INVENTORYING THE GLACIERS OF GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA - - CREATING GIS-COMPATIBLE GEO-REGISTERED GEOSPATIAL PRODUCTS FOR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, SCIENCE, AND INTERPRETATION

The glaciers of Glacier Bay National Park (GLBA) are the most studied within U.S. national parks. They have a history of repeated scientific observations and systematic monitoring dating from the late 19th century. Even GLBA’s brochure displays a sequence of dated terminus positions, documenting the post-1750 retreat of the Little Ice Age glacier that filled the Bay. However, GLBA’s glaciers have never been systematically inventoried.

In 2003, a joint USNPS - USGS study was initiated to inventory, monitor, and assess GLBA’s glacier resources. The study’s goal is to determine the present distribution, number, area, elevation range, and health of GLBA’s glaciers. Additionally, the study will compile a summary of mid-19th century - present temporal and spatial changes of GLBA’s glacier to document their response to changing climate. The products of this demonstration study are aimed at USNPS and GLBA resource managers, the science community, and the GLBA interpretative staff, who in turn, will provide this information to the public.

Anticipated products include: 1) geo-registered, geospatial data documenting glacier distribution and characteristics in 2003, capable of generating 1:100,000-scale maps; 2) additional coverages, compatible with the first data set, documenting glacier distribution at decade to quarter-century intervals since ~ 1750. Included will be digital glacier terminus coverages, previously compiled by GLBA staff; 3) on a fiord by fiord basis, data documenting historic changes in each fiord, capable of generating 1:50,000-scale maps; 4) for selected glaciers, data documenting historic changes of individual glaciers since the late-19th century, capable of generating 1:20,000-scale maps; 5) a bibliography of glacier research and exploration dating from the late 18th century to present; and 6) modern and historic pairs of photographs, taken from identical locations, documenting changes in individual glaciers from the late 19th century to present. These will be used in outreach products, such as lectures, touch-screen displays, and web sites.

This cooperative study will serve as a prototype for other parks that have not yet conducted a systematic evaluation of their glacier resources. With additional funding, other outreach products, such as an illustrated volume documenting the histories of individual glaciers will be produced.