Cooperative Ecosystem Studies, Unit, Pacific Northwest CESU

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The purpose of the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK) funding opportunity is to assess the visible signs of changing mountain landscapes due to mountains importance in freshwater to people and sustained water release throughout the summer which is essential for ecosystem processes. The recipient will assess changes from as many glaciers and permanent snow bodies (possibly as many as 8,300) in order to provide a statistically meaningful assessment across the American West for determining glacier response to climate change and impact on runoff. In order to complete this assessment, this will acquire historic data of glacier extent and volumes from all available source (historic maps, aerial and ground-based photos, and prior reports). In addition, will commission and map current glacier extent based on remote sensing and aerial photograph surveys to establish a modern “baseline”. Because of the sporadic nature of historical photography, this will be a requirement in order to establish a baseline set of photographs taken over a period of a few years at most. This baseline is important in estimating changes in the past and for comparing future outlines. Because the recipient will be utilizing oblique photographs of current glacier extent, the recipient will need to convert the imagery to georectified glacier extent to define the glacier area and estimate volume changes using area-volume scaling methods. After these steps have been implemented, the recipient will populate a geospatial database with (1) historic maps and photographs, photographs of current glacier extent, and historic and current outlines of glacier extent and make these data available to the scientific community, students, and the general public via the world wide web. Finally, will develop a systematic monitoring plan and research agenda for glacier change and glaciogenetic hazards using USGS Circular 1175 as a template. NOROCK conducts research in support of natural resources management in the mountains and plains of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho. The Center produces and disseminates scientific information needed for decision-making in collaboration with Federal and State land management agencies, Native American tribes, academic institutions and organizations. Since 2001, NOROCK has funded projects that advance the Center in producing strong and unbiased scientific information necessary for decision making. The Center will continue to support such projects.

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