Institute for Glacier Stewardship (IFGS; www.icepreservation.org), is a U.S. based nonprofit group focused on potential interventions in glaciers aimed at slowing their global warming-driven melting and the resulting sea level rise. The ultimate goal, several years at least away, will be Antarctica’s glaciers, but IFGS first proposes undertaking a pilot before scaling to the harshest environment on Earth. Yakutat, Alaska is that pilot. The marine-terminating Hubbard-Valerie Glacier System right now faces warm ocean water, increased meltwater flux, and accelerating retreat. It provides a glimpse into the climate conditions that higher-latitude systems will face in the coming decades, but at a scale where instrumentation, iteration, and community partnership are immediately feasible. Funding provided by CIEIF will support an independent environmental impact assessment of the proposed basal anchoring intervention — the removing of subglacial water to increase basal friction and slow glacier flow. It also will help IFGS pay for equipment, travel, and site inspection needs. Plus, the grant will support outreach workshops with local indigenous groups.
Institute for Glacier Stewardship
