Item: Gone Like a Ghost: The Ghost Glacier Failure and Subsequent Outburst Flood, Mt. Edith Cavell, Jasper National Park
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Title: Gone Like a Ghost: The Ghost Glacier Failure and Subsequent Outburst Flood, Mt. Edith Cavell, Jasper National Park
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2014 Proceedings, Banff, Canada
Authors:
- Rupert J. Wedgwood [ Jasper National Park, Jasper, AB, Canada. ]
Date: 2014-09-29
Abstract: During the evening of August 9th or early morning of the 10th 2012 the Ghost Glacier fell from the North Face of Mount Edith Cavell in Jasper National Park. Approximately 125,000 cubic meters of ice fell close to a vertical kilometer onto a lower glacier and then a tarn which was full to overflowing with recent precipitation and the winter's snowmelt runoff. The resulting wind blast and water displacement caused extensive damage to the park's infrastructure within an area that receives high numbers of park visitors. After an extensive search and rescue response it was determined that, due to the timing of the event, nobody was missing or injured. The glacial lake outburst flood is representative of the hazards within a rapidly changing post glacial environment and presents challenging questions to risk managers in high visitor use areas such as the Canadian National Parks.
Object ID: ISSW14_paper_P3.53.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: Complex avalanche, Rocky mountains, ablation
Page Number(s): 2030-2037
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