Evolution and morphodynamics of proglacial environments

冰期环境的演化和形态动力学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-04207
• 负责人: Shugar, Daniel
• 金额: $ 2.55万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=716036
• 关键词: Evolution; morphodynamics; proglacial; environments

Melting glaciers are often cited as one of the most striking visual indications of a warming world, and for good reason: glacier melt will drive major changes in timing and magnitude of flows in glacier-fed rivers, impacting fisheries habitat, freshwater availability for irrigation and drinking water, and global sea levels. While Canada supports a robust program of glaciology research, there is substantially less effort dedicated to understanding how contemporary glacier change is impacting the surrounding landscapes. This is not surprising glacial lakes and the surrounding terrain are difficult to study for a variety of reasons. Their remoteness raises logistical concerns, for example how to deploy instruments in lakes where boats can't be driven to. Exciting developments in sensor technology, autonomous systems, and remote sensing, now allow us to study these landscapes as never before, and even allow us to ask completely new and exciting questions. The proposed research tackles a series of interrelated questions in understanding glacial lake dynamics, all ultimately motivated by a desire to mitigate the hazards posed by these often-ephemeral lakes, and to understand how lakes affect glacier mass loss. We will study these systems at a range of scales, from global to local. First, we will evaluate the drivers of glacial lake evolution on a global scale by examining climate histories, glacier dynamics, and other factors. Second, we will quantify glacier calving and lake circulation with detailed, site investigations. Last, we will examine how glacier-fed turbidity currents interact with lakebed topography, and how they are recorded in the sedimentary record.

冰川融化通常被认为是世界变暖的最引人注目的视觉迹象之一，理由很充分：冰川融化将推动冰川河流流量的时间和规模发生重大变化，影响渔业栖息地，用于灌溉和饮用水的淡水供应以及全球海平面。虽然加拿大支持一个强大的冰川学研究计划，但致力于了解当代冰川变化如何影响周围景观的努力却少得多。这并不奇怪，冰川湖和周围的地形由于各种原因而难以研究。它们的偏远引起了后勤方面的担忧，例如如何在船只无法驶入的湖泊中部署仪器。传感器技术、自主系统和遥感技术的令人兴奋的发展，现在使我们能够前所未有地研究这些景观，甚至使我们能够提出全新的、令人兴奋的问题。 拟议的研究解决了一系列相互关联的问题，以了解冰川湖泊动态，所有这些最终的动机是希望减轻这些往往短暂的湖泊所造成的危害，并了解湖泊如何影响冰川质量损失。我们将研究这些系统在一系列的规模，从全球到地方。首先，我们将通过研究气候历史，冰川动力学和其他因素来评估全球范围内冰川湖演变的驱动因素。其次，我们将量化冰川崩解和湖泊循环与详细的现场调查。最后，我们将研究冰川补给浊流如何与湖底地形相互作用，以及它们如何记录在沉积记录中。