oBsErving debuttRessinG (BERG): the impact of glacier mass loss on slope stability at Portage Glacier
ETH Zurich
Lay summary
Glaciers worldwide are retreating and thinning due to human-caused climate change. This has a range of impacts, which can include the destabilisation of valley walls as glaciers retreat and thus stop providing mechanical support. With this project, supported by the Swiss Polar Institute’s Polar Access Fund, our goal is to better understand the role of glacier retreat in the (de-)stabilisation of valley walls.
The project focuses on Portage Glacier, Alaska (US), where a large mass of soil and rock adjacent to the glacier is showing signs of slow movement. The mass currently has significant contact with the glacier along its base, but this is rapidly changing as the glacier thins and retreats. We will monitor the movement of the mass using high-precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) devices and survey ground vibrations with geophones. The data will help us determine the volume of the mass and characterise its movement. Additionally, ablation stakes placed on the glacier will inform us about the glacier’s melt rate and ice flow speed. Finally, a time lapse camera will provide visual information about how the mass and the glacier are changing over time.
The above data will be intersected with other auxiliary information pertaining to the local geology, climatology, and meteorology, thus providing insights in the local dynamics of the mass movement. We expect, for example, that the mass will move quicker during times when the glacier is melting or flowing rapidly, and when intense rainfall occurs. This project will ultimately help in terms of hazard mitigation and improve our understanding of how glaciers can impact their surroundings.
Details
| Regional focus | Arctic |
| Location | Portage Glacier, AK, USA |
| Funded amount | 12,000 CHF |
| Project dates | 1st June 2023 – 31st August 2023 |
| Category | Polar Access Fund |