Assessing the impacts of climate change on glaciers, landscapes, and freshwater resources

评估气候变化对冰川、景观和淡水资源的影响

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-03885
• 负责人: Koppes, Michele
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=711379
• 关键词: Assessing; impacts; climate; change; glaciers

Assessing how glaciers and landscapes are responding to anthropogenic impacts and climate change has been an important goal in Earth system science over the past decade, especially with respect to projections of water resources and natural hazards due to shrinking glaciers and ice caps. The objective of my research program is to continue to investigate the effects of climate change on the dynamics of glaciers and ice sheets, and on the landscapes they produce. Theory and observations have shown that meltwater plays a crucial role in accelerating the flow of ice masses, which in turn drives erosion and the creation of steep mountain landscapes. As temperatures rise, more water is being generated and delivered to the glacier bed, increasing the rate of sliding. This increased sliding generates more erosion by ice and meltwater, carving out valleys and delivering more sediment and water to the glacier front. The production of meltwater at the glacier bed is modulated by two factors: surface melting and basal thermal conditions. Surface melting is a function of climate and the amount of debris cover, which if thick enough can insulate the ice. Basal thermal conditions are similarly driven by climate. Moreover, erosion rates are a function of type of substrate, and the capacity of meltwater to flush any debris generated from the ice-bed interface. Drawing inspiration from these observations, made by my research team and others, my ongoing research program will focus on: Evaluating empirical models of ice-ocean-sediment interactions Observing the role of debris cover on glacier melt and mass balance Exploring the temporal and spatial variability of glacial erosion Quantifying the effects of recent glacier shrinkage on landscape dynamics and natural hazards My aim is to continue to apply interdisciplinary research and thinking to assess the impacts of climate change on glaciers and landscapes. I will integrate field observations, novel techniques for empirical data collection, spatial analysis, geochronological dating tools, and numerical model development to examine the relationships between climate change, ice dynamics, meltwater production, and the erosion of landscapes. My research will help improve predictions of changes in landscapes, ice masses, natural hazards and water resources in a warming climate. It will inform the upcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, due in 2019.

在过去十年中，评估冰川和景观对人为影响和气候变化的反应一直是地球系统科学的重要目标，尤其是由于冰川和冰盖的缩小而导致的水资源和自然危害。我的研究计划的目的是继续研究气候变化对冰川和冰盖动态以及它们产生的景观的影响。理论和观察结果表明，融合在加速冰块的流动中起着至关重要的作用，这反过来驱动侵蚀和陡峭的山景景观的创造。随着温度的升高，正在产生更多的水，并将其输送到冰川床上，从而增加了滑动速度。这种增加的滑动会通过冰和融水产生更多的侵蚀，雕刻山谷，并向冰川前部传递更多的沉积物和水。在冰川床上的融水产生由两个因素调节：表面熔化和基础热条件。表面熔化是气候的函数和碎屑盖的量，如果足够厚可以隔离冰。基础热条件类似地由气候驱动。 此外，侵蚀速率是底物类型的函数，并且熔融水与冰层界面产生的任何碎屑的能力冲洗能力。 我的研究团队和其他人从这些观察中汲取灵感，我正在进行的研究计划将重点关注： 评估冰山互动的经验模型 观察碎屑覆盖在冰川熔体和质量平衡上的作用 探索冰川侵蚀的时间和空间变异性 量化最近冰川收缩对景观动态和自然危害的影响 我的目的是继续采用跨学科研究和思考，以评估气候变化对冰川和景观的影响。我将整合现场观察，经验数据收集的新技术，空间分析，地球学约定工具和数值模型开发，以检查气候变化，冰动力学，融合水的生产和景观侵蚀之间的关系。我的研究将有助于改善对温暖气候下景观，冰块，自然危害和水资源的变化的预测。它将在2019年应在不断变化的气候下对即将到来的政府间气候变化（IPPC）特别报告。