Geologic Publications for Mount Rainier

Time-lapse monitoring of a small mountain glacier to capture debris flow activity

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Author(s): Claire Todd, Jose Jimenez

Category: PRESENTATION
Document Type: Poster 265-12
Publisher: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs
Published Year: 2024
Volume: 56
Number: 5
Pages:
DOI Identifier: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-405635
ISBN Identifier:
Keywords:

Abstract:
South Tahoma Glacier is a 2 km² glacier in Mount Rainier National Park, WA that has produced 31 known debris flows since 1967, more than any other glacier on Mount Rainier. These geologic hazards threaten infrastructure and human lives along Tahoma Creek, downstream from the glacier terminus. The timing of these events and previous research suggests that debris flows from South Tahoma Glacier are most likely triggered by glacial outburst floods, which result when subglacial water storage increases due to (a) increased melt from a period of high temperatures, or (b) late summer or fall precipitation events. We installed a time lapse camera after a series of destructive debris flows in August 2015, and have monitored the glacier terminus from July - September, 2016 - 2023; we will reinstall a time lapse camera in summer 2024. We combine time lapse imagery with meteorological data, high resolution satellite imagery, and digital elevation models to investigate the relationship between recent debris flows and changes to the glacier terminus and proglacial meltwater channels. Our findings will document precursors to and impacts of debris flows from South Tahoma Glacier.

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Suggested Citations:
In Text Citation:
Todd and Jimenez (2024) or (Todd and Jimenez, 2024)

References Citation:
Todd, C. and J. Jimenez, 2024, Time-lapse monitoring of a small mountain glacier to capture debris flow activity: Poster 265-12, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 56, No. 5, doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-405635.