Firn Pack Changes on White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut
The near-surface processes and variability within the firn pack of Arctic glaciers are a significant source of uncertainty in estimating future glacier responses to climate warming. This study provides the first characterization of the firn pack of White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, and an...
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Other Authors: | , , |
Format: | Thesis |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2020
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1974/28075 |
id |
ftqueensuniv:oai:https://qspace.library.queensu.ca:1974/28075 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftqueensuniv:oai:https://qspace.library.queensu.ca:1974/28075 2024-06-02T08:01:51+00:00 Firn Pack Changes on White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut Stephenson, Dana Geography and Planning Thomson, Laura Copland, Luke 2020-08-31T21:32:56Z application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/1974/28075 eng eng Canadian theses http://hdl.handle.net/1974/28075 Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University Copying and Preserving Your Thesis This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner. Arctic Glacier Firn thesis 2020 ftqueensuniv 2024-05-06T10:47:32Z The near-surface processes and variability within the firn pack of Arctic glaciers are a significant source of uncertainty in estimating future glacier responses to climate warming. This study provides the first characterization of the firn pack of White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, and an analysis of recent firn pack changes (2013-2019). Utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys the firn pack thickness, extent, and associated topographic controls on firn distribution were determined. Two methods of GPR analysis were tested in this study. The first followed the traditional approach of conducting visual interpretation of radargrams to identify zones of backscatter associated with firn. The second is a proposed new methodology that uses average backscatter values from each radar return as a proxy indicator of firn presence in the subsurface. The results of these two approaches showed that the firn pack on White Glacier has reduced in extent, and reductions in average backscatter values suggest that the density of the firn has increased in the near surface. Overall, the long-term firn area decreased in extent by 3.96 km2 (10% of the total glacier area) between 2013 and 2018. Rates of surface lowering were determined using dual-frequency GPS surveys. For spring 2018 to spring 2019 the rate was -0.165 ± 0.29 m a-1 in the accumulation area, likely driven by the near surface densification. The potential for average backscatter values to provide information about near surface snow water equivalence is also explored. M.Sc. Thesis Arctic Axel Heiberg Island Nunavut Queen's University, Ontario: QSpace Arctic Nunavut Heiberg ENVELOPE(13.964,13.964,66.424,66.424) Axel Heiberg Island ENVELOPE(-91.001,-91.001,79.752,79.752) White Glacier ENVELOPE(-90.667,-90.667,79.447,79.447) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Queen's University, Ontario: QSpace |
op_collection_id |
ftqueensuniv |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic Glacier Firn |
spellingShingle |
Arctic Glacier Firn Stephenson, Dana Firn Pack Changes on White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut |
topic_facet |
Arctic Glacier Firn |
description |
The near-surface processes and variability within the firn pack of Arctic glaciers are a significant source of uncertainty in estimating future glacier responses to climate warming. This study provides the first characterization of the firn pack of White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, and an analysis of recent firn pack changes (2013-2019). Utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys the firn pack thickness, extent, and associated topographic controls on firn distribution were determined. Two methods of GPR analysis were tested in this study. The first followed the traditional approach of conducting visual interpretation of radargrams to identify zones of backscatter associated with firn. The second is a proposed new methodology that uses average backscatter values from each radar return as a proxy indicator of firn presence in the subsurface. The results of these two approaches showed that the firn pack on White Glacier has reduced in extent, and reductions in average backscatter values suggest that the density of the firn has increased in the near surface. Overall, the long-term firn area decreased in extent by 3.96 km2 (10% of the total glacier area) between 2013 and 2018. Rates of surface lowering were determined using dual-frequency GPS surveys. For spring 2018 to spring 2019 the rate was -0.165 ± 0.29 m a-1 in the accumulation area, likely driven by the near surface densification. The potential for average backscatter values to provide information about near surface snow water equivalence is also explored. M.Sc. |
author2 |
Geography and Planning Thomson, Laura Copland, Luke |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Stephenson, Dana |
author_facet |
Stephenson, Dana |
author_sort |
Stephenson, Dana |
title |
Firn Pack Changes on White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut |
title_short |
Firn Pack Changes on White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut |
title_full |
Firn Pack Changes on White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut |
title_fullStr |
Firn Pack Changes on White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut |
title_full_unstemmed |
Firn Pack Changes on White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut |
title_sort |
firn pack changes on white glacier, axel heiberg island, nunavut |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/1974/28075 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(13.964,13.964,66.424,66.424) ENVELOPE(-91.001,-91.001,79.752,79.752) ENVELOPE(-90.667,-90.667,79.447,79.447) |
geographic |
Arctic Nunavut Heiberg Axel Heiberg Island White Glacier |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Nunavut Heiberg Axel Heiberg Island White Glacier |
genre |
Arctic Axel Heiberg Island Nunavut |
genre_facet |
Arctic Axel Heiberg Island Nunavut |
op_relation |
Canadian theses http://hdl.handle.net/1974/28075 |
op_rights |
Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University Copying and Preserving Your Thesis This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner. |
_version_ |
1800746348357615616 |