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Snow, Ice & Permafrost

The goal of cryospheric research at the Geophysical Institute is to understand the properties and processes that occur within snow, ice and permafrost, their role in the shaping of the landscape, and their influence on climate and impact on the biosphere. Studies include field investigations throughout the Arctic, Antarctic, and mountainous regions of our planet. 

Research Areas

The Arctic Beaver Observation Network (A-BON) is a group of scientists, indigenous groups, land managers, and local observers who are concerned about the expansion of beaver populations into Arctic landscapes. This collaboration began in 2020 and assembles a broad range of perspectives from Alaska, Canada, and Europe to coordinate research and observations related to beaver colonization of the Arctic and the impacts it is having on ecosystems and people.

Arctic Beaver Observation Network

 

Contact: Ken Tape

Our research consists of a wide range of topics, including glacier mass-balance and volume change studies using e.g. repeat-profile airborne laser altimetry, the dynamics of lake and tidewater calving glaciers, ice sheet modeling, and glacier seismicity. Methods encompass modeling, remote sensing and field observations. Current field sites include Greenland, Antarctica and various sites in Alaska.

Our group


PISM logo


Contact: Andy AschwandenMark FahnestockMartin Truffer

The buoyancy of ice is such a well known phenomenon that it is easy to forget its importance. The world would be a vastly different place if ice sunk to the bottom of the sea, where it would accumulate and fill the ocean basins. In our floating ice world however, the ice remains on the surface where it modulates the global climate by reflecting solar energy and insulating the waters beneath. It also provides a habitat and platform for a wide range of organisms and is utilized as a travel corridor by man as well. 

Sea Ice Group

 

Contact:  Andrew Mahoney

The focus of our research is the development of methods to physically and mathematically model permafrost interactions with the climate system (permafrost modeling), the study of naturally and human induced disturbances of permafrost (permafrost process studies), the detection of changes in permafrost temperature, thickness, and distribution over time (permafrost monitoring), and the prediction of impacts of permafrost changes on the natural environment (e.g. ecosystems, hydrology, carbon cycle) as well as human-related concerns (e.g. infrastructure). We are interested in all aspects of how permafrost is affected by global change with respect to climate as well as natural and human induced disturbances.

Permafrost Laboratory

 

Contact:  Louise Farquharson Dmitry Nicolsky Alexander Kholodov

We use field observations and measurements, then try to figure how snow impacts plants, animals and humans. 

Snow Outreach Project: Our Winter World

Contact:  Jennifer Delamere Matthew Sturm

Project Highlights

Snow, Ice & Permafrost Group

Students, Staff and Affiliates

Ed Bueler
Professor
Christi Buffington
Research Professional
Jordan Campbell
Research Technician
Victor Devaux-Chupin
Graduate Student Researcher
Andrew Einhorn
Graduate Student Researcher
Emily Fedders
Graduate Student Researcher
Samuel George
Research Technician
Caitlynn Hanna
Graduate Student Researcher
Amy Jenson
Graduate Student Researcher
Joshua Jones
Research Professional
Derk Lyford
Graduate Student Researcher
Anika Pinzner
Graduate Student Researcher
Annegret Pohle
Graduate Student Researcher
Tate Rachow
Graduate Student Researcher
Pacifica Askitrea Takata-Glushkoff
Graduate Student Researcher
Thomas Wright
Research Professional
Sebastian Zavoico
Graduate Student Researcher