Alaska Climate and Cryosphere Hazards Program

Project Details

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• Project ID:

  766

• Nickname/Abbreviation:

  CCHP

• Parent Project:

  Geologic Hazards Section programs and projects

• Status:

  Ongoing

• Description:

  Program to rigorously assess geologic hazards associated with climate variability and change and to publish information that will be used for forecasting and proactive planning, hazard mitigation, and emergency response in high-risk communities and developing areas. Project work includes slope monitoring along the Haines Highway and development of avalanche susceptibility and prediction models near Atigun Pass.

• Project Date(s):

  2011 - present

• Primary Contact:

  Wolken, Gabriel J.

• DGGS section:

  Geologic Hazards

• Alternate Url:

  Find out more...

• Project Participants:

  Gabriel J. Wolken, Erin N. Whorton, Ronnie P. Daanen, Matthew S. Balazs, Katreen M. Wikstrom Jones, Malcolm R. Herstand, Aleph L. Johnston-Bloom

• Active Related Sub-Projects:

  • • Snow variability and distribution - (2011)
  •      • Community Snow Observations (CSO) - (2017)
  •      • Southeast avalanche hazard mapping - (2021)
  •      • Municipality of Anchorage avalanche hazard assessment - (2023)
  • • Unstable slopes - (2011)
  •      • Haines Highway debris flow monitoring and assessment - (2014)
  •      • Lamplugh Glacier rock-ice avalanche - (2016)
  •      • Southeast Alaska unstable slopes - (2021)
  •      • Grewingk landslide study - (2021)
  •      • Columbia Glacier landslide study - (2022)
  • • Glacier change - (2011)
  •      • Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area remote sensing - (2015)
  •      • Valdez Glacier hazards monitoring - (2014)
  • • Weather stations - (2014)

Publications

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DDS 26

Wolken, G.J., Fischer, Elizabeth, Hendricks, M.D., and Wikstrom Jones, K.M., 2026, Alaska Snow Avalanche Hazards Database: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Digital Data Series 26, 7 p., https://geoportal.dggs.dnr.alaska.gov/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience?id=a2c14663beaa46d8bbb0127044512154. https://doi.org/10.14509/32076

RDF 2025-30

Zechmann, J.M., Liljedahl, A.K., Wolken, G.J., Jorgenson, M.T., and Witharana, Chandi, 2025, Lidar-derived elevation data for Jago River permafrost research site, collected August 1, 2025: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2025-30, 15 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/31748

RDF 2024-7

Zechmann, J.M., Wikstrom Jones, K.M., and Wolken, G.J., 2024, Lidar-derived elevation data for Portage, Southcentral Alaska, collected October 15, 2020: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2024-7, 10 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/31160

RDF 2024-13

Zechmann, J.M., Daanen, R.P., Salisbury, J.B., and Wolken, G.J., 2024, Lidar-derived snow surface elevation data for Deadhorse, northern Alaska, collected May 10, 2022: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2024-13, 9 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/31259

RDF 2024-15

Zechmann, J.M., Daanen, R.P., and Salisbury, J.B., 2024, Lidar-derived elevation data for Deadhorse, northern Alaska, collected July 16-18, 2021: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2024-15, 18 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/31273

RDF 2023-14

Wikstrom Jones, K.M., Wolken, G.J., and Daanen, R.P., 2023, Lidar-derived elevation data for lower Serpentine Glacier and adjacent slopes, southcentral, Alaska, collected October 14, 2022: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2023-14, 7 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/31012

RDF 2019-6

Wikstrom Jones, K.M., Wolken, G.J., and Hendricks, M.D., 2019, Photogrammetry-derived digital surface model and orthoimagery of Valdez Glacier ice-dammed lake, Valdez, Alaska, October 12, 2016: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2019-6, 4 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/30200

RDF 2019-2

Wikstrom Jones, K.M., Wolken, G.J., Whorton, E.N., and Hendricks, M.D., 2019, Photogrammetry-derived digital surface model and orthoimagery of Valdez Glacier ice-dammed lake, Valdez, Alaska, October 15, 2014: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2019-2, 4 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/30181

RDF 2019-3

Bliss, A.K., Hock, Regine, Wolken, G.J., Whorton, E.N., Aubry-Wake, Caroline, Braun, Juliana, Gusmeroli, Alessio, Harrison, W.D., Hoffman, Andrew, and Liljedahl, A.K., 2019, Glaciers and climate of the upper Susitna Basin, Alaska; supporting data: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2019-3, 6 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/30138

RDF 2018-2

Balazs, M.S., Wolken, G.J., and Wikstrom Jones, K.M., 2018, Photogrammetry-derived digital surface model and orthoimagery of land areas near Resurrection Bay, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2018-2, 6 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/29824

IC 65

Stevens, D.S.P., Wolken, G.J., Hubbard, T.D., and Hendricks, K.A., 2018, Landslides in Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular 65, 2 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/29849

IC 63

Timm, Kristin, and Wolken, G.J., 2017, Deglacierization and the development of glacier-related hazards: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular 63, 3 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/29752

IC 64

Wolken, G.J., Hendricks, K.A., Daanen, R.P., Overbeck, J.R., Stevens, D.S.P., and Masterman, S.S., 2017, Alaska & climate change: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular 64, 2 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/29781

PIR 2017-4

Wolken, G.J., and Wikstrom Jones, K.M., 2017, Valdez Glacier ice-dammed lake: June 2017 glacial lake outburst flood: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Preliminary Interpretive Report 2017-4, 5 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/29743

RDF 2017-6

Wolken, G.J., Wikstrom Jones, K.M., Whorton, E.N., Gould, A.I., and Hendricks, M.D., 2017, Photogrammetric data of the Haines Highway corridor: May 26, 2014: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2017-6, 20 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/29736

RDF 2015-1

Wolken, G.J., Arendt, A.A., and Rich, J.L., 2015, Bathymetry of Valdez Glacier lake: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2015-1, 1 sheet. https://doi.org/10.14509/29255

PIR 2014-1

Wolken, G.J., and Balazs, M.S., 2014, Inventory and preliminary assessment of geologic hazards in the Passage Canal-Portage Valley area, south-central Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Preliminary Interpretive Report 2014-1, 15 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/27302

Posters and Presentations

Wikstrom Jones, Katreen and others, 2026

Wikstrom Jones, Katreen, Wolken, G.J., and Janes, Michael, 2026, From point to slope: Assessing weather station snow depth representativeness using lidar and geostatistics (poster): International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, September 28-Oct 2, 2026: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, 1 sheet. https://doi.org/10.14509/32166

Annual Reports

AR 2014-C

DGGS Staff, 2015, Engineering Geology FY15 project descriptions, in DGGS Staff, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Annual Report 2014: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Annual Report 2014-C, p. 52-67. https://doi.org/10.14509/29182

AR 2013-C

DGGS Staff, 2014, Engineering Geology FY14 project descriptions, in DGGS Staff, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Annual Report 2013: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Annual Report 2013-C, p. 53-65. https://doi.org/10.14509/27003

AR 2012-C

DGGS Staff, 2013, Engineering Geology FY13 project descriptions, in DGGS Staff, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Annual Report 2012: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Annual Report 2012-C, p. 43-55. https://doi.org/10.14509/24787

AR 2011-C

Stevens, D.S.P., Koehler, R.D., Wolken, G.J., Kinsman, N.E.M., Hubbard, T.D., and Combellick, R.A., 2012, Engineering Geology FY12 project descriptions, in DGGS Staff, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Annual Report 2011: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Annual Report 2011-C, p. 49-61. https://doi.org/10.14509/23305

AR 2010-C

Stevens, D.S.P., Combellick, R.A., Hubbard, T.D., Koehler, R.D., and Wolken, G.J., 2011, Engineering Geology FY11 project descriptions, in DGGS Staff, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Annual Report 2010: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Annual Report 2010-C, p. 54-66. https://doi.org/10.14509/22183