Black Rapids Glacier is a surge-type glacier
which most recently surged in 1936-37 and is currently in its
quiescent phase. While many glaciers in Alaska exhibit
reoccurring surge behavior, this glacier is of special interest
because it is a potential hazard to the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.
USGS studied Black Rapids Glacier, Alaska from
1970 to 1992 with observations of mass balance, ice velocity,
glacier surface altitude, and ice thickness. Ten sites on the
glacier were monitored from 1972 to 1987, and three sites were
monitored from 1988 to 1992.
More recently, study of Black Rapids Glacier has
been continued by the University of Alaska (see Martin Truffer under
links below).
On November 3, 2002, the M7.9 Denali Fault
Earthquake caused several massive avalanches onto Black Rapids
Glacier. Three rock falls from the south
wall of the Black Rapids Glacier covered about 13 km of the ablation
area or about 5% of the total glacier area. See
here for photos and more
information.
Harrison, W.D., Mayo, L.R., and Trabant,
D.C., 1975, Temperature measurements on Black Rapids Glacier,
Alaska, in Weller, Gunter, and Bowling, S.A., eds., Climate of
the Arctic-Twenty-Fourth Alaska Science Conference, August
15-17, 1973: Fairbanks, University of Alaska, Geophysical
Institute, p. 350-352. [Full
report]
Heinrichs, Thomas A., 1992, Black Rapids
Glacier, Alaska: Potential hazard to the Trans-Alaska pipeline
and the uncertain buildup to the next surge, in Proceedings
Alaska Water Issues, American Water Resources Association,
Alaska Section, WRC #114, p. 85 [Abstract]
Heinrichs, Thomas A., Mayo, L. R.,
Echelmeyer, K.E., and Harrison, W.D., 1992, Black Rapids
Glacier, Alaska - Near the Trans-Alaska Pipeline - Unexpected
Behavior for a Surge-type Glacier, in Proceedings Environmental
Change: Natural and Man-Made, American Association for the
Advancement of Science 43rd Arctic Science Conference, p. 38 [Abstract]
Heinrichs, Thomas A., Mayo, L. R.,
Echelmeyer, K.E., and Harrison, W.D., 1996, Quiescent-phase
evolution of a surge-type glacier: Black Rapids Glacier, Alaska,
U.S.A., J. of Glaciology, V. 42, No. 140, p.110-122 [Abstract
and full report]
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) [Abstract, full report,
and data files]
Molnia, B.F., 2008, Glaciers of North America
-- Glaciers of Alaska, in Williams, R.S., Jr., and Ferrigno,
J.G., eds., Satellite image atlas of glaciers of the world: U.S.
Geological Survey Professional Paper 1386-K, 525 p. [Description
and full report]
Péwé, T.L., and Reger, R.D., 1983, Delta
River area, Alaska Range, in Péwé, T.L., and Reger, R.D., eds., Guidebook to
permafrost and Quaternary geology along the Richardson and Glenn Highways between
Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska-Guidebook 1, Fourth International Conference on
Permafrost: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, p. 47-135.
[Full
report]
Truffer, M., Craw, P., Trabant, D., March, R.
, Effects of the M7.9 Denali Fault Earthquake on glaciers in the
Alaska Range, Eos Trans. AGU, 83(47), Fall Meet. Suppl.,
Abstract S72F-1334 Poster [Abstract
and poster]
