Western Canadian
Cryospheric Network

Theme Ia: PRESENT AND FORMER GLACIER EXTENT

• Commence phase one of glacier mapping project: comprehensive satellite and map inventory of western cordillera (1985-2005)
• Assemble all glacier extent vectors from NTDB and BC-TRIM I / II datasets
• Scan and digitize extents from outstanding (non-digital) NTS map sheets
• Acquire satellite image scenes for the western Cordillera 1985-2005: Landsat TM / ETM+, SPOT 1-5, ASTER
• Collect all historic topographic maps and aerial photographs for the seven geographic regions of interest (phase two)

• Complete phase one of glacier mapping project: comprehensive satellite and map inventory, through vector compilation and image processing (including accumulation/ablation zones and meltwater)
• Produce decadal scale inventory of western Canadian Glaciers in the seven geographic regions of interest (phase two), from all available maps and photos.
• Determine morphometric relations of glaciers (length, area, ELA, area-volume scaling, climate sensitivities) from phases one and two and transfer and integrate these empiricallyderived relations into modeling efforts of Themes II and III

• Generate and compare DEMs from historic (pre-1970), provincial (1980s) and satellite imagery (post 2000) for volume estimation and loss
• Derive total volume loss of glaciers since Little Ice Age Maximum for glaciers in the regions of interest, and for all the western Cordillera by area scaling
• Detail sub-regional variability of glacier fluctuations and these relations to climate variability over the last 400 years
• Produce “Glacierscapes” poster for public education and outreach

• Compare glacier volume loss by decade and the seven geographic regions
• Analyze instrumental hydrometric and climate records to identify the effects of glacier changes on late summer-early autumn streamflow

• Assemble digital coverages with appropriate metadata and distribute to provincial, national and international glaciological archives