Calving of Snow River Glacier in early September 2015, resulted in icebergs floating in Snow River Lake.
Louis Sass, III
Glacier mass balance; physical processes of glacier mass balance; feedback mechanisms on glacier mass balance; glacier influences on streamflow
I came to Alaska in 1999 to climb in the Alaska Range, and returned to work as an outdoor educator and mountain guide. At the time that was not part of a grand plan to intimately familiarize myself with glacier behavior, but I found myself increasingly interested in the physical processes of glacier change. Now I am the project lead for the Alaska portion of the Benchmark Glacier Project, a long-term project that quantifies seasonal mass changes on five glaciers in the US, three of which are in Alaska. My research focuses on accurately quantifying glacier change, understanding the physical processes that contribute to that change, and identifying feedback mechanisms that influence future changes. I work to understand how glaciers (and glacier change) influence surrounding ecosystems, both directly in terms of downstream runoff to rivers and oceans, and indirectly in terms of the overall ecosystem and landscape evolution. I am also interested in trying to make glacier science and glacier data more digestible and more approachable for land managers, decision makers, and the public.
Science and Products
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Calving of Snow River Glacier
Calving of Snow River Glacier in early September 2015, resulted in icebergs floating in Snow River Lake.
Wolverine glacier weather station, Alaska
Wolverine weather station collects weather data near the glacier to aid mass balance. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. In 1966 scientists with the USGS began making direct measurements of surface mass balance at Wolverine Glacier, one of the "benchmark glaciers" in Alaska.
Wolverine weather station collects weather data near the glacier to aid mass balance. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. In 1966 scientists with the USGS began making direct measurements of surface mass balance at Wolverine Glacier, one of the "benchmark glaciers" in Alaska.
Researchers use ground penetrating radar
Researchers use ground penetrating radar to determine the depth of the snow on Wolverine Glacier in Alaska.
Researchers use ground penetrating radar to determine the depth of the snow on Wolverine Glacier in Alaska.
Scientist in deep snow pit
Spring fieldwork on the Benchmark Glaciers involves digging deep snow pits to measure the density profile of the surface snowpack.
Spring fieldwork on the Benchmark Glaciers involves digging deep snow pits to measure the density profile of the surface snowpack.
Scientist collecting samples on South Cascade Glacier
Scientist collection samples on South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientist collection samples on South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
The Gulkana Glacier weather station
The Gulkana Glacier weather station collects data on air temperature, wind speed and direction, and cumulative precipitation.
The Gulkana Glacier weather station collects data on air temperature, wind speed and direction, and cumulative precipitation.
Wolverine Glacier Ice
Photo of Wolverine Glacier ice. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. In 1966 scientists with the USGS began making direct measurements of surface mass balance at Wolverine Glacier, a "benchmark glacier" in Alaska.
Photo of Wolverine Glacier ice. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. In 1966 scientists with the USGS began making direct measurements of surface mass balance at Wolverine Glacier, a "benchmark glacier" in Alaska.
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State. South Cascade Glacier is located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State. South Cascade Glacier is located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 29
Calving of Snow River Glacier
Calving of Snow River Glacier in early September 2015, resulted in icebergs floating in Snow River Lake.
Calving of Snow River Glacier in early September 2015, resulted in icebergs floating in Snow River Lake.
Wolverine glacier weather station, Alaska
Wolverine weather station collects weather data near the glacier to aid mass balance. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. In 1966 scientists with the USGS began making direct measurements of surface mass balance at Wolverine Glacier, one of the "benchmark glaciers" in Alaska.
Wolverine weather station collects weather data near the glacier to aid mass balance. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. In 1966 scientists with the USGS began making direct measurements of surface mass balance at Wolverine Glacier, one of the "benchmark glaciers" in Alaska.
Researchers use ground penetrating radar
Researchers use ground penetrating radar to determine the depth of the snow on Wolverine Glacier in Alaska.
Researchers use ground penetrating radar to determine the depth of the snow on Wolverine Glacier in Alaska.
Scientist in deep snow pit
Spring fieldwork on the Benchmark Glaciers involves digging deep snow pits to measure the density profile of the surface snowpack.
Spring fieldwork on the Benchmark Glaciers involves digging deep snow pits to measure the density profile of the surface snowpack.
Scientist collecting samples on South Cascade Glacier
Scientist collection samples on South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientist collection samples on South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
The Gulkana Glacier weather station
The Gulkana Glacier weather station collects data on air temperature, wind speed and direction, and cumulative precipitation.
The Gulkana Glacier weather station collects data on air temperature, wind speed and direction, and cumulative precipitation.
Wolverine Glacier Ice
Photo of Wolverine Glacier ice. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. In 1966 scientists with the USGS began making direct measurements of surface mass balance at Wolverine Glacier, a "benchmark glacier" in Alaska.
Photo of Wolverine Glacier ice. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. In 1966 scientists with the USGS began making direct measurements of surface mass balance at Wolverine Glacier, a "benchmark glacier" in Alaska.
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State. South Cascade Glacier is located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State. South Cascade Glacier is located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government