Elijah Lines

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Major

Marine Science

Advisor(s)

Karl Kreutz

Committee Members

Scott Braddock, William Ellis

Graduation Year

May 2025

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

The bulk of research on the impacts of climate change on the cryosphere has primarily utilized Remote Sensing as a framework for analysis. Through satellite imagery and geographic information system (GIS) analysis, researchers are able to track changes in glacier extent and additional fluctuations in the cryosphere over time. In addition to these geographical monitoring capabilities, remote sensing also presents the opportunity to monitor the prevalence of marine chlorophyll (specifically chl-a concentrations), via software similar to that of GIS. Through the combined analysis of both these data types, this study examines the idea of photosynthetic fecundity as a result of changes in glacial extent. The causation for this phenomenon is highlighted through temperature trends in the region serving as a metric for quantifying climatic change. The focus region for the remote sensing portion of the study looks at the San Quintín Glacier, which is located on the western side of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field (NPI). This is an area of the world that has been little studied and is under the growing threats of climate change and the encroaching salmon farming industry. This study hopes to establish a baseline of data and inform the local aquaculture industry on the implications of glacial melt on coastal ecological conditions. In addition, it intends to shed light on how the nutrients provided by these increasing cryospheric processes may have the potential to increase the prevalence of photosynthetic activity in these ecosystems, toxic and healthy alike, informing conservationists and those working in the aquaculture industry of the region.

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