Glacier Changes in the American West and their Effect on Regional Water Supply

Project ID: G10AC00177

Federal Agency: U.S. Geological Survey

Partner Institution: Portland State University

Fiscal Year: 2010

Initial Funding: $49,999

Total Funding: $149,999

Project Type: Research

Project Disciplines: Physical

Principal Investigator: Fountain, Andrew

Agreement Technical Representative: Fagre, Daniel

Abstract: The objective of this project is to frame the investigation and provide a template for future monitoring efforts anwering three questions:
1. What are the spatially varying trends of glacier change in the American West dating from the Little Ice Age maximum of 150-300 years ago to present?
2. How do changes to glacier-cover affect water resources and potentially change hydrologic and geologic hazards?
3. How can trends in areas and volumes of glaciers and perennial snow and ice be effectively monitored in the future?