The University of British Columbia

Important information about Pleistocene (1.8 million - 10,000 yrs BP) ice sheet status is contained within volcanic deposits located in northern British Columbia.   When volcanoes erupt underneath glaciers, subglacial volcanoes called “tuyas” can form. The shape of these landforms is dependent on the environmental and volcanic conditions at the time of the eruption, including the thickness of ice and sub-ice hydrology.  Volcanic deposits are valuable because they more resistant to erosion than deposits laid down directly by glaciers, so can offer a comprehensive record of ice sheet status. This research involves studying Pleistocene glacier-volcano interactions in the Tuya-Kawdy volcanic field in northern B.C. The study area is ideal because of its relatively low elevation, being affected by large-scale continental glaciations such as the Cordilleran Ice Sheet rather than predominately alpine influences.  This research is expanding the database of the known 34 volcanoes in the area and will provide information about climate at the time of each respective eruption, with a focus on two volcanoes: Blue River and Tanker tuyas.