Juneau Icefield Research Program 2025 (JIRP)

Glacial hydrology at the Juneau Icefield (Alaska/British Columbia)

Lennart Spielmann studied Hydrosciences in his Bachelor's degree and is now in the 1st semester of his Master's degree in Hydrology. TU Dresden funded his participation in the Juneau Icefield Research Program 2025(JIRP) in Alaska as part of FOSTER . He was able to acquire expertise in glaciology as well as practical skills in conducting field measurements and safety-relevant techniques for working in glaciated high mountains, including in the areas of:

• Glacier mass balance by measuring snow density and calculating snow water equivalent (glaciological method)
• Application of geophysical methods (ground penetrating radar, passive seismics)
• Glacier hydrology
• Carrying out snow and firn core drillings
• Geodetic profile measurements (glacier dynamics)
• Alpine skills for glacier crossing and crevasse rescue

He also carried out his own project to investigate stable water isotopes. As a complement to JIRP's existing isotope research program for snow and firn cores, liquid water samples were collected for the first time as part of this project and now analyzed for δ2H/δ18O in the laboratory of the Chair of Hydrology at TU Dresden. The isotope signature is intended to provide information on the origin and the relevant transport processes of the water in the catchment area. In the long term, this should lead to a better understanding of the processes involved in water balances in glaciated regions that are difficult to access.
Mr Spielmann's research project was carried out as part of the TU Dresden's Funds for Student Research(FOSTER) program and was supervised by Dr Thomas Wöhling at the Chair of Hydrology. Further funding was provided by the Society of Friends and Sponsors of TU Dresden and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.