Start Date
2014 12:00 AM
Abstract
The Sandy Glacier Cave Project is a National Speleological Society (NSS) sponsored study on the unique system of glacier caves located on the Sandy Glacier on the western flank of Mt Hood, Oregon. While the study primarily targets the structure, layout and ice volume change of the ever moving cave system by conducting annual grade 5 surveys, numerous tangential observations and trends have been recorded that are of great interest to the study of glacial recession, watershed hydrology, micro-biology and astro-biology, as well as the study of organic specimens and remains being thawed out of the ice mass by the expanding cave. Water analysis of the three cave streams involved show significant differences, despite their close proximity, which could indicate differences in the speed of glacier movement along the span of the glacier. Annual cave surveys are revealing massive volumes of ice melting from within the glacier, a figure not obtainable via traditional surface observations. Biological specimens and remains have been located, perfectly preserved, that were previously encapsulated in the glacier, and thus serve as a time capsule for subsequent study.
Moulin top view 2011
Brent McGregor_Cerberus Moulin_9-19-2013 from top_MG_7096 (2).jpg (1226 kB)
Moulin top view 2013
Brent McGregor_Cerberus Moulin_11-9-2011 from bottom_MG_1687 (2).jpg (583 kB)
Moulin bottom view 2011
Brent McGregor_Cerberus Moulin_11-10-2013 from bottom_MG_1427 (2).jpg (431 kB)
Moulin bottom view 2013
Snow Dragon Cave.jpg (627 kB)
Sniw Dragon Cave Map
Brent McGregor_Frozen Minotaur Cave_Noble Fir (Abies proceres) Seedling_100 years _IMG_0054 (2).jpg (842 kB)
Noble Fir Seedling
Brent McGregor_Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) Snow Dragon Feather_1500_Jpg (2).jpg (630 kB)
Mallard Duck feather
Included in
Glaciology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons
The Sandy Glacier Cave Project: The Study Of Glacial Recession From Within
The Sandy Glacier Cave Project is a National Speleological Society (NSS) sponsored study on the unique system of glacier caves located on the Sandy Glacier on the western flank of Mt Hood, Oregon. While the study primarily targets the structure, layout and ice volume change of the ever moving cave system by conducting annual grade 5 surveys, numerous tangential observations and trends have been recorded that are of great interest to the study of glacial recession, watershed hydrology, micro-biology and astro-biology, as well as the study of organic specimens and remains being thawed out of the ice mass by the expanding cave. Water analysis of the three cave streams involved show significant differences, despite their close proximity, which could indicate differences in the speed of glacier movement along the span of the glacier. Annual cave surveys are revealing massive volumes of ice melting from within the glacier, a figure not obtainable via traditional surface observations. Biological specimens and remains have been located, perfectly preserved, that were previously encapsulated in the glacier, and thus serve as a time capsule for subsequent study.
