Climate Change Institute
Climate Change Institute
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Expeditions
The Institute has been actively conducting field research for over 40 years. Our faculty and students have covered the globe gathering data and investigating our world.
We invite you to visit some of our current field sites. We will post reports and photos as they come in. Check back often to see who is in the field and what they are doing.
You can also browse our expedition archives.
Examples of Expeditions
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Glacier History of New Zealand Southern Alps from LGM to presentField Team Members: George H. Denton, Aaron E. Putnam, Tobias N.B. Koffman (Ph.D. candidate), Peter D. Strand (M.S. candidate)Collaborators: Dr. Joerg M. Schaefer (Columbia University), Dr. Michael R. Kaplan (Columbia University), David J.A. Barrell (GNS Science), Dr. Brian M. Anderson (Victoria University of Wellington), Dr. Sean D. Birkel (University of Maine), Roseanne Schwartz (Columbia University), Dr. Robert Finkel (Lawrence-Livermore National Laboratory) New Zealand Southern Alps. January 11, 2013 - March 3, 2013 |
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Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE)Expedition Members: Skylar Haines Roosevelt Island, West Antarctic Ice Sheet, Antarctica. Oct. 8, 2012 - Jan. 4, 2013 |
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Kuli South Georgia ExpeditionExpedition Members: Paul Mayewski, Dan Dixon, Bjorn Grigholm, Mariusz Potocki, Gino Casassa, Marcelo Arevalo, Alex Kuli, Alex George Kuli South Georgia Island. Oct. 2 - Nov. 4, 2012 |
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Los Morteros: Geoarchaeological Explorations of an Early Mound, North Coast of PeruExpedition Members: Ana Cecilia Mauricio Chao Valley, North Coast of Peru. Sept. 2012 - March, 2013 Funding Support: Dan and Betty Churchill Expedition Fund, The Graduate Student Government of the University of Maine, The NSF funded Project "Long-term Human Ecodynamics in Coastal Peru: A Case Study of Polar-Tropical Teleconnections", The Waitt Grant of the National Geographic Society, and The French Institute of Andean Studies. |
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Nitrogen Subsidies in Glacial Meltwater: Implications for High Elevation Aquatic ChainsExpedition Members: Kate Warner, Jasmine Saros, Carl Tuggend, Katie Norris, and Jenny Shrum Beartooth Mountains, Montana. July 18 - August 8, 2012 |
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Maya Obsidian of the Three Rivers region, BelizeWalter Beckwith Three Rivers region, Belize. May 17 - June 14, 2012 Funding Support: Dan & Betty Churchill Fund, Programme for Belize Archaeological Project
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A Kinematic Survey of Khumbu Glacier, NepalField Team Members: Adam Barker (University of Washington) & Lauren Wheeler (University of Maine) Khumbu Glacier, Nepal. June 1 - June 20, 2012 Funding Support: National Science Foundation & Bingham Trust Fund
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Seasonal Correlation of Air Temperature and Isotopic Composition of Snowfall in the Central Alaska RangeField Team Members: Seth Campbell, Curtis Marston, Lyndsey Marston, Josh Plourde (University of Maine); Kristin Schild, Hazel Shapiro (Dartmouth College); Adam Toolanen (Lund University, Sweden) Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. May 13, 2012 - May 25, 2012 Funding Support: Dan & Betty Churchill Fund
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Investigation of Historic Coastal Sand Inundation, Shetland UKField Team Members: Lee Sorrell, Alice Kelley and Joseph Kelley Shetland UK. May 21 - June 6, 2012 Funding Support: Dan & Betty Churchill Fund
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Surveying Tidal Marshes across the Northeastern U.S.Field Team Members: Mo Correll, Kate Ruskin, James Style, Brian Olsen, and Tom Hodgman Point count surveys Maine to Virginia (Intensive demographic study in Scarborough Marsh, Maine. May - August 2011-2013
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Ice Core Reconnaissance and Ice Volume Survey in the Alaska Range (Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska)2012 Field Team Members: Seth Campbell, Curtis Marston, Lyndsey Marston, Josh Plourde (University of Maine); Kristin Schild (Dartmouth College); Brad Markle (University of Washington); Dave Silverstone (University of Alaska); Adam Toolanen (Lund University, Sweden) Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. April 16, 2012 - May 31, 2012
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Ice in Fire: Frozen Climate Records Inside A South American Volcano - Tupungatito Expedition 2012 (TE2012)University of Maine - Climate Change Institute field expedition team members: Paul Mayewski (field leader), Andrei Kurbatov, Bjorn Grigholm, Mariusz Potocki, Dan Dixon, Michael Morrison and Mike Waskiewicz & and members of the Centro de Estudios Cientifocs (CECS) from Valdivia, Chile (field leaders Gino Casassa and Rodrigo Zamora, Alejandro Neira, Ivan Clauvero and Francisco Gonzalez). Tupungatito Volcano, Chile. January 5, 2012 - February 17, 2012 The CCI component of the Tupungatito Expedition is supported by a generous gift from the Garrand Family of Portland, Maine.
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Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) 2011-2012 Field Team Members: clockwise from top left: Sepp Kipfstuhl, Brendon Christie, Daniel Emmanuelsson, Thomas Beers, Howard Conway, Hedley Berge, Darcy Mandeno, Nancy Bertler, Andrea Logan, Lou Albershardt, and Alex Pyne (Heidi Godfrey and Stephen Mawdesley not pictured). Roosevelt Island, Antarctica (Second Field Season). October 10, 2011 - January 19, 2012 Funding support: National Science Foundation and GNS Science
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Nevado-Corpuna Shallow Ice Core Churchill ExpeditionBjorn Grigholm, Mariusz Potocki Nevado-Coropuna Glacier, Southern Peru. September 19 - October 10, 2011 Funding support: Dan & Betty Churchill Fund View expedition notes |
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Archaeological Explorations in the Chao Valley, North Coast of PeruChao Valley, North Coast of Peru. July 2011 Funding support: Dan & Betty Churchill Fund, Marshall Cloyd, and the Graduate Student Government View expedition notes |
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Investigating Patterns of Late Pleistocene Glaciation in the Tropical AndesGordon Bromley, Kurt Rademaker, Matthew Hegland Cordillera Carabaya, Andes, Peru. June 6 - July 29, 2011 Funding support: National Science Foundation View expedition notes |
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Investigating the Elevation Dependence of Atmospheric Water Isotope Ratios in the Coastal North PacificMatthew Koehler Juneau Icefield. June 2011 Funding support: Dan & Betty Churchill Fund View expedition notes |
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Geoarchaeology of the Salinas de Chao Paleo-embaymentChao, Peru. July 17 - July 20, 2011 Funding support: National Geographic Society, Dan & Betty Churchill Fund, & Marshall Cloyd View expedition notes |
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La Milpa, Belize: An Investigation of Courtyard 100 & Kontanil CourtyardGregory Zaro, Walter Beckwith; Brett Houk, Lindsey Moats, Vincent Sisneros, Texas Tech University La Milpa, Belize. May 19 - June 16, 2011 Funding support: Dan and Betty Churchill Fund, Getty Archeological Fund, National Geographic Society View expedition notes |
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Spatial Extrapolation of Melt and Mass Balance in the Central Alaska RangeDominic Winski, Seth Campbell, Kristin Schild Denali National Park, Alaska. May 9 - June 8, 2011 Funding support: Dan and Betty Churchill Fund View expedition notes |
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Exploring Climate-Induced Changes in West Greenland LakesKristin Ditzler Strock, Jasmine Saros, John Anderson, Loughborough University, Suzanne McGowan, University of Nottingham West Greenland. June 14th - June 28th, 2011 Funding support: Dan and Betty Churchill Fund & the Gokcen Fund View expedition notes |
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Garrand Andes Expedition - Tupungatito, ChilePaul Mayewski, Gino Casassa, Gonzalo & Sebastian Camps, Daniel Dixon, Bjorn Grigholm, Mario Potocki, Michael Morrison Tupungatito, Chile. February 4, 2011 - March 18, 2011 View expedition notes |
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The Anatomy of Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) Climate Change in the Southern Hemisphere Mid-Latitudes: Paleoecological Temperature Reconstructions from Terrestrial ArchivesAnn Dieffenbacher-Krall, Marcus Vandergoes, Erin McCann Field Collaborators: Jamie Howarth, Delia Strong New Zealand. January 4-23, 2011 View expedition notes |
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Sensitivity of the Antarctic Ice Sheet to the Last Two Glacial/Interglacial CyclesBrenda Hall, Stephanie Allard, Toby Koffman, Calvin Mako, Robin Arnold, Glenn McKenney Antarctica. December 2010 - February 2011 View expedition notes |
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Constraints on the Last Ross Sea Ice Sheet from Glacial Deposits in the Southern Transantarctic MountainsCCI participants: Brenda Hall, Gordon Bromley Beardmore Glacier, Antarctica. Dec. 4-31, 2010 |
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2MBIA (Year 2): Exploring a 2 million + year ice climate archive-Allan Hills blue ice areaAndrei Kurbatov, Nicky Spaulding Allan Hills blue ice area. November 10, 2010 to January 15, 2011 View expedition notes |
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Assessing the release of reactive nitrogen by melting alpine glaciers: effects on diatom diversity and water clarity in lake ecosystems over the last century.CCI participants: Carmen Daggett, Jasmine Saros, Caleb Slemmons, Krista Slemmons, Courtney Wigdahl, Dominic Winski Beartooth Mountains (central Rockies), Montana and Wyoming. August, 2010 Funding support: Dan and Betty Churchill Fund |
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Los Morteros Ground-Penetrating Radar StudyCCI participant: Daniel Sandweiss, Joseph Kelley, Alice Kelley, Daniel Belknap; CCI Graduate Students: Kurt Rademaker, Elizabeth Olsen, Cecilia Mauricio; CCI Undergraduate Students: David Reid, Owen McGlamery Chao, Peru. July-August 2010Funding support: National Geographic Society |
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Human-Environment Interaction in the Central Coast of Peru toward the end of the Early Intermediate Period (ca. AD 500-700). A view from a Late Lima Culture SiteCCI participant: Ana Cecilia Mauricio Lima, Peru. June-August 2010Funding support: Dan and Betty Churchill Fund, Fulbright Summer Research Grant, Graduate Student Government Grant |
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Glacial Geology and Archaeology in the Pucuncho Basin, Peruvian AndesCCI participants: Kurt Rademaker, Gordon Bromley Additional Project Personnel: Kristen Gardella (UPenn), Peter Leach and David Reid (J. A. Milner & Associates), Jesse Wertheim and Owen McGlamery (UMaine undergraduates). Pucuncho Basin, Peruvian Andes. June 1 - August 23, 2010 Funding support: Dan and Betty Churchill Fund, Foundation for Exploration and Research on Cultural Origins (FERCO), American Philosophical Society Lewis and Clark Exploration Fund, Lambda Alpha Graduate Research Grant |
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Holocene Behavior of Local Ice Caps in East GreenlandEast Greenland. August 2010 |
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Palaeoclimate of Central Asia: Glacial geology and palaeohydrology of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, ChinaCollaborators:Wally Broecker and Joerg Schaefer (Columbia University), David E. Putnam and Chunzeng Wang (University of Maine at Presque Isle), Peter and Fred Quesada (Fore River Company) Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China June 2010 - July 2010 |
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Glacier History of the New Zealand Southern AlpsGeorge Denton, Aaron Putnam, Kathryn Ladig, Alice Doughty, Samuel Kelley Collaborators: Dr. Joerg M. Schaefer (Columbia University), Dr. Michael R. Kaplan (Columbia University), Mr. David J.A. Barrell (GNS Science), Professor Bjørn G. Andersen (University of Oslo), Dr. Marcus Vandergoes (GNS Science), Professor Christian Schlüchter (Bern), Dr. Robert Finkel (Lawrence-Livermore National Laboratory) New Zealand Southern Alps, January - March 2010; January - March 2009, January - March 2008, January - March 2007, January - March 2006 |
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Maine Wetlands 2010 - Assessing the Effect of Hydrologic Change on Sora and Virginia Rail PopulationsEllen Robertson and Brian Olsen Maine (Penobscot and Washington Counties), May - August 2010 |
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High-Elevation Ice Core Reconnaissance on Tupungatito Caldera GlacierPaul Mayewski, Gino Casassa, Gonzalo & Sebastian Camps, Daniel Dixon, Danny Frye, Bjorn Grigholm, Andrei Kurbatov, Michael Morrison, Mario Potocki (with indispensable assistance of local Arrieros: Fernando, Ismael, Marcelino, & Antonio Tupungatito Calera Glacier, Central Andes, February & March 2010 |
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Modeling Energy Balance and Melt Layer Formation on the Kahiltna Glacier, Alaska
Dom Winski, Seth Campbell, Karl Kreutz
Denali National Park, Alaska, Summer 2010 Funding support: Dan & Betty Churchill Fund |
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Reconstructing the Holocene glacial variations of the Hielo Patagonico Sur at Torres del Paine(51ºS), southern South America Juan Luis Garcia
Hielo Patagonico Sur, Southern South America, February 2010 Funding support: Dan & Betty Churchill Fund |
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Desert Resource Management and Punctuated Environmental Change - Atacama Desert of South America
Greg Zaro, Alissa Dubois
Tambo-Ilo coast of southern Peru. February 12 to May 1, 2010 |
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2MBIA (Year 1): Exploring a 2 million + year ice climate archive-Allan Hills blue ice areaAndrei Kurbatov, Nicky Spaulding, Kristin Schild Allan Hills blue ice area. October 28 to December 21, 2009 |
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Assessing the Effects of Glacier Meltwater on Lake Ecosystems in Torres del Paine, Chile
Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. November 2009 Funding support: Dan & Betty Churchill Fund |
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Margin Ice Sampling and the Cause of the Younger Dryas
Paul Mayewski, Douglas "Cap" Introne, Andrei Kurbatov, Stephanie Allard, Brittany Gilman
Greenland, August 12 to August 26, 2009 |
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Ice Cores and Glaciological Surveys at Fedchenko Glacier, Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan
Bjorn Grigholm, Elena Korotkikh
Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan. August 3 to September 7, 2009 The goal of the 2009 field season was to recover Ice core record(s) and conduct GPS and GPR surveys of the upper accumulation zone of Fedchenko Glacier. |
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Ice Core Drilling in the Southern Alps
Daniel Dixon
Southern Alps. June 2009 |
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Glacier History of the Western United States
Aaron Putnam, Sean Birkel, George Denton, Kathryn LadigCollaborators: Joerg M. Schaefer (Columbia University), Edward B. Evenson (Lehigh University), David E. Putnam (University of Maine – Presque Isle), Peter Quesada, Peter Huybers (Harvard University), Richard B. Alley (Penn State), Patrick Applegate (Universitet Stockholm), David Vacco (Penn State), Robert Finkel (CEREGE) Wind River Range, Wyoming & Sierra Nevada, California, June & July 2009, June & July 2008 |
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Determine Critical Nitrogen Loads to Boreal Lake Ecosystems Using the Response of Phytoplankton
Jasmine Saros, Carmen Daggett, Heather ArnettAcadia National Park (Maine) & Isle Royale National Park (Michigan). June 2009 & August 2009 |
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Climate-Induced Shifts in Alpine Diatom Communities: Linking Neoecological and Paleoecological Approaches to Incorporate Responses to Trophic Forcing
Jasmine Saros, Andrea Nurse, Carmen Daggett, Courtney Wigdahl, Randall PerryBeartooth Mountains (central Rockies), Glacier National Park (northern Rockies), July 2007, August 2007, August 2008, July 2009 |
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The Role of Dissolved Organic Material in Regulating Primary Production in Prairie Saline LakesJasmine Saros, Courtney Wigdahl, Carmen DaggettNorthern Great Plains (North Dakota), August 2006, May 2009 |
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Collaborative Research: Grounding-line retreat in the Southern Ross Sea - Constraints from Scott GlacierBrenda Hall, Gordon Bromley, Nate MietkiewiczScott Glacier, December 2008 - January 2009; December 2007 - January 2008 |
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Mapping Critical Loads of Atmospheric N and S Deposition in the Rocky MountainsJasmine Saros, Heather ArnettRocky Mountains, August 2007, August 2008 |
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Determining Critical Loads of Nitrogen Deposition in the Pacific NorthwestJasmine SarosWashington (Alpine Line Wilderness & Mt. Rainier), August 2008 |
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The Interactive Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation & Temperature on Pelagic Food WebsJasmine Saros, Courtney WigdahlBeartooth Mountains (Wyoming/Montana), July 2007, August 2007 |
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Determining Patterns of Abrupt Climate Change during the Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition (LGIT) in the Southern HemisphereMarcus Vandergoes, Ann Dieffenbacher-Krall, Karen Marysdaughter, Aaron Putnam, Alice DoughtyNew Zealand, February 2007 |
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The Response of Lakes to Disturbance and Climate Change: Calibrating Sedimentary Records to Test the Landscape Position ConceptJasmine SarosWisconsin, January 2007 |
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Archaeological Exploration of the Cotahuasi Highlands, Southern PeruKurt Rademaker and David Reid The goals of this research are to better understand the early prehistoric settlement of southern Peru, the dramatic climatic and Andean ecosystemic changes at the end of the last ice age, and the connections between early South Americans and their environment. View research theme
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Brazilian–Chilean–US expeditionAndrei Kurbatov, and colleagues Detroit Plateau Antarctic Peninsula, Glaciological and Atmospheric Studies November 7 to December 15, 2007 |
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US ITASEPaul Mayewski, Gordon Hamilton, Daniel Dixon, Daniel Breton, Nicky Spaulding, Elena Korotkikh, and Sharon Buchanan Sneed Traverse of East Antarctica October 22, 2007 to December 29, 2007 |
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GPS Measurements of fast flowing glaciers in East GreenlandGordon Hamilton and Leigh Stearns June 27th to July 5th, and July 22 to 30th and August 20th to 28th, 2007 |
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Glacial History and Paleoclimate in Patagonia, ChileJuan Luis Garcia March 15 to May 1, 2007 |
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Archaeological Investigations of the Quebrada Manga, PeruKurt Rademaker and David Reid January-February 2007 |
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Preliminary glaciological studies in the Peninsula Luis Felipe, AntarcticaAndrei Kurbatov Jan 26 to Feb. 20, 2007 |
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US ITASETraverse of East Antarctica, Paul Mayewski, Gordon Hamilton, Andrei Kurbatov, Daniel Dixon, Daniel Breton Nov. 1, 2006 to January 31,2007. |
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Melt Pond evolution and glacier acceleration: fast glacial flow in East GreenlandGordon Hamilton and Leigh Stearns June 22, to August 29, 2006. |
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Meteorological Controls on Snow Accumulation and Chemistry in the St. Elias Mountains and the Implications for Ice Core Research in Regions of High Relief.Nate Vogan July 6, to July 24th, 2006 |
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Archaeological and Glacial Geologic Investigations of Nevado Coropuna, PeruKurt Rademaker, Gordon Bromley, Louis Fortin and Claire Todd May 15th to July 15th 2006. |
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Developing a chronology of glacial advances in the Southern Alps, New Zealand from the LGM to present.Aaron Putnam, and Alice Doughty January 19th to May 14th |
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Chronology of Late Holocene Moraines, Cordillera Darwin.Brenda Hall and Charlie Porter March 1st to May 1st, 2006. |
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Ice coring in the Patagonia Ice Fields.Paul A. Mayewski, Andrei Kurbatov, Bjorn Grigholm, Mark Wumkes February 13th to April 10th 2006. |
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Abandoned southern elephant seal colonies as paleoclimate indicators in the Antarctic.Brenda Hall, Audrey Bamberg, Alice Doughty January 1, to February 15, 2006. |
Expedition Archive
View the Institute's Expeditions from:
News &Events
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April 25, 2013
CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE DAY
Announcing the 6th Annual Climate Change Science Day at the University of Maine on May 2, 2013. This open house will include tours and demonstrations aimed at high school students and will feature... | Read more... -
April 24, 2013
Mayewski - Honorary Member of American Polar Society
Dr. Paul Mayewski was made Honorary Member of the American Polar Society after delivering the keynote address at the American Polar Society 75th Anniversary Celebration at Woods Hole, Mass. ... | Read more... -
April 24, 2013
Denton Among Winners of Phi Beta Kappa Book Award in Science
Professor George Denton of the Climate Change Institute, and co-authors Philip Conkling, Richard Alley and Wallace Broecker are recipients of the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award in Science for “The... | Read more...
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April 8, 2013
Penobscot Bay Pilot Reports on UMaine Climate Change Researchers Alaska Trip - Karl Kreutz
The Penobscot Bay Pilot wrote an article about the upcoming trip to Alaska by University of Maine climate change researchers to collect an ice core record of Arctic climate change over the past... | Read more... -
March 29, 2013
Island life - Studying prehistoric fish and animal bones to help understand their roles in a food chain altered by climate change - Catherine West
Catherine West was a junior history major at Bryn Mawr when she jumped at the chance to be a field school student during a 1998 dig at a prehistoric Aleut site on Unalaska Island. As part of that... | Read more... -
March 28, 2013
Variations in snow and firn chemistry along US ITASE traverses and the effect of surface glazing. The Cryosphere, 7, 2, 515-535. doi:10.5194/tc-7-515-2013. - Dixon/Mayewski et al.
This study provides a baseline from which changes in the chemistry of the atmosphere over Antarctica can be monitored under expected warming scenarios and continued intensification of industrial... | Read more...
