A survey program was begun on the East Fork Toklat Glacier in 1997 in order to monitor climate related changes in a small glacier where detailed measurements are more practical than on the larger glaciers in Denali. The East Fork Toklat Glacier (unofficially named) is a 6 km long glacier in the northeast portion of Denali. Of principle interest is the glacier’s mass balance, or the net annual change in the amount of snow and ice that is gained or lost at the surface. Snow depth and density are sampled at a network of index stakes and seasonal accumulation and ablation (melting) are measured to determine changes in mass balance. Ice motion and elevation changes are also surveyed at each stake and these provide information about how changes in mass balance are effecting the dynamics of the glacier.
