Glacier Variability in the Wind River Range, Wyoming

Forsee, W. J.; Ahmad, Sajjad

doi:10.1061/(asce)he.1943-5584.0000384

Cited by 29 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…For this study, 1-m resolution aerial photography was used to examine area changes between 2006 and 2012 for the 44 glaciers analyzed in Thompson et al (Figure 1b) [1]. Imagery was obtained from the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC) in Laramie, Wyoming for 2006 and 2012.…”

Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The glaciers are located within a minimum and maximum elevation of 3113-4205 m [20]. The Continental Divide runs through the highest elevations of the Wind River Range and acts as a boundary between Sublette and Fremont Counties in Wyoming [1]. Runoff on the eastern slopes flows into the Missouri River Basin and then into the Gulf of Mexico whereas runoff from the western slopes flows into the Colorado River Basin and then into the Gulf of California.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Streamflow in the west is a major source for municipal, agricultural, and hydropower use. Hence, there is a renewed interest concerned with assessing glacier surface area changes due to climate warming [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Forty-four glaciers in the Wind River Range were analyzed using orthorectified aerial photography from 2012. This is an update to the work of Thompson et al [1] in which the surface area changes of the 44 glaciers were estimated from 1966 to 2006. The total surface area of the glaciers was estimated to be 27.8 ± 0.8 km 2 , a decrease of 39% from 1966 and a decrease of 2% from 2006.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Recent Alpine Glacier Variability: Wind River Range, Wyoming, USA

et al. 2014

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Glacier area and volume changes were quantified through the use of historical aerial photographs in the Wind River Range, Wyoming. Forty-four glaciers in the Wind River Range were analyzed using orthorectified aerial photography from 2012. This is an update to the work of Thompson et al. [1] in which the surface area changes of the 44 glaciers were estimated from 1966 to 2006. The total surface area of the glaciers was estimated to be 27.8 ± 0.8 km 2 , a decrease of 39% from 1966 and a decrease of 2% from 2006. The 2012 volume changes for the 44 glaciers were estimated using the Bahr et al. [2] volume-area scaling technique. The total glacier volume in 2012 was calculated to be 1.01 ± 0.21 km 3 , a decrease of 63% from 1966. These results, once compared to temperature and snowpack trends, suggest that the downward trend in snowpack as well as increasing temperatures seem to be the most likely driver of the glacier recessions. With Global Circulation Models (GCMs) forecasting higher temperatures and lower precipitation in the western U.S., it is likely that glaciers will continue to recede.

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Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Recent Alpine Glacier Variability: Wind River Range, Wyoming, USA

et al. 2014

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“…However, this moderating influence may be short lived because glaciers in the Wind Rivers, like in Glacier National Park, are shrinking at a historically unprecedented rate. Thompson (2009) found a 42% decrease in the volume of glaciers in the Wind River Range between 1966 and 2006. Once the remaining permanent snow and ice is lost from these glaciers, we anticipate increased likelihood of a threshold event that will dramatically improve thermal habitat for MPB, and a concurrent increased outbreak potential.…”

Section: Outbreak Patterns: Potential Refugiamentioning

confidence: 99%

An innovative aerial assessment of Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem mountain pine beetle‐caused whitebark pine mortality

Macfarlane

Logan

Kern³

2013

Ecological Applications

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Abstract. An innovative aerial survey method called the Landscape Assessment System (LAS) was used to assess mountain pine beetle (MPB; Dendroctonus ponderosae)-caused mortality of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) across the species distribution in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE; 894 774 ha). This large-scale implementation of the LAS method consisted of 8673 km of flight lines, along which 4653 geo-tagged, oblique aerial photos were captured at the catchment level (a subset of 12-digit USGS hydrologic units) and geographic information system (GIS) processed. The Mountain Pine Beetle-caused Mortality Rating System, a landscape-scale classification system designed specifically to measure the cumulative effects of recent and older MPB attacks on whitebark pine, was used to classify mortality with a rating from 0 to 6 based on the amount of red (recent attack) and gray (old attack) trees visible. The approach achieved a photo inventory of 79% of the GYE whitebark pine distribution. For the remaining 21%, mortality levels were estimated based on an interpolated surface. Results that combine the photo-inventoried and interpolated mortality indicate that nearly half (46%) of the GYE whitebark pine distribution showed severe mortality (3-4 or 5.3-5.4 rating), 36% showed moderate mortality (2-2.9 rating), 13% showed low mortality (1-1.9 rating), and 5% showed trace levels of mortality (0-0.9). These results reveal that the proliferation of MPB in the subalpine zone of the GYE due to climate warming has led to whitebark pine mortality that is more severe and widespread than indicated from either previous modeling research or USDA Forest Service Aerial Detection surveys. Sixteen of the 22 major mountain ranges of the GYE have experienced widespread moderate-to-severe mortality. The majority of catchments in the other six mountain ranges show low-to-moderate mortality. Refugia from MPB outbreaks, at least for now, also exist and correspond to locations that have colder microclimates. The spatially explicit mortality information produced by this project has helped forest managers develop and implement conservation strategies that include both preservation and restoration efforts. Future research aimed at documenting and quantifying the ecological impacts of widespread decline and collapse of this foundation and keystone species is warranted.

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Grazing Increases Soil Warming in Headwater Wetlands: Importance to Land Managers and Water Users

Booth

Likins

Cox³

et al. 2021

Ecosystems

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The earth’s mountains continue to lose water. Glaciers are melting and mountain snow/rain balance tilts increasingly liquescent. Water is running off sooner—sometimes overfilling reservoirs, causing flooding, and setting the stage for late-season shortages. One adaptive strategy is to recover and enhance water-storage capacities of headwater riparian systems. Grazing, a common use of headwater lands, affects both soils and vegetation. To better understand how grazing might affect water storage and other ecosystem services of high elevation riparian wetlands, we measured soil-profile temperatures, soil organic matter (SOM), and phytomass at six sites in the upper Sweetwater River sub-basin of Wyoming, USA, where fence lines allowed us to contrast grazing management. We found grazed wetlands consistently had warmer soils than fenced wetlands. We found added evidence that SOM is important in both soil temperature control and water-storage potential of wetlands. We review evidence that warmer soil temperatures and drying cause loss of SOM with the implied concomitant C losses through erosion and emissions. We recommend land managers of temperate-climate headwater systems consider the need to end growing seasons with full stands of riparian vegetation to reduce soil warming and to build organic matter—particularly on lands where municipalities and other downstream water users are seeking long-term increases in water yields and less flooding.

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Glacier Variability in the Wind River Range, Wyoming

Cited by 29 publications

References 17 publications

Recent Alpine Glacier Variability: Wind River Range, Wyoming, USA

Recent Alpine Glacier Variability: Wind River Range, Wyoming, USA

An innovative aerial assessment of Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem mountain pine beetle‐caused whitebark pine mortality

Grazing Increases Soil Warming in Headwater Wetlands: Importance to Land Managers and Water Users

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