Doctoral Dissertation Research: The Mechanics of Rock Glacier Creep: A New GIS Method and A Possible Response to Climate Change

岩石冰川被认为是一种冰川或冰缘特征，由于冰的变形而缓慢地沿着斜坡向下蔓延，这些冰已经与有角的粗糙岩石固结在一起。 尽管人们已经使用各种野外技术对岩石冰川进行了研究，最近还使用了远程航空摄影分析，但关于流动的动力学仍有许多未知之处。 微地形、冰含量或岩石冰川形态等因素影响岩石冰川行为的机制尚不清楚。 同样，人们对气候变化可能造成的区域流动模式知之甚少。 以前的分析主要局限于欧洲的阿尔卑斯山。 这个博士论文研究项目将调查岩石冰川蠕变在美国和加拿大落基山脉的力学，使用的方法，结合使用高精度的时间航空摄影和地理信息系统（GIS）的分析。 博士生将设计一种数字方法来检测岩石冰川的运动，以最大限度地发挥GIS中数据分析的优势。 将分析各种不同岩石冰川形式的岩石冰川剖面，以更好地了解岩石冰川运动。 由于活跃的岩石冰川被认为是不连续的永久冻土的一个指标，岩石冰川运动的区域化方法将进行检测气候引起的永久冻土分布的变化。 在这项研究中采用的方法将类似于那些在早期的研究，但他们将纳入基于GIS的分析程序。 将选择一系列岩石冰川的时间航空照片，并以高分辨率进行扫描。 然后，这些照片将被增强、正射校正并共同配准到一个共同的比例。 将在地理信息系统中进行点对点方法，以便对大圆石和岩石进行时间跟踪。 将包括关于点的属性数据以及辅助数据，以确定影响流量的因素。 还将建立详细的数字高程模型，以监测地面塌陷。 垂直和水平速度将计算从1940年到现在，大约5到10个岩石冰川延伸穿过落基山脉的纬度样带，随着山区开发和娱乐活动的不断增加，这些地区的自然和稳定受到威胁。 全球变暖将进一步改变稳定性。 高山地貌系统的一个重要组成部分，岩石冰川，预计将经历重大变化。 岩石冰川可能会变得不稳定，或者可能导致灾难性的水释放，可能会破坏附近的居民区，通信塔，滑雪缆车，徒步旅行路径，露营地或其他娱乐区。 这项研究的结果应该有助于监测岩石冰川的形成。 它们还将提供对岩石冰川流动动力学的更好理解，这将增强我们对其他类地行星（如火星）上其他岩石冰川和永久冻土分布的理解。 这项研究将利用地理信息系统制定方法，以便输入辅助数据，并纳入IKONOS数据供今后分析。 这种基于地理信息系统的格式将很容易更新，并可转移到世界其他地区。 因此，这项研究将有助于推进全球冻土变化的监测。 作为博士论文研究改进奖，该奖项还将提供支持，使有前途的学生建立一个强大的独立的研究生涯。

Rock glaciers are considered a glacial or periglacial feature that slowly creep downslope as a result of deformation of ice that has been consolidated with angular, coarse rock. Although rock glaciers have been studied using a variety of field techniques and, more recently, with remote aerial photography analysis, much still is unknown regarding the dynamics of flow. The mechanism by which factors like micro-topography, ice content, or rock glacier form influence rock glacier behavior is unknown. Similarly, little is known of the possible existence of regional flow patterns as a result of climate change. Previous analyses have been primarily limited to the Alps in Europe. This doctoral dissertation research project will investigate the mechanics of rock glacier creep in the U.S. and Canadian Rocky Mountains, using an approach that combines analyses using high-precision temporal aerial photography and a geographic information system (GIS). The doctoral student will design a digital methodology for detecting motion of the rock glaciers to maximize the advantages of data analysis within a GIS. Rock glacier sections within a variety of different rock glacier forms will be analyzed to gain a greater comprehension of rock glacier motion. Because active rock glaciers are considered an indicator of discontinuous permafrost, a regionalized approach to rock glacier motion will be undertaken to detect climatically induced changes in permafrost distribution. The methods employed in this study will resemble those presented in earlier studies, but they will incorporate GIS-based analytic procedures. A sequence of temporal air photos for rock glaciers will be selected and scanned at a high resolution. The photos will then be enhanced, orthorectified, and co-registered to a common scale. Point-to-point methods will be conducted in a GIS to temporally track large boulders and rocks. Attribute data about the points as well as ancillary data will be included to determine the factors affecting flow. Detailed digital elevational models (DEM) will also be constructed to monitor surface slumping. Vertical and horizontal velocities will be calculated for approximately five to ten rock glaciers extending across a latitudinal transect of the Rocky Mountains for dates ranging from 1940 to the present.As development and recreation continue to increase in mountainous regions, the nature and stability of these areas is threatened. Global warming will further alter stability. An important component to the alpine geomorphic system, rock glaciers, are expected to experience substantial change. Rock glaciers may become unstable or may cause catastrophic releases of water that could damage nearby residential areas, communication towers, ski lifts, hiking paths, campgrounds, or other recreational areas. The results of this study should help monitor the form rock glaciers. They also will provide a better understanding of the dynamics of rock glacier flow, which will enhance our understanding of other rock glaciers and permafrost distribution on other terrestrial planets such as Mars. The study will develop methods using a GIS that will allow the input of ancillary data and incorporate IKONOS data for future analysis. This GIS-based format will be easily updateable and transferable to other parts of the world. As a result, this research will help advance the monitoring of global changes in permafrost. As a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, this award also will provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career.