Icefield Ranges Research Project [1965]

• Published in: ARCTIC
• Main Author: Ragle, Richard H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1965
• Subjects: Sarqaq culture; Arctic; Kluane Lake; Mount Logan; Yukon; Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory; Sarqaq; Whitehorse
• Online Access: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/66528

The Icefield Ranges Research Project (IRRP) began its fifth research season 5 May 1965 when those people who were studying meteorology and climatology arrived in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, for a two-day briefing under the direction of Mr. H. Wahl, Chief Forecaster for the Department of Transport weather station. Personnel involved in other research continued to Kluane Lake to open the base station and to begin checking and calibrating equipment and instruments. Kluane Station (870 m.) was fully operational by 10 May. The Kaskawulsh and Divide Stations (1730 m. and 2640 m.) were in operation by, respectively, 14 and 28 May. Seward Station (1850 m.) was opened 8 July for a three week intensive micro-meteorological study. Kaskawulsh terminus camp and three other satellite camps also were occupied during part of the summer. Personnel departed from Kluane Lake by Institute bus, carryall, and aircraft on 20 August. In the course of the 15-week research season there were 14 programs involving 47 people. Research included studies in glaciology, glacial hydrology, geophysics, dielectric measurements in snow and radio wave propagation, climatology and meteorology, geomorphology and glacial chronology, stream morphology, plant and animal ecology, and aerial photography and mapping. To support the field parties, over 300 hours were flown by the Arctic Institute's Helio Courier aircraft and over 300 landings were made on glaciers and unprepared surfaces. Among the members of the summer program were three Doctorate and three Master's degree candidates. IRRP was amplified in 1965 by a National Science Foundation program of Research Participation for College Teachers. Six teachers took part in a 10-week program in which they were given an opportunity to observe and assist in a number of activities within the broadest boundaries of their chosen field of science. As a consequence, three teacher participants have been awarded Academic Year Extension grants by the National Science Foundation to continue research in the St. Elias Mountains during 1966 and 1967. A research program in part logistically supported by IRRP and complementary to the IRRP hydrological traverse was undertaken by a five member team of scientists from the U. S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, N.H. The project involved snow studies in vertical profile on the north side of Mount Logan to elevations in excess of 5400 m. .