Glaciology, cold regions hydrology, snow and ice hazards mitigation, climate change detection, snow and ice remote sensing, radar geophysics

Mike joined the GSC in 1999 as part of an amalgamation of glaciological expertise in the Federal Government (National Glaciology Group). Educated at the University of Calgary (Mechanical Engineering) and the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium, Mike began his snow and ice research career with the NRCC studying the civil engineering aspects of snow avalanches.

From 1984-1998 as a Cold Regions Specialist with Environment Canada’s National Hydrology Research Institute, he conducted research on river ice break-up and jamming; specifically on measuring and modeling the decay of ice mechanical properties. This work provided the context for his interests in integrating environmental influences and human factors towards ameliorating snow and ice hazards.

Concurrently, Mike headed up studies of glacier mass balance in western Canada in relation to the detection of enhanced climate change and water resources; work he continues to pursue since his transfer to the GSC.

Current research activities include:

• documenting and assessing changes in moisture availability in Western Canada using cryosphere variables derived from in-situ and remote measurement
• investigating the role of glacier diminution in human and natural system impacts and adaptation
• validation/interpretation of glacier altimeter measurements towards a better understanding of mass balance
• quantifying and reducing the uncertainty of glacier mass balance measurements through the development and application of neutron scattering and radio wave signature techniques in snow, the subject of his Doctoral work at the University of Reading, Environmental System Science Centre, UK

As the Canadian Co-ordinator for GCOS, Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers and Canadian National Representative, IUGG Commission for the Cryospheric Sciences, Mike is a strong advocate of developing multi-disciplinary teams and promoting Canada’s contributions towards an understanding of the cryosphere. He currently leads two Activities in the ESS Reducing Canada’s Vulnerability to Climate Change Program towards which he receives funding from the Canadian Space Agency: Point-to-regional scaling of land ice-climate indicators using EO data: Towards implementing systematic measurements for assessing freshwater vulnerability issues for Nordic Canada.

List of publications for Michael Demuth (from GEOSCAN)