Expanding Access/Opportunity with a Field Science Program

This summer will be the 40th year that we, the North Cascade Glacier Climate Project, head into the field to monitor and communicate the response of North Cascade glaciers to climate change. This team of artists and scientists is again ready to support other organizations and research teams looking to work on or around the glaciers. The support is regardless of whether there is any direct collaboration or remuneration, instead it is solely aimed at expanding opportunities to access these hazardous and difficult locations.

From 2012-2019 we partnered with the Nooksack Indian Tribe to develop and monitor a stream gage below Sholes Glacier. This meant identifying the right field site, provide training on glacier travel, on glacier melt observations and on calibration of the discharge readings. After a few years this group was self-sufficient, our task complete.

From 2019-2022 we have supported the research efforts of Alia Khan and her students at Western Washington University. Their findings were featured by the National Snow and Ice Data Center this week. We have provided ground truth and also guided this team through some difficult glacier crevasse zones to reach field areas where snow algae is highly concentrated. We can accomplish this, while completing our own measurements with limited modification on timing and the route we travel.

We also support artists looking to gain access and insights into these same areas. Claire Giordano has joined us the last three years producing paintings that communicate the beauty and challenges the glaciers face. The goal is to provide opportunities to support others to acheive their goals, regardless of if they align with ours.

We will continue to develop a field team that can provide support to others during the 2023 field season, while accomplishing our science, art and communication goals. Below is the 2022 field team that supported and benefitted from the support provided.