Using Satellite Data to Detect Changes in Glaciers in the Washington Cascades
Project ID: P15AC00989
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: University of Washington
Fiscal Year: 2015
Initial Funding: $12,000
Total Funding: $55,000
Project Type: Research
Project Disciplines: Physical
National Park: North Cascades National Park
Principal Investigator: Joughin, Ian
Agreement Technical Representative: Larrabee, Mike
Abstract: This is a collaborative project between the National Park Service (NPS) and the University of Washington to use new satellite data to assess changes in several glaciers in North Cascades National Park (NOCA). Recent investigations have shown that the glaciers in the Washington Cascades are retreating rapidly in a warming climate. NPS has monitoring data from four glaciers at NOCA. These data will be analyzed with new WorldView stereo satellite data to produce digital elevation models (DEMs) with high accuracy for four NOCA glaciers, and to calculate volume changes in these glaciers. Expected products include four DEMs with auxiliary products (e.g., image data) and a final report that describes the methods and detected changes. Results will be presented in a final report and in North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) annual glacier monitoring technical reports, and made available to the public through a variety of interpretive programs that highlight the changes to the iconic glaciers in NCCN parks.
Deliverables: