University of Dayton Chautauqua Course
Back to Site Map
Chautauqua
Course DAY-8
Glaciers in Alaska
KRISTINE
J. CROSSEN, Department of Geological Sciences
University of Alaska
Anchorage
June 25-27,
2008 in and near Anchorage, AK --- Apply to the Dayton Center --- To apply for this course now - click here
Note: This course is cosponsored by and offered at
the University of
Alaska Anchorage. Applications should be sent to the DAY Field
Center. Optional reduced rate lodging will be available to early applicants.
.
This course is a three‑day field study of
glaciers in south central Alaska.
It includes an introduction to glacial processes and landforms, and a viewing
of different types of glaciers including small cirque glaciers, valley
glaciers, and glaciers calving into lakes and tidewater. Locations to be visited include Portage Lake,
the Matanuska Glacier, and Prince William Sound.
The beginning of the first day will be spent in
classroom discussion of glacial processes.
The remaining portion of the day will involve a trip along the scenic
Turnagain Arm fjord to Portage
Lake and a boat tour to
the terminus of the iceberg‑calving Portage Glacier. The second day will be a trip to Matanuska
Glacier and will include light hiking on good trails. There will be hiking along the terminus of
the glacier and onto the ice itself to view ice structures and modern glacial
processes. For walking on glaciers, warm
clothes, daypacks, and hiking boots are required. Hiking sticks are recommended for those who
prefer more secure footing. The third
day includes a boat trip out of Whittier
to view fjords and tidewater glaciers in Prince William
Sound and College Fjord.
This trip includes a combined two hours each way by van. Some modification to this schedule may be
made at the time of the course.
Those interested in an optional fourth day can take
a commercial trip from Anchorage
to Resurrection Bay
and Kenai Fjords National Park
with other members of the course the day before the course begins. Details of this trip will be discussed with
participants prior to the course.
For college teachers of: any discipline. Prerequisites: none, beyond an interest in the natural
sciences.
Costs for 2008
Application fee: $100 [$50 if
received by February 29, 2008]
Course fee: $695 [Due in March
2008]
Optional campus lodging: $40
per person per night in a single
Dr. Crossen is an associate professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at
the University of
Alaska Anchorage. She has offered a number of short courses on
glaciers. Her current research involves
documenting Little Ice Age glacial chronologies from southern Alaska glaciers to understand recent climate
change.
Back to Site Map
University of Dayton Chautauqua Course