to interpret the sedimentary signatures of Quaternary climatic changes in places such as the Canadian Arctic, where few climate records exist. The recent dramatic mass losses from the polar ice sheets and corresponding sea level rise is a problem of high societal and scientific importance that has received large coverage and attention by politicians, news media, and education and outreach organizations. This work will provide new insights into a) the role of ice-ocean interactions in outlet glacial systems and their impact on ice sheet mass balance, and b) the role of regional moisture and temperature variability on glacier health, both of which are needed to obtain more realistic predictions of the evolution of ice masses worldwide and their contribution to sea level rise in a warmer climate. The applicant will use her science policy experience and connections as a TED Fellow and member of international research panels for Earth System Sciences to help disseminate the findings from this work.