An inventory and assessment of glaciers, rock glaciers, perennial snowfields, and permafrost landforms in the Teton Range, WY, USA

Abstract

Glaciers, rock glaciers, and permafrost landforms store water within ice reserves in alpine and periglacial zones. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of northwestern Wyoming, U.S.A., these landforms charge the hydrological system through meltwater, which raises questions about the ecological impacts of these limited water reserves in a regime trending toward warmer and drier conditions. Here, I investigate the impact of glacier and rock glacier meltwater on the ecological systems within the Grand Teton, Wind River, and Gros Ventre mountain watersheds. This investigation relies on remotely sensed satellite imagery, aerial photography, and Lidar, as well as in situ field data. With these data, I provide a high-resolution inventory of glacial, rock glacial, and permafrost landforms in the GYE.

Featured photo by Grand Teton on Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/2hwtrRb