HYDROTHERMAL RESPONSES TO GLACIER DYNAMICS

While volcanic and hydrological responses to glacial activity have been documented around the globe, the response of hydrothermal systems remains largely unstudied. Important questions to be addressed include: How do hydrological, hydrothermal and/or volcanic systems respond to climate change and glacier expansion and retreat? What are the timing and mechanisms that control these responses? Alpine glaciers around volcanic areas in the western U.S and world-wide are shrinking due to modern climate trends. Providing answers to these questions will have significant impacts on hazard assessments (phreatic eruptions and hydrothermal explosions), geothermal exploration, and mineral deposits. We aim to make quantitative estimation of the hydrothermal responses to glacial loading/unloading, changes in water and heat supply using field data (estimation of ice thickness) and numerical models of multiphase flow and deformation in heterogeneous porous media. Results from this study will provide a better understanding of the interrelated and competing controls of hydrothermal responses (for example, glacier distribution, thickness, and rates of advance/recession, rheology, permeability, and reservoir depth).