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Observations of the Surge-Type Black Rapids Glacier, Alaska, During a Quiescent Period, 1970-92

By Thomas A. Heinrichs, Lawrence R. Mayo, Dennis C. Trabant, and Rod S. March

USGS Open-File Report 94-512

ABSTRACT

This report presents 23 years (1970 to 1992) of observations of Black Rapids Glacier, Alaska. Black Rapids Glacier is a surge-type glacier which most recently surged in 1936-37 and is currently in its quiescent phase. This glacier is of special interest because it is a potential hazard to the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. Ten sites on the glacier were monitored from 1972 to 1987, and three sites were monitored from 1988 to 1992. The measurement program presented here includes observations of surface mass balance, ice velocity, and surface altitude made twice each year. Additional one-time data include observations of ice thickness, previously unreported observation of the 1936-37 surge, establishment of the geodetic control monuments, and a new map of Black Rapids Glacier.

Contents

Abstract
Introduction
Mass balance
Ice velocity
Surface altitude
Ice thickness
Coordinate systems
References Cited

Heinrichs, Thomas A.; Mayo, L. R.; Trabant, D. C.; and March, R. S., 1995, Observations of the surge-type Black Rapids Glacier, Alaska, during a quiescent period, 1970-92, USGS Open-File Report 94-512, 98 p. (1 computer disk with data files)

  [Full Report, Acrobat PDF (13.8  MB)]

Data files from report disk in zip format (145 KMB)  (disk readme file.)

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