Synoptic drivers of Canadian Cordilleran Icefield Snowpack Response: Columbia Icefield and Brintnell Glacier

拟议的研究旨在确定预测的冬季变暖是否会导致科迪勒山脉两个主要冰原的雪潴留量增加：贾斯珀国家公园的哥伦比亚冰原，以及最近扩大的纳汉尼国家公园保护区内最大的冰原布林特内尔冰川。增加雪潴留的假设机制是加强雪结壳的形成。这可能导致冰雪损失率下降，这与在较小的出口冰川上观察到的趋势相反。这项提案要求经费支持若干研究生的研究津贴、旅费和实地支助，以便进行研究工作和必要的培训，以解决这个问题。NSERC RTI项目的另一项要求是获得资金购买研究设备。所需的设备包括两个10米高的塔，每个地点一个，配备仪器，每天多次记录有关大气和积雪状况的数据。这项工作还将利用天气图的分析，使观测到的积雪响应在广泛的大气条件下得到解释。这将包括地壳形成的时间，以及雪是否在特定时间更难被风吹走。特别强调的是“大气河流”，在此期间，温暖潮湿的空气从更远的南方移动到科迪勒拉上空。这项工作是新颖的，部分原因是这种详细的天气联系工作在冬季没有在冰原上进行过。加拿大东部落基山脉冰原融化的冰雪为加拿大中部地区提供了适度但稳定的供水。更好地了解这些特征如何对天气作出反应是很重要的。这项工作还将为包括国家冰川学计划（NRCan）和加拿大环境部在内的各个合作研究小组提供有价值的科学信息。卫星塔记录的数据也将每天传送两次，以支持与加拿大公园合作的公共科学推广项目。

The proposed research seeks to determine whether projected winter warming can result in an increase in snow retention on two major Cordilleran icefields: Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, and Brintnell Glacier, the largest icefield within the recently expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve. The hypothesized mechanism for increasing snow retention is enhanced formation of snow crusts. This could result in a decrease in the rate of loss of snow and ice, which is contrary to trends being observed on smaller outlet glaciers. This proposal requests funds to support several graduate students with research stipends and with travel and field support to conduct research work and training necessary to address this question. A separate request to the NSERC RTI program has been made to obtain funds to purchase research equipment. The required equipment consists of two 10m towers, one for each location, outfitted with instrumentation designed to record data concerning atmospheric and snowpack conditions many times each day. This work will also utilize analyses of weather charts such that observed snowpack response is explained in terms of broad atmospheric conditions. This would include timing of crust formation and whether snow is more difficult to remove by wind at certain times. A particular emphasis will center around "atmospheric rivers", during which warm, moist air from farther south moves over the Cordillera. This work is novel in part because this type of detailed weather linkage work has not been performed on the icefields in the winter. Melting snow and ice from the icefields of the eastern Canadian Rockies provides a moderate but stable water supply to central regions of Canada. It is important to gain better understanding of how these features respond to weather. This work will also provide valuable scientific information to various partner research groups, including the National Glaciology Program (NRCan) and Environment Canada. Data recorded by the towers will also be transmitted twice per day, supporting a public science outreach program with Parks Canada.