August 10, 2023

Cryologger Coverage Expands Across the St. Elias Mountains, Yukon

Posted by Adam Garbo

In summer 2023, several new Cryologger Glacier Velocity Trackers (GVTs) were deployed in Kluane National Park, Yukon, extending coverage across some of the largest and most dynamic outlet glaciers in the St. Elias Mountains.

These latest deployments bring the total number of Cryologger GVT systems operating in the region to nine, spanning three key sites: Donjek Glacier, Kaskawulsh Glacier, and Lowell Glacier.

🏔️ Why Kluane?

Kluane National Park is home to some of Canada’s most important icefields, including the Donjek and Kaskawulsh Glaciers—both known for their dramatic surges, tributary dynamics, and recent changes in mass balance. The Lowell Glacier, meanwhile, is a large outlet glacier that terminates in a proglacial lake and has exhibited notable seasonal velocity variations.

By deploying low-cost autonomous trackers on each glacier, researchers are able to measure short-term velocity fluctuations, identify flow instabilities, and establish ground-truth datasets for validating satellite observations.

📡 System Overview

Cryologger GVTs use dual-frequency GNSS to log high-precision position data at regular intervals. While they do not include satellite telemetry, the systems are capable of logging up to two years of data continuously—ideal for remote Arctic and sub-Arctic deployments where manual retrieval is feasible.

Collected data supports research on:

• Seasonal and diurnal velocity fluctuations
• Long-term glacier flow trends and instabilities
• Ice flow acceleration following melt events or surging behaviour

The Cryologger GVT platform has been specifically developed to perform reliably in cold, remote environments, with emphasis on low power usage, field serviceability, and open-source reproducibility.

📍 See It on the Map

The locations of all Cryologger GVT deployments, including those on Donjek, Kaskawulsh, and Lowell Glaciers, can be viewed on the Cryologger Data Portal.

These deployments are part of a broader effort to build long-term, open datasets for glacier velocity in Western Canada and beyond.

📷 Photo credits: Luke Copland