A Geophysical Investigation of a Rock Glacier in the Canadian Rockies

Abstract

In this project a geophysical survey was conducted on the rock glacier in the Helen Lake watershed (Ban National Park, Alberta, Canada) to investigate its internal structure. Geophysical methods involved electrical resistivity tomography, seismic refraction and ground penetrating radar. The main objectives were (1) to identify the presence of ice, (2) determine the depth to bedrock and (3) trace the pathways of ground water flow. The conceptual model of the rock glacier was built based on the interpretation of geophysical data sets. It showed that the rock glacier represents an important hydrological unit playing a significant role in storage and release of water sustaining the late summer flow in the watershed. This research contributes to the understanding of how such hydrological units as rock glaciers function and what predictions could be made about the consequences of the climate warming for these natural water reservoirs.