Ice Fields of Southcentral Alaska:  Isotopic traits of the Eklutna Glacier
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Ice Fields of Southcentral Alaska: Isotopic traits of the Eklutna Glacier

 Eklutna Glacier Eklutna Clacier Snow Pits 

Southcentral Alaska has one of the largest glacial ice concentrations remaining globally. Research is consistently showing reductions in the mass balance of Alaskan glaciers; these ice fields are threatened by climate warming. We are studying the isotopic traits of the Eklutna Glacier as a means to examine whether the upper snow pack and possibly the down-core ice has recorded recent and historical changes in climate. We are especially interested whether these glaciers and ice fields record periods when the synoptic climatology favors storm tracks through Prince William Sound (PWS) or those that move up the Cook Inlet (relatively enriched compared to PWS). The Eklutna Glacier is of particular interest as it is the primary water supply for the Municipality of Anchorage (> 60% of the state’s population). We have sampled this hydrological system from the source (Eklutna Glacier and Lake) to the sink (Municipality of Anchorage water supply).

Eklutna Glacier