Directory

Start date:
November 2009
End date:
December 2010
Locations:
Garwood Valley, Lower Wright Valley
Principle Investigator:
Dr Sean Fitzsimons
Organisation:
Department of Geography, University of Otago
Theme or program:
Antarctic Physical Environments Research: The Cryosphere
Telephone
Phone: +64 03 479 8786
The goal of this research is to develop an understanding of the interactions between glaciers and permafrost that will permit models of glaciers to realistically parameterise ice motion. Improvement of such models is central to their success in predicting glacier response to climate change. We aim to achieve this by undertaking a multi parameter investigation into the formation of ice-rich permafrost and the principal controls of permafrost deformation at the margins and beneath cold based glaciers.