As the world focuses on glacier preservation thisUN World Water Day, researchers at the University of Waterlooareexploring the glaciers of the Yukon’s St. Elias Mountains. These massivebodies ofice, part of the planet’s highest coastal mountain range, are more than just stunning landscapes—they are a vital source of Canada’s frozen water and key to understanding sea level rise and future water security.
The St. Elias Mountains hold approximately 32,100 square kilometers of glaciated terrain,contributingfourper cent of global sea level rise between 2006 and 2016. Despite their importance, the glaciers’ internal dynamics and total ice volume remainlargely unknown due to their remote location and extreme topography. A groundbreaking project,ledby Water Institute memberDr. Christine DowandPhD candidate Peter WrayatWaterloo,is set to change this.
“In 2023 and 2024, we successfully surveyed six of the region’s ten largest glaciers usingnewAirIPR technology, a helicopter-borne radar system capable of penetrating up to 1 kilometer of ice,” says Wray. “This technology allows us to map glacier bed topography at an unprecedented scale. By the end of our 2025 field season,we’llbe the first tohave a complete picture of theregion’s icetopography,volume andhopefully,glacier dynamics.”
Peter Wray near Lowell Glacier ready to help the helicopter pilot launch the radar system and start a survey
Peter Wray near Lowell Glacier ready to help the helicopter pilot launch the radar system and start a survey.
This research marks a milestone in Canadian glaciology. Unlike temperate glaciers in Western Canada, which are rapidly vanishing, themelting of theSt. Elias glaciers will continue to influence global sea level rise and local ecosystemswellafter2100.Understanding their behaviour requiresaccurate, high-resolution models of their geometry and bedrock interface. TheAirIPR system hasprovided precisely thatenabling researchersto uncover the secrets of surge-type glaciers—those that alternate between years of slow movement and sudden, dramatic advances.
The implications of this research extend far beyond the glaciers themselves. As glacier retreat continues to accelerate in response to climate change, meltwater production from the St. Elias Mountains will affect downstream ecosystems, Indigenous communities,and hydrological systems. The team’s models will help forecast when “peak water” will occur—s planning. Their findings provide essential information and timelines for policymakers and conservation efforts, as the researchers collaborate with Parks Canada and local First Nation communities to ensure this knowledge informs decision-making and environmental stewardship.
“Surge-type glaciers are like sleeping giants,” explainsDow. “Their unpredictable behavior poses risks to ecosystems and communities downstream. Our work provides the foundational data needed to model these dynamics and better predict their impacts.”
This research also addresses the growing threat of glacial hazards, such as the rapid glacial lake floods from DanZhur (Donjek) Glacier. This glacier surges every 10to12 years, blocking a river and causing a lake to form. As the glacier retreats, the lake grows until it eventually drains rapidly, leading to downstream flooding and damage to ecosystems.Identifying future glacial lake hazards will equip local governments and surrounding communities with insights to mitigate these threats.
“Within Canada,we have a massive,largelyunquantified, and rapidly changing freshwater resource,and while itis alreadyimpacting localcommunities itis alsogloballysignificant. As more and more regions around theworldquantify the potential for global sea level risefrom melting glaciers,it has become imperative that we asCanadians step up and do our part,especially when youconsider that wehaveabout40per centof theworld’sglacierized surface area outside of Greenland andtheAntarctic,” Wray reflects.
“Measuring ice volume and geometry of the St Elias glaciers also presents a unique opportunity, becauseit houses the world’s highest density ofsurge type glaciers whose underlying mechanismslargelyremain a mystery. The hope is that by presenting the first comprehensive inventory of surge type glacier geometries,we will be able to learn about theoften-unobservableglacier dynamics that are obfuscating global sea levelrisepredictionsfromhigh interest areas like the Western Antarctic Ice Sheet”, saysDow.
As we commemorate World Water Day 2025, the research in the St. Elias Mountains highlights the intersection of scientific innovation, environmental stewardship,and community resilience. These glaciers may be remote, but their story is a global one—closely tied to the future of water security and efforts to mitigate climate change.Join theWater Institute’s World Water Day eventto explore these critical issues and connect with experts shaping the future of water research.