As sure as the seasons come and go Hubbard Glacier continues its advance towards Gilbert Point. After last years rather quiet season of activity Hubbard has advanced to within 100 meters of Gilbert point. Researchers at USACE CRREL, USGS and the University fo Maine are keeping a watchful eye on its activities. The photos below were taken on June 27, 2011 by CRREL (Dan Lawson). The ice face remains tall and near vertical across most of the terminus. The ice is wrapping itself around Gilbert Point in Russell Fiord and Disenchantment Bay, but the gap at the narrowest point is still about 75 to 80 m off the bedrock face. The ice near the shoal in Disenchantment Bay is being diverted to the east of it and toward Gilbert Point, creating the snout apparent in the image from the Disenchantment side of the channel. The ice face appears in many ways similar to 2009 but possibly with more ice encroaching on the shore at the head of Russell and Disenchantment Bay.

Our impression is that the glacier remains active in its seasonal advance but prediction of a closure occuring this season is still in question. Stay tuned for more information to come as information relating to Hubbard Glaciers activities is accumulated.

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Researchers from the US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab, The University of Maine, the USGS Alaska Science Center and The University of Kansas visited Hubbard Glacier to conduct a campaign to monitor short and long duration glacier activity. These activities included deployment of on-ice GPS for monitoring short term (2-weeks) and long-term (seasonal) glacier velocities. The installation of a new GPS and seismic monitoring station at Haenke Island and new time-lapse and climate monitoring stations in the upper reaches of the glacier.

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Dr Luke Copeland, University of Ottawa has provided the following info about three tributaries glaciers that feed into Hubbard Glacier that are currently surging. The surges are centered around Mt. Queen Mary (60 33’N, 139 50’W), and are in three parallel valleys. Local pilots reported these surges this winter (around Jan-Mar). There is significant crevassing, surface drawdown and strand lines. The terminus of Hubbard glacier was significantly advanced this year in comparison to the last three years of measurement and to date continues to show continued activity but slightly back from it’s seasonal maximum. For information about the surges please contact Dr. Luke Copeland at the University of Ottawa or visit the contact links of this website.

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Photos of the Hubbard Glacier terminus. The glacier is wrapping around Gilbert Point.

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Researchers from the US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab visited Hubbard Glacier to conduct routine maintenance to the climate monitoring station at Haenke Island and the laser ranging system at Gilbert Point. In addition, several new pieces of equipment were installed to help monitor climate and glacier advance activity. A near real-time low-resolution satellite camera that acquires 3 images per day (1000, 1200 and 1400) was installed at Gilbert Point. The camera is directed 90 degrees to the west of where the laser ranging system is pointed, as to observe advancing activity that has been of interest since the summer of 2008. In addition, a second mechanical wind sensor was installed on Haenke Island for comparison measurements to an existing ultrasonic wind sensor that was thought to be malfunctioning. Both sensors seem to be operating normally. At the current time there is no rain gage installed at Haenke Island due to a malfunctioning switch.

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