Feisty ice: A look at Southeast Alaska’s changing glaciers

Submitted by Amy Hartley
Phone: 474-5823
02/16/07

Feisty ice: A look at Southeast Alaska’s changing glaciers

For Immediate Release
Feb. 16, 2007

The coastal mountains along the Gulf of Alaska and Alaska’s Inside Passage are home to the largest glaciers outside of the polar region. The close proximity of the Pacific Ocean to this region’s high mountains makes these glaciers especially dynamic. Tidewater glaciers sometimes exhibit wild instabilities that can lead to dramatic changes much larger than "" or even opposite to "" other glacier behavior.

On Feb. 20, Chris Larsen, assistant research professor of geophysics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, will give an overview of Alaska’s coastal glaciers and explain some of the methods researchers use to monitor how they are changing. "Dynamic Glaciers of Southeast Alaska"? is the sixth and final installment of the 2007 Science for Alaska Lecture Series, which takes place in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau and Seward throughout January and February.

The weekly series, coordinated by the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, presents the latest scientific findings relevant to all Alaskans. The free one-hour event begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Westmark Gold Room. All ages are welcome.

CONTACT:
Chris Larsen, Geophysical Institute: 474-5333
Amy Hartley, Geophysical Institute Information Officer: 474-5823
Melissa Hart, Geophysical Institute Public Relations Assistant: 474-7853