| Department Colloquium |
Thursday
Sept. 22, 2005
Science Center 170
4:15 pm
Lunch: 12:00 in
Buntrock Commons #221
Phone: 507-646-3120
email: russell@stolaf.edu
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Special Physics Seminar*
Thursday September 22, 4:15 PM, SC-170
Climate and Water at the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term
Ecological Research Site, Antarctica
Dr. Andrew Fountain
Associate Professor of Geology and Geography
Portland State University
Photo: Mike Prentice
The McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research Project (LTER) is located in one of
the world's most extreme environments - a dry polar desert where temperatures average -18oC
and annual snowfall is about 5 cm water equivalent. In the valley bottoms the snow generally
sublimates before melting and makes little contribution to the valley hydrology. The important
water source is glacial melt, which occurs for about 10 weeks each summer. This melt supplies
ephemeral streams that feed ice-covered lakes and drives an unusual set of physical and biologic
interactions in an ecosystem that is unique to the planet.
Multidisciplinary research by the LTER is focused on the physical processes that drive the
biogeochemical cycling of nutrients through the ecosystem. The exchange of energy between
the glaciers and the climate system is thus a key component of our studies. This presentation
will provide an overview of the ecosystem, its fundamental processes, and focus on the unusual
glaciers and their contribution to ecosystem functioning.
*Lecture sponsored by the Grace A. Whittier Endowment
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