Rockies Glaciology and Climatology

Photograph of the Athabasca Glacier
Athabasca Glacier

Glaciers are perennial ice masses that are large enough to experience flow. Gravitationally driven ice motion occurs through three different mechanisms:

  • Internal ‘creep’ deformation
  • Sliding along the ice‐bed interface
  • Deformation of subglacial sediments

All three processes are believed to be active in the Canadian Rockies, though there are few studies of glacier dynamics in the Rockies. Where they have been measured, typical flow rates are on the order of tens of metres per year (eg: 30 meters per year, near the snow‐coach turnaround on the Athabasca Glacier; Paterson, 1964). Small cirque glaciers will move at just a few meters per year.

While there is good information about the number and area of glaciers in the Rockies, little is known about ice thickness or volume. Ice thickness estimates require time‐ and labour‐intensive ice radar surveys, executed through the towing of an ice radar or low frequency ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) system along the glacier surface, or airborne radar surveys.

Temperatures in the Canadian Rockies

Glaciers of the Rockies are ‘isothermal’ – they are at the melting point throughout their depth. There is no simple ‘threshold temperature’ for a glacier to be viable. A mean annual temperature below 0°C is not a necessary or sufficient condition for glacier ice to exist. Read about Temperatures in the Canadian Rockies

Glacier Mass Balance

Glacier mass balance refers to the change in mass of a glacier over a specific time frame, typically one year. Glaciers of the Rockies typically accumulate snow from mid-September through mid-May (the ‘accumulation season’) and experience melting and runoff from mid-May through mid-September (the ‘melt season’). Mass balance can be estimated through remote sensing techniques such as repeat airborne or satellite laser altimetry, which can measure changes in surface elevation. Read about Glacier Mass Balance
Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Board Member

Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.

Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Brian Mergelas

Brian Mergelas, PhD, ICD.D

Board Member

Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market.   With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry. 

Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector. 

He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency. 

Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field. 

Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation.   As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.