RAPID: Sediment Delivery and Dispersal from the Copper River, Alaska, Following Record Snowfall: Implications for Future Climate Change?

2011-2012年冬季，AK州铜河流域的降雪量创历史新高，预计初夏（6月至7月）将导致严重的高水量和泥沙排放。为了描述这段时间内河流流出和沉积物扩散的特征，该RAPID项目将调查河口附近和浅水架上的流动特性、沉积物浓度和流体泥的分布。此外，还将在阿拉斯加湾和威廉王子湾收集岩芯，以探索开发铜河流量古记录的潜力，预计铜河流量将随气候条件而变化。这项工作将利用一个历史性的降雪季节，以更好地了解气候扰动对生态上重要的高纬度地区的排放和沉积模式的影响。

Record high snowfall in the Copper River basin, AK, during winter 2011-2012 is expected to result in anomalously high water and sediment discharge in early summer (June-July). To characterize river outflow and sediment dispersal during this time, this RAPID project will survey flow properties, sediment concentrations, and the distribution of fluid muds near the river mouth and on the shallow shelf. In addition, cores will be collected in the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound to explore the potential for developing a paleo record of Copper River discharge, which is expected to vary with climate conditions. This work will take advantage of a historic snowfall season to better understand the effects of climate perturbations on discharge and sedimentation patterns in an ecologically important high-latitude region.