Peyto Glacier in Banff National Park is a valley outflow glacier Wapta Icefield in the Waputik Mountains, a part of the Canadian Rocky Mountains – the headwaters of major river systems in western Canada [location map is included]. During the 1960s, the area of the glacier was 13.4 km2. However, it has been continuously losing mass since the mid-1970s (9.9 km2 of the glacier as of 2016) and the new proglacial lake formed at the tongue of the glacier is increasing in size every year. The lake in the research basin has been named as ‘Lake Munro’ by the Centre for Hydrology (University of Saskatchewan) to honor Scott Munro’s research contribution to the glacier. Peyto Creek flowing out of Lake Munro drains the Peyto Glacier Research Basin (22.4 km²) and discharges to Peyto Lake, which has outflow into the Mistaya River, one of the tributaries of the North Saskatchewan River.
Although the first record of Peyto Glacier goes back to the photograph in 1896 by Walter D. Wilcox, significant research of the glacier began in 1965, when it was selected as one of the research sites for the International Hydrological Decade (IHD). The past studies over the glacier is well documented in the book – ‘Peyto Glacier: One Century of Science’ edited by Demuth et al., (2006). Automatic weather stations (AWS) were installed on the ice and off-glacier sites and several post-IHD-period micrometeorological studies were made by Dr. Scott Munro, University of Toronto. These climate stations are now being continued by the Centre for Hydrology – University of Saskatchewan.
Other Networks to Which This Contributing Station Belongs
Canadian Rockies Hydrological Observatory (CRHO)
Changing Cold Regions Network (CCRN)
Data Information
Are the data quality controlled? No
How are the data accessible? other
Data availability (may depend on the variable measured): delayed more than one year
Publications
Changing Cold Regions Network, 3. Wapta Icefield/Peyto Glacier, AB. http://ccrnetwork.ca/science/WECC/western-cordillera/peyto-glacier.php
Measurements
The measurements made at Peyto Upper Ice are listed in the following tables. (Note: If End Year is blank, measurements are ongoing.)
Cryosphere Measurements
Element
Variable
Start Year
End Year
Frequency
Snow
Snow on the ground (WMO code 0957)
2007
2013
Fragmented
Snow
Depth
2007
2013
Fragmented
Snow
Snow water equivalent
2013
2013
Sporadic
Snow
Snowpack profile
2007
2013
Fragmented
Glacier
Accumulation
2007
2013
Sporadic
Glacier
Ablation
2007
2013
Sporadic
Atmosphere Measurements
Element
Variable
Start Year
End Year
Frequency
Met
Air temperature
2007
2013
Fragmented
Met
Humidity/vapour pressure
2007
2013
Fragmented
Met
Wind speed and direction
2007
2013
Fragmented
Measurement Notes and Other Measurements
Category
Description or List
Other
It was the AWS established in the accumulation zone of Peyto Glacier (col of Peyto and Bow glaciers) by Dr. Scott Munro earlier than 2002. However, the observation data are available from 2007-2008 and 2011-2013.
Although the first record of Peyto Glacier goes back to the photograph in 1896 by Walter D. Wilcox, significant research of the glacier began in 1965, when it was selected as one of the research sites for the International Hydrological Decade (IHD). The past studies over the glacier is well documented in the book – ‘Peyto Glacier: One Century of Science’ edited by Demuth et al., (2006). Automatic weather stations (AWS) were installed on the ice and off-glacier sites and several post-IHD-period micrometeorological studies were made by Dr. Scott Munro, University of Toronto. These climate stations are now being continued by the Centre for Hydrology – University of Saskatchewan.