Our Research
Research objectives
Whether natural or human-induced, climate and environmental changes have consequences for society. Glaciers respond to climate, but also supply water resources. We research the nature, extent, and biophysical impact of changes in glacier environments over time. My group focuses on modern glacier recession as well as Late-Glacial to Holocene variability, and we aim to develop transdisciplinary understanding of climate forcing, hydrologic impacts, social adaptation and vulnerability.Tracing changes in mountain glacier mass over time elucidates dynamics of physical phenomena (climate change, erosion, sedimentation, hydrology) and informs the evaluation of impacts to human society (availability and quality of water). We desire to quantify these processes, better predict their future changes, and inform strategies of adaptation.
Whether natural or human-induced, climate and environmental changes have consequences for society. Glaciers respond to climate, but also supply water resources. We research the nature, extent, and biophysical impact of changes in glacier environments over time. My group focuses on modern glacier recession as well as Late-Glacial to Holocene variability, and we aim to develop transdisciplinary understanding of climate forcing, hydrologic impacts, social adaptation and vulnerability.Tracing changes in mountain glacier mass over time elucidates dynamics of physical phenomena (climate change, erosion, sedimentation, hydrology) and informs the evaluation of impacts to human society (availability and quality of water). We desire to quantify these processes, better predict their future changes, and inform strategies of adaptation.
Instruments and methods
Bury et al. 2010
We
measure glacier mass changes, landscape alteration, surface and subsurface
hydrology, water quality, glacial geomorphology, climatic variability and lake
sediments. Specific recent data acquisition efforts include: water
quality analyses (including trace metals);airborne
laser swath mapping (using LIDAR) of glaciers and proglacial valleys; photogrammetry
(aerial and terrestrial) of glacier changes;ground
(ice) penetrating radar of glacier depth and proglacial valley stratigraphy; hydrochemistry to
analyze hydrological sources and contributions to surface and groundwater;stream
discharge logging, with acoustic Doppler profiling; groundwater
monitoring with piezometers and temperature loggers; hydrometeorological
observations with vertically distributed instrument arrays;satellite
image and altimetry analysis (ASTER, Landsat, SPOT, SRTM);moraine
mapping with GPS and dating with cosmogenic radionuclides;lake
and wetland sediment coring;computer
modeling, including GIS-based coupled glacier mass balance and ice flow,
catchment scale hydrologic balance, and hydrochemical mixing models.
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Geographic scope
While our research focuses primarily is on glaciers and mountain environments in the tropical Andes and Africa, We also work in Alaska and mid-latitude sites once occupied by glaciers, including Great Basin National Park and Central Ohio.We gather field data and maintain embedded sensor networks in a number of specific highland regions in Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Africa, Alaska and Nevada. |
Mark and Osmaston, 2008
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Our projections
Mark and McKenzie, 2007
Ongoing and future developments include new
technologies and methods, new transdisciplinary integration with social
scientists on coupled natural and human systems and dynamics of environmental
change, and expansion into new regions of the Andes and Asia. We have new instruments
for water quality analyses and discharge. We are expanding efforts to integrate
our physical hydrological work with human geographic assessment of indigenous
livelihood level impacts, adaptation schemes, and resilience to environmental
change. We are also researching Andean climatic gradients throughout the
Holocene and Late-Glacial using lake cores and moraine chronology, as well as
processes of glacier change, water and biogeochemical cycling in Alaskan
peatlands. In the Great Basin, Nevada, we are maintaining hydroclimatic
observations and measuring heavy metal and contaminants in watershed
sediments.
Research funding
We have been funded by NASA, NSF, National Geographic Society, Western National Parks Association, as well as the Climate, Water & Carbon initiative, Geography Department and Office of International Affairs at the Ohio State University. Funding has been in 1-5 year grants, and resources are used for supporting students, post-docs, field equipment, laboratory analyses, travel, and computing software and support.
