CHANGES ON THE HARDING ICEFIELD THROUGH THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES

The goal of this project was to understand and characterize changes in the Harding Icefield, specifically three glaciers that flow off the Icefield through the 19th and 20th centuries. The three glaciers include Skilak Glacier, Exit Glacier and Tustamena Glacier. This spot including the Icefield and glaciers is important due to the fact that the glacier dynamics are slightly different for each site in characteristics such as orientation and prevailing climate. The climates include marine and continental. Imagery, glacier outline data and GIS will be used to determine the area of the glaciers at different years. This data will be used to determine a trend in the areas of the three different glaciers. Finally, the mass balance trends will be related to trends in meteorological data from stations on the Kenai Peninsula to measure the strength of the relationship between climate over the last two centuries and glacier area. This research is important because it contextualizes adjustments in the water cycle and water balance related to changes of the glaciers. This research can be used as an example for other sites.