The Icefield Ranges Research Project, 1972

The Icefield Ranges Research Project (IRRP) base camp (61° N, 138°30' W) opened its doors on 3 June. ... Four programs, supported in whole or in part by the project, were in the field before the official opening of Kluane base camp, and two research teams remained in the field through early September. From 3 June until 29 August base camp was in full operation. A total of 86 persons representing 23 colleges, universities, and institutions (12 Canadian; 11 U.S.) made use of IRRP facilities during that time. One student from the United States and 6 Canadian students were involved in field work leading to postgraduate degrees: 4 toward an M.Sc. and 3 toward a Ph.D. Peak occupancy was in the last two weeks of July and the first week of August when over 50 people were at Kluane and the 15 long- and short-term field camps. The February 1972 announcement of a Kluane National Park has generated interest in a number of multi-year programs concerned with resource inventory and planning processes. ... Under the auspices of the Arctic Institute's Visiting Scientists program two professors from the Departments of Geography at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, took part in IRRP during the last week in July and first week in August. ... Air support for IRRP, including support for the television team and climbing expeditions, was provided by the Arctic Institute's supercharged, ski-wheel-equipped Helio Courier; by a Canadian Forces DeHavilland Buffalo; and by a chartered Bell Ranger helicopter. A total of approximately 215 hours were flown in support of all programs in 1972. The twenty-foot long, wide-beam life boat was in greater demand this past summer than in any summer since 1968. ... [Research updates were provided for: 1) Glacier studies (Geophysical measurements - Tapridge and Rusty glaciers, Thermal drilling - Steele Glacier, Tapridge Glacier - survey, Glacier inventory, Kaskawulsh Glacier); 2) Glacial geology, geomorphologyand hydrology (Donjek Glacier - ice cored moraines, Donjek and Kaskawulsh glacier termini - load distribution variation and source, Slims River valley - loess transport, Donjek valley - Spring Creek alluvial fan, Ruby Range - mass wasting program), 3) Kluane Lake studies (Raised beaches - drowned forest, Drainage of glacial Lake Kloo - a reconnaissance, Zooplankton studies), 4) Biology and environmental studies (Studies of Boschniakia rossica, Plant succession on three Kaskawulsh Glacier terminal moraines, Canid predator-prey relationships in Kluane National Park, Ecological studies - Kluane National Park), 5) Archaeology (Ethnohistoric archaeology - Tatshenshini River basin, Kluane Lake - Long Point site); 6) High altitude physiology studies, 7) Mountaineering equipment evaluation program, 8) Meteorology.

The Icefield Ranges Research Project, 1963

The Icefield Ranges Research Project (IRRP), co-sponsored by the American Geographical Society and the Arctic Institute of North America, completed its third successful field season in early September 1963. The base camp at the south end of Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada was opened on June 4 and closed on August 27. The field party consisted of Dr. W. A. Wood, as project leader and R. H. Ragle, who as field leader was assisted by four other staff members of the Institute. One of the objectives of the project is to provide graduate students working on a dissertation for a Master's or Ph.D. degree with opportunities for research and field work. Thus there were five candidates for graduate degrees among the ten scientists from various institutions and universities in the United States and Canada who carried out field work in glaciology, meteorology, climatology, geophysics, and glacial geology. One other graduate, who had received an M.S. on work in glaciology while with the IRRP in 1962, returned for further research in 1963. Support was provided by eight assistants, mostly students from U.S. and Canadian universities. The four camps that served as bases for operations were: (a) Base Camp at Kluane Lake, altitude 870 m.; (b) Kaskawulsh Camp at the glacier terminus, 920 m.; (c) Glacier Divide Camp, 2641 m.; (d) Glacier Camp, at the centre of the glacier, 2588 m. Despite the changeable weather experienced during the season the work that had been planned in the various disciplines was accomplished. ..

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Icefield Ranges Research Project, St. Elias Mountains, Yukon, 1966

The Icefield Ranges Research Project (IRRP) continued in 1966 to expand its areas of research. Though work began 1 June and continued until the first week in September, the major portion of the summer investigations was carried out between 20 June and 20 August. Interdisciplinary by nature, IRRP is a combination of investigations in many research fields. In the broad categories of geography, geology, and biology, there were in 1966 twenty studies conducted by more than forty persons, including support personnel. Twelve graduate and two undergraduate college students represented eight colleges and universities in Canada and the United States. Three Canadian scouts, with a number of young students and technical personnel, also assisted in various programs. The Arctic Institute was again awarded by the National Science Foundation a Research Participation for College Teachers (RPCT) grant to allow six teachers to take part in the IRRP research program. Three teachers who were awarded 1965-66 Academic Year Extension grants by the Division of Undergraduate Education in Science of the National Science Foundation returned as participants in the 1966 RPCT program. Participants were equally divided between the earth and biological sciences. IRRP also gave support in part to four independent short-term studies in geology and biology, as well as to a special reconnaissance of mountaineering objectives for the Yukon Territory's Canadian Centennial project in 1967. ..

The Ice Field Ranges Research Project 1964

The Ice Field Ranges Research Project concluded its fourth summer of research in the St. Elias Mountains, Yukon Territory, Canada, on September 2, 1964. The project is sponsored jointly by the Arctic Institute of North America and the American Geographical Society and its director is Dr. Walter A. Wood. The studies of a glacierized area in terms of its total environment that were begun in 1961 were successfully continued. The base camp at the southern end of Kluane Lake (870 m.) was opened on May 29. In addition to this there were three glacier stations, Divide Station (2640 m.), Seward Station (1850 m.), and Kaskawulsh Station (1730 m.), and four satellite camps located at glacier termini (920 m. and 915 m.), and on the glaciers (3600 m. and 2420 m.). All except one of them were established and supplied by the Helio Courier H391B aircraft of the Institute. Twenty-five persons took part in the work in 1964. Of the fourteen students, representing seven colleges and universities, who participated, six are working for graduate degrees. The remaining students assisted the graduate candidates and the Institute research and administrative personnel. Members of the Institute staff, Mr. M. Mellor (U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory), Drs. C. Bull (Institute for Polar Studies, The Ohio State University), and M. Marcus (The University of Michigan) supervised the research projects. ..

The Icefield Ranges Research Project 1967

The Icefield Ranges Research Project conducted its seventh field program in the St. Elias Mountains between 15 May and 1 September 1967. Under the broad categories of Earth Sciences and Biological Sciences, studies in 18 disciplines were conducted by more than 38 investigators and their assistants. This figure does not include personnel of the supporting Kluane Lake Activity of the Arctic Institute of North America, nor does it include 8 visiting investigators who took the opportunity to conduct short-term studies or to observe field programs in operation. ..

The Icefield Ranges Research Project, 1971

The 1971 Icefield Ranges Research Project (IRRP) field season again was something of a paradox and, as in past seasons, weather was the guilty agent. Projects that were carried out on the continental slope of the St. Elias Mountains enjoyed relatively good weather; those pursued under the direct influence of Pacific maritime air masses suffered through possibly the worst season weatherwise since the inauguration of IRRP in 1961. Research activity at Kluane Lake camp continued year-round during 1970-1971 for the first time in ten years of operation. ... Base camp is situated on the southern end of Kluane Lake (el. c. 780 m.) and was the hub from which two full-time and four short-term field camps were supported. Air support was provided by the Arctic Institute's versatile STOL supercharged Helio Courier aircraft equipped with ski-wheels aided substantially by a Canadian Forces DeHavilland Buffalo and by two fixed-wing and two rotary-wing aircraft which were chartered locally when necessity demanded. In early July the DeHavilland Buffalo dropped over 4 tons of supplies and equipment to the Mount Logan physiology laboratory (el. c. 5,335 m). Aircraft flew approximately 270 hours in support of IRRP programs in 1971. All base camp facilities were opened for summer field research parties mid-May and were closed 12 September. As in past summers, however, maximum utilization of facilities and research activity occurred between mid-June and mid-August. Principal investigators, senior scientists and graduate students plus their assistants numbered over 70 persons. ... In all more than 100 men and women representing 30 Canadian and American colleges, universities, and research institutions and agencies participated in IRRP field investigations in physical, biological, medical, and social sciences. ... A nominal [glacier studies] program was carried out from mid-July to mid-August on the Rusty Glacier and two neighbours the Backe and Trapridge glaciers, three small surge-type glaciers for which there is evidence of a history of surging. ... During the 1971 summer field season investigations continued into significant changes in the level of Kluane Lake and shifts in direction of drainage .... Active loess transport and deposition studies began 30 May on the wide, dry floor of the Slims River valley. ... Examination of climate continued on three scales of observation here defined as micro-, meso-, and synoptic. ... Research on Dall sheep with emphasis on its range relationship continued throughout the winter. The study area encompasses Sheep Mountain (e. 1,954 m). ... Phytogeographical studies in the Icefield Ranges, begun in 1965 on nunataks and in the alpine zone above the 1,500-m level, were continued in 1971. ... Field laboratory studies [high altitude physiology] were planned to build upon and expand work which had been done in previous years and were for the most part directed towards better understanding of the role of water and salts in acclimatization to hypoxia and in acute mountain sickness. ... The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) and the Arctic Institute convened a workshop at Kluane Lake camp further to refine and amplify the contributions of energy and mass balance studies. The workshop was held from 23 to 28 August. ..

Effects of the 1964 Alaskan Earthquake on Glaciers and Related Features

Describes an aerial photographic reconnaissance in Apr and Sept 1964 of the approx 30,000 sq mi area most seriously affected by the Mar 27 earthquake to assess the extent to which glacial features had been modified. Little change was apparent in glacial basins, lakes or tidewater calving, much less than after the 1899 and 1958 earthquakes of comparable violence. Some rock slides on to glaciers were impressive. The effects are related to the Tarr and Martin (No 17449) theory of earthquake avalanche supply, but it may be several years before evidence to test the applicability of the theory to the 1964 earthquake is apparent. 25 air photos with detailed descriptive notes illus the features described. Condensed version of the text was pub in Arctic 1965. v 18, no 2, p. 135-37