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Home > Journals > Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research > Volume 43 > Issue 4 > Article
1 November 2011 Expanded and Recently Increased Glacier Surging in the Karakoram
Luke Copland, Tyler Sylvestre, Michael P. Bishop, John F. Shroder, Yeong Bae Seong, Lewis A. Owen, Andrew Bush, Ulrich Kamp
Luke Copland,1,* Tyler Sylvestre,1 Michael P. Bishop,2 John F. Shroder,2 Yeong Bae Seong,3 Lewis A. Owen,4 Andrew Bush,5 Ulrich Kamp6
1*Department of Geography, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
2†Department of Geography and Geology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska 68182, U.S.A
3‡Department of Geography Education, Korea University, Seoul, 136-701, South Korea
4§Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, U.S.A
5#Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Can
6@Department of Geography, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, U.S.A
*∧Corresponding author: luke.copland@uottawa.ca
Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 43(4):503-516 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1657/1938-4246-43.4.503
PREVIOUS STUDIES OF SURGE-TYPE GLACIERS IN THE KARAKORAM
Methods and Data Sources
IDENTIFICATION OF GLACIER SURGING
1970s Imagery
2000 and Later Imagery
SURGE PERIODICITY
SPATIAL CLUSTERING OF SURGES
Skamri Basin
Sarpo Laggo Basin
TEMPORAL CLUSTERING OF SURGES
Discussion and Conclusions
A review of published literature and satellite imagery from the late 1960s onwards has revealed 90 surge-type glaciers in the Karakoram mountains, of which 50 have not previously been described in detail. These glaciers were identified by a number of surface features indicative of surge-type behavior such as looped moraines, rapid terminus advance, strandlines and rapid changes in surface crevassing. These observations indicate that surge-type behavior is more common and widespread than previously believed on Karakoram glaciers. There is strong spatial clustering of the surge-type glaciers, and a doubling in the number of new surges in the 14 years after 1990 (26 surges) than in the 14 years before 1990 (13 surges). This is coincident with a period of increased precipitation and positive glacier mass balance in this region, and supports previous studies which have found that mass balance has an important control on the frequency of glacier surging.
The Karakoram mountains of Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and China contain some of the largest non-polar glaciers in the world, with nine glaciers >50 km in length. These ice masses exist at high altitude (∼2500–8600 m above sea level [a.s.l.]), and provide a crucial source of water for nearby communities. A sound understanding of the dynamics and recent variations of these glaciers is important for evaluating whether changes in their terminus position are driven by factors such as external climate forcing or internal ice dynamics (Yde and Paasche, 2010). Previous studies have indicated that there are many surge-type glaciers in the Karakoram (e.g., Mason, 1935; Hewitt, 1969, 1998, 2007; Kotlyakov, 1997; Barrand and Murray, 2006). However, logistical and political constraints mean that to date there have been only limited studies of many of these glaciers, and until now a full regional inventory has not been undertaken with satellite imagery.
Surge-type glaciers experience well-defined cyclical non-steady flow, with alternation between short active phases (months to years) typically characterized by a rapid terminus advance, and a longer quiescent phase (years to decades) typically characterized by terminus stagnation or retreat (e.g., Meier and Post, 1969; Kamb et al., 1985; Eisen et al., 2001). Surges typically involve the rapid movement of glacier mass from high to low elevations, and associated rapid increase in glacier velocities and surface crevassing. The global distribution of surge-type glaciers is distinctly non-random, with some glaciated areas having numerous examples (e.g., Alaska-Yukon, Canadian High Arctic, Svalbard, Russian High Arctic), while others have few or none (e.g., Rockies, European Alps) (Benn and Evans, 2010). Overall, it is estimated that <1% of all glaciers worldwide are surge-type (Jiskoot et al., 2000).
The aim of this paper is to identify and assess the occurrence of surge-type glaciers in the Karakoram. This study significantly expands on previous work by using a combination of previously published literature and repeat satellite imagery to catalogue surge-type glaciers and monitor their distribution, surge history, and physical characteristics across the entire mountain range. Using this information, a new inventory of surge-type glaciers is presented and an assessment is made of the links between changes in glacier mass balance and changes in the total number of surges over time.
The Karakoram mountain range extends ∼500 km in a NW to SE orientation, with about half of its surface area >5000 m a.s.l. (Searle, 1991). The climate of the Karakoram is strongly influenced by its inland location far from oceanic moisture sources, so that it is sharply continental and mostly semi-arid (Hewitt, 1969). Southern slopes are exposed to the humidifying influences of monsoonal flow from the Indian Ocean, but because of the orographic effect, northern slopes are drier. Consequently, the largest glaciers tend to flow in a southerly and westerly direction from the mountains. There are no direct measurements of the basal thermal regime of the glaciers in this region, but Hewitt (2007) suggested that all thermal regimes (cold, warm, polythermal) are likely present over the wide range of elevations (<3000 to >8000 m a.s.l.) at which glaciers exist in the Karakoram.
There have been generally minor recent changes of non-surging glaciers in this region, with Hewitt (2005) reporting recent thickening of some Karakoram ice masses. Similarly, studies of the non-surging Baltoro Glacier (∼ 58 km long) have shown that its terminus position has been remarkably stable and varied by no more than ± 200 m since the 1850s (Pecci and Smiraglia, 2000; Mayer et al., 2006). The termini of debris-covered glaciers typically respond in a more muted way to external forcing than non-debris covered glaciers, but the relative stability of Karakoram glaciers still contrasts with a more widespread decay and retreat of similarly debris covered glaciers in the central and eastern Himalaya (e.g., Fujita et al., 1997; Ren et al., 2004). This suggests that generally favorable glacier mass balance conditions have existed in the Karakoram over the past few decades.
Significant observations on Karakoram glaciers began during the advent of European exploration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and many of these early reports focused on unusual features such as rapid glacier advances and outburst floods. For example, Hewitt (1998) attributed a surge as the probable cause of the pushing aside of adjacent glaciers and overriding of lateral moraines by Maedan Glacier in 1860–1861 that was reported by Godwin-Austen (1864) and Schlagintweit et al. (1861–1866) (#36 in Table 1 and Figs. 1 and 2). Other significant early reports include those of Aktash Glacier, which moved forward by 1.6 km over 3 months in 1868–1869 (Shaw, 1871; #58 in Table 1 and Fig. 1), and Hassanabad Glacier, which advanced by 9.7 km over 2.5 months in 1904–1905 (Hayden, 1907; #8 in Table 1 and Fig. 1).
Location of Karakoram surge-type glaciers identified in this study. Inset map shows general location of study area. White box shows region covered by Figure 2. Numbers refer to glaciers shown in other figures and listed in Table 1.
Main cluster of Karakoram surge-type glaciers (base image: ASTER, 26 July 2006). Numbers refer to glaciers listed in Table 1.
List of Karakoram surge-type glaciers identified in this study. First column refers to locations shown in Figure 1. Latitude/longitude values are based on WGS84 datum. 'Surge date' indicates that a glacier surged at some point during the years listed, although the surge did not necessarily last for that entire period. Columns '1976–1990?' and '1990–2004?' indicate glaciers that definitely surged during these periods (i.e., Index 1).
The greatest reported glacier surge in the Karakoram was that of Kutiàh Glacier, which advanced by 12 km over an approximately 3 month period in 1953, an average of 113 m day−1 (Desio, 1954; #1 in Table 1 and Fig. 1). This advance left the local inhabitants 'terror-stricken' as the advancing ice covered villages, fields, and forests. The fastest observed surge appears to have been that of Yengutz Har Glacier, which advanced by 3.2 km in eight days in 1902–1903, reported by Hayden (1907) (#17 in Table 1 and Fig. 1). Many other early rapid glacier advances are also reported in the literature and are listed fully in Table 1.
The first comprehensive reviews of glacier surges in the Karakoram were undertaken by Mason (1935) and Hewitt (1969). Mason (1935) basically equated outburst floods arising from river damming with "accidental" glacier advances (i.e., surges), describing more than 50 cases since the early 1800s. However, Hewitt (1969) pointed out that this direct relationship is unlikely for all floods as there are many other potential causes of river dams, such as the gradual advance of a glacier due to positive mass balance conditions unrelated to surging. At the time of publication, Hewitt (1969) described 11 instances of known surge-type glaciers in the Karakoram, with possible evidence of many more. Hewitt (1998) updated this inventory, reporting known surges of 17 different glaciers over the previous century (many of which had surged several times), and surge features on 12 more.
Kotlyakov (1997) provided a 1∶500,000-scale map which outlines the distribution of surge-type glaciers across the Karakoram, with classifications defined as: (a) 'surging with identified repeated surges'; (b) 'with morphological features of instability'; and (c) 'with some indications of pulses.' Almost every major outlet glacier across the mountain range falls into one of these categories, equating to many hundreds of individual ice masses, although there is no associated text to describe the evidence for these surges or their characteristics. The map also differs from other published inventories in that entire drainage basins are typically classified as one single category, whereas other studies (including this one) define surges based on individual tributaries.
The most recent inventory was presented by Barrand and Murray (2006), who analyzed 150 glaciers in the central Karakoram and classified 19 of them (12.6%) as surge-type based on previously published reports and satellite image analysis. Using logit analysis they found that the largest glaciers (in terms of both length and perimeter) tended to surge the most, which is consistent with studies of surging in other regions such as Yukon (Clarke et al., 1986), Svalbard (Jiskoot et al., 2000), and the Russian High Arctic (Grant et al., 2009). Barrand and Murray (2006) attributed the significance of large perimeters to the fact that avalanches commonly provide a major source of mass gain for these ice bodies, a point also discussed by Gardner and Hewitt (1990) and Hewitt (1998). However, in some regions such as Iceland (Hayes, 2001) and East Greenland (Jiskoot et al., 2003), glacier length does not appear to relate to surge propensity. In East Greenland, for example, Jiskoot et al. (2003) found that glacier complexity (a size-independent factor derived from glacier perimeter and area) provides a better predictor, suggesting that valley shape could be an important control on the surge potential of glaciers.
In this study an initial list of surge-type glaciers was created from a literature review of all previously reported surges in the Karakoram. This was mainly based on the inventories (and references therein) of Hewitt (1969, 1998) and Barrand and Murray (2006), as well as descriptions of individual surge events such as Desio (1954), Wang et al. (1984), Gardner and Hewitt (1990), Diolaiuti et al. (2003), Copland et al. (2009), and others listed in Table 1. Further identification of glacier surges was undertaken from field observations by the authors during various trips to northern Pakistan in the 1990s and 2000s, and from a systematic visual interpretation of satellite imagery of the entire Karakoram. Satellite imagery is particularly useful for this purpose as there are several distinctive morphological features that are commonly associated with glacier surges and can be readily observed in satellite scenes (Meier and Post, 1969; Clarke et al., 1986; Copland et al., 2003; Barrand and Murray, 2006):
Looped/folded medial moraines and surface foliation. These are perhaps the most diagnostic indicator of glacier surging (Meier and Post, 1969) and form from the movement of surging ice past adjacent less active or stagnant ice.
Terminus advance. Surges can be characterized by a rapid terminus advance in relation to surrounding glaciers.
Terminus steepening and thickening. Glaciers often undergo a dramatic change in the form of their terminus during a surge, including the development of a distinctive bulbous (i.e., steep convex) shape as the ice is advancing.
Surface velocities. These can increase by an order of magnitude or more during a surge compared to motion during the quiescent phase. This acceleration can also result in extensive surface crevassing over regions where there was previously little or none.
Strandlines. These can form after a surge as remnants of the previous glacier surface are left as a rim of ice on valley side-walls in the accumulation area. In the ablation area, valley side-walls can contain distinctive lines of polished bedrock and/or disturbed sediment due to a rapid reduction in glacier surface elevation after surging.
Out of the above list, the presence of looped/folded medial moraines is the most distinctive feature of surge-type glaciers. They act as particularly useful indicators as they are readily identifiable in satellite imagery and persist long after a surge has terminated, making the identification of surge-type glaciers possible even during their quiescent phase (Meier and Post, 1969). Some of the other features (e.g., terminus steepening) may also occur on glaciers which are advancing in response to favorable climate conditions unrelated to surging, so it is important to distinguish between these glacier types. This is achieved by considering the magnitude and rapidity of the change in a given glacier compared to those surrounding it. Where changes are large (e.g., terminus advance of kilometers), occur over a short time period (e.g., a year), and occur out of phase with adjacent glaciers with similar physical characteristics (e.g., area, length, orientation), this increases confidence that a glacier surge has occurred. In this study we carried out systematic visual interpretation of repeat satellite images of every glacier in the Karakoram since ∼1969, with all locations being imaged at least three times. To indicate the likelihood that a particular glacier is surge-type, we classified all glaciers that displayed features associated with surging into one of the following four categories (after Copland et al., 2003):
Index 1. Confirmed. Rapid terminus advance is observed (out of phase with surrounding glaciers), with many distinct surge features such as looped moraines.
Index 2. Likely. Rapid terminus advance is not observed (or difficult to identify), but several distinct surge features are present such as looped moraines.
Index 3. Possible. A few surge features are present, but active phase is not observed.
Index 4. Non-surge. No surge features are present.
Following the scheme used in previous studies (e.g., Hewitt, 1998; Barrand and Murray, 2006), surges of tributaries are identified and counted separately if they occur independently from the main glacier into which they flow. The list of surge-type glaciers provided here is considered to be a minimum estimate as some of the features described above are not always easily identifiable in satellite imagery (e.g., strandlines), and some glaciers observed in their surge phase contained no features indicative of previous surges prior to their current activity. In addition, some field observations of surges occurred on glaciers that would not have been classified as surge-type based on satellite observations alone. Hayden (1907), for example, reported the 9.7 km advance of Hassanabad Glacier in 1904–1905, yet there were few surface features indicative of that surge in any of the satellite imagery reviewed here.
The Karakoram is generally poorly mapped due to its remoteness and political instability across several countries, with many of the glaciers either being unnamed or having several different names. The glacier names used in this paper are derived from previous studies (e.g., Hewitt, 1969, 1998, 2007; Barrand and Murray, 2006), the Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) database ( http://www.glims.org), and published maps (Lanzhou Institute of Glaciology and Geocryology, no date; Government of Pakistan, 1995; PZA, 2004). Where a glacier has more than one known name, all of the names are provided in Table 1.
Tiles of satellite imagery of the entire Karakoram were systematically visually examined for indications of surge activity described above. Wherever possible, late summer imagery was used to coincide with the period of minimum surface snow cover. The satellite data fell into three main age categories:
The primary source of early data consisted of the Landsat GeoCover circa 1975 series, which comprises Landsat 2 and 3 Multispectral Scanner (MSS) scenes with a ground resolution of 60 m. These data were downloaded as individual orthorectified frames from the Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF; http://www.landcover.org), and ranged in acquisition date from 1976 to 1979 (Table 2). To supplement the Landsat data, a total of 11 Declassified Intelligence Satellite Photography (DISP) scenes were ordered from the U.S. Geological Survey (Table 2). These panchromatic images ranged in date between 1969 and 1980, with ground resolutions of 3–9 m (McDonald, 1995). High-resolution scans of these photos were georectified in ESRI ArcGIS 9.1 against Landsat GeoCover circa 2000 imagery using an average of ∼20 tie points and root mean-squared error (RMSE) of <30 m per scene.
List of satellite imagery used in this study.
Data centered on 1990 were mainly derived from the Landsat GeoCover circa 1990 data set, which consists of a global set of orthorectified tiles (each 5° latitude by 5° longitude) of multispectral Landsat 4 and 5 imagery. The acquisition dates of the individual scenes that make up the tiles are not provided, although the entire global data set was produced with scenes from 1989–1993. These data were downloaded from GLCF, together with a Landsat 5 scene from 1990 (Table 2). Two additional Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1 images of the eastern Karakoram and Baltoro regions from September 1993 and 1995, respectively, were downloaded from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency ( http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/en/imgdata/index.html).
Imagery centered on the year 2000 mainly came from the Landsat GeoCover circa 2000 data set, which contains imagery collected between 1997 and 2000 (Table 2). These data were already orthorectified and were acquired by the Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensor and downloaded from GLCF. Two additional Landsat 7 ETM+ scenes were used from 2000 and 2001, which provided panchromatic coverage at a resolution of 15 m that was better than the 30 m resolution available with the multispectral GeoCover data. ASTER Level 1B scenes were ordered from the NASA Earth Observing System to provide coverage over the period 2001–2007 (Table 2). Each ASTER scene covers a footprint of ∼60 × 60 km, while each Landsat scene covers an area of ∼185 × 185 km, so many ASTER scenes were required to obtain good regional coverage.
The majority of glaciers in the Karakoram were classified as Index 4, with no evidence of being surge-type. However, a total of 90 glaciers were identified as surge-type, of which 50 had not previously been described in detail (Table 1, Fig. 1). There was a large range in the size of surge-type glaciers, with their lengths varying from <4 km (Glacier 85) to >50 km (Glacier 12 = Hispar Glacier). Out of the 90 glaciers identified as surge-type, 51 were observed in the active phase of the surge cycle and were classified as Index 1. A total of 21 were classified as Index 2 (likely surge-type), and 18 were classified as Index 3 (possibly surge-type). This comprises one of the largest clusters of mid-latitude (<45°N) surge-type glaciers in the world, with perhaps only the Pamirs (to the north of the Karakoram) containing more. Kotlyakov et al. (2008) stated that there are at least 55 glaciers with indicators of surging characteristics in the Pamirs, with 'signs of current periodic activity' on 215 more. Outside of Asia, other mid-latitude glacier surges have typically been observed as single isolated events within mountain ranges where few, if any, other glaciers surge (e.g., Glaciar Horcones Inferior in the Argentinean Andes (Milana, 2007) and Vernagtferner, in the Austrian Alps (Hoinkes, 1969)). This contrasts with higher latitude regions in the northern hemisphere, where many surge-type glaciers have been identified in clusters in locations such as the Russian High Arctic (Grant et al., 2009), Canadian High Arctic (Copland et al., 2003), Svalbard (Jiskoot et al., 2000), East Greenland (Jiskoot et al., 2003), and Alaska-Yukon (Post, 1969).
Many of the glaciers identified in this study as surge-type were also identified as such in the map of Kotlyakov (1997), although several others that he described as surge-type, even under his most definite surge category, were not classified as surge-type here. These glaciers displayed little to no evidence of surging in the satellite imagery that we analyzed, and no reference could be found to them in extensive literature searches. This disparity likely reflects the classing of entire drainage basins under one category by Kotlyakov (1997). This reiterates the point made above that our inventory should be interpreted as a minimum estimate of the number of surge-type glaciers in the Karakoram. In Table 1, a glacier surge identified as 'new' means that its surge characteristics have never been described in detail in published literature, even though it may have been shown in Kotlyakov's (1997) map.
For glaciers in the Karakoram with long records it is clear that some of them have surged multiple times, such as Karambar Glacier (#4) which surged five times in the past 150 years, and Aktash (#58) which surged four times over the same period (also see Table 1). Some glaciers were also observed to have surged multiple times in the recent satellite record, such as Glacier #45, which surged in both 1977–1990 and 2004–2007, and Bualtar (#10), which surged in both 1986–1987 and 1989–1990 (Hewitt, 1998). These observations suggest that the quiescent period averages ∼25–40 years for several glaciers in the Karakoram, although this may be as short as a few years or as long as a century or more. The few direct field observations of surges in this region suggest that the active phase is typically short-lived, ranging from a few days or months to as much as a year or two (e.g., Hayden, 1907; Mason, 1940; Kick, 1958; Gardner and Hewitt, 1990; Hewitt, 1998, 2007). The lack of reliable long-term observational records in this region makes it difficult to draw general conclusions, although it appears that the surge periodicity in the Karakoram more closely approximates the short-lived active phase and multi-decadal quiescent phase common in predominantly temperate locations such as the Pamirs (Kotlyakov et al., 2008) and Alaska-Yukon (Kamb et al., 1985; Eisen et al., 2001), rather than the decadal-long active phase and sometimes century or longer quiescent phase more common on polythermal glaciers in higher latitude locations such as Svalbard (Dowdeswell et al., 1991), East Greenland (Jiskoot and Juhlin, 2009), and the Canadian High Arctic (Copland et al., 2003). This suggests that surges of Karakoram glaciers are more likely to be triggered by changes in their subglacial hydrology, rather than by changes in their basal thermal regime (Murray et al., 2003).
The results indicate that within the Karakoram the distribution of surge-type glaciers is non-random, with a particularly large cluster in the Skamri (Yengisogat), Panmah, and Sarpo Laggo drainage basins to the north and northwest of Baltoro Glacier (Table 1, Fig. 2). Close to a third of all Karakoram surge-type glaciers are found within these valleys, with almost every large glacier in these areas classified as surge-type. Hewitt (2007) and Copland et al. (2009) have previously discussed the characteristics and strong concentration of surge-type glaciers within the Panmah basin, but the clusters in the Sarpo Laggo and Skamri basins have not previously been described in detail. The surges in these two basins will therefore be presented here.
The Skamri Basin contains at least eight surge-type glaciers, with five of them observed to have surged between 1973 and 2001 (Fig. 3, Table 1). Skamri Glacier (#29) is the largest ice mass in this basin, at almost 40 km long, with evidence of surging provided by the extensively deformed and folded moraines along its length. In addition, Skamri Glacier provided the dominant outflow from the basin in 1973 (Fig. 3, a), with clean ice at the terminus extending ∼5 km further down-glacier than in 1990. This suggests that Skamri Glacier surged shortly before 1973, although there are no direct observations to date this. By 1990 South Skamri Glacier (#28) had surged and replaced Skamri Glacier as the dominant ice outflow from the basin (Fig. 3, b). Based on feature-tracking of ASTER scenes, Copland et al. (2009) found that South Skamri Glacier was still dominant and active in 2006–2007, with velocities >200 m yr−1 across its upper ablation area, although it was not surging at this time. Separately, the upper parts of Skamri Glacier began pinching out the flow from Glacier 27 in 1990, with the flow almost completely cutoff by 2001 (Fig. 3, b and c). The long duration of this change suggests that it relates to the reorganization of ice flow after an earlier surge of Glacier 27 or one of its tributaries. Tributary Glacier 88, for example, surged between 1990 and 2001 (Fig. 3, b and c), and looped moraines on the eastern side of Glacier 27 (visible in Fig. 3, a) suggest that other tributaries also surged in the past.
Temporal sequence of glacier surges in Skamri Basin, 1973–2001. Numbers refer to descriptions in Table 1; satellite image details provided in Table 2. Arrows in (b) and (c) indicate significant changes since the previous image.
Two unnamed tributaries (#24 and #25) of Bei Yengisogat Glacier (#23) show interesting surge histories (Table 1, Fig. 3), with a comparison of Landsat and JERS imagery indicating that they both advanced by ∼1.2–1.5 km between 1990 and 1995. These glaciers have accumulation basins that are very similar topographically (size, shape, aspect, altitude), but are physically separate. Their termini had a bulbous shape and were in an advanced position in 1990 compared to 1973 (Fig. 3, a and b). Prior to the surges of Glacier 24 and Glacier 25, an up-glacier tributary (#26) of Bei Yengisogat Glacier with a similar aspect surged sometime between 1977 and 1990. It was considered whether this advance triggered the other two downstream, but close analysis suggests that this surge front had not reached the termini of Glacier 24 and Glacier 25 by the time of their surge (Fig. 3, b).
Sarpo Laggo Glacier (#49) and its tributaries (#43, #45, #46, #47, #48, #50, #76) comprise the largest concentration of surge-type glaciers in the Karakoram (Figs. 2, 4). The surface of Moni Glacier (#43) was relatively undisturbed and uncrevassed in 1973, but had advanced 1.5 km by 1990, distorting medial moraines of Sarpo Laggo Glacier as it pushed into it (Fig. 4, a and b). Furthermore, between 1990 and 2004 the terminus of Moni Glacier advanced by another 1.1 km into Sarpo Laggo Glacier to become the dominant ice mass in the main valley. This produced distinct shear margins and a well-defined medial moraine between the fast moving Moni Glacier and the adjacent more slowly moving Sarpo Laggo Glacier.
Temporal sequence of surges of tributaries of the Sarpo Laggo Glacier. Numbers refer to Table 1; satellite image details provided in Table 2. Arrows indicate the occurrence of surges. Note that Glacier 45 has surged twice.
Glacier 45, another tributary of Sarpo Laggo Glacier, showed repeated surging over the period of study. Similar to Moni Glacier it had an undisturbed surface in 1977, but by 1990 its terminus had advanced by ∼1.1 km to join Sarpo Laggo Glacier (Fig. 4, b). The glacier experienced extensive up-glacier crevassing during this surge, and then retreated back to its pre-surge position between 1990 and 2000. However, Glacier 45 surged again between 2004 and 2007 (Fig. 4, c and d) to join Sarpo Laggo Glacier a second time. The adjacent Glacier 46 also surged between 2004 and 2007, pushing into Sarpo Laggo Glacier.
To assess temporal patterns in the frequency of glacier surges the inventory was subset into equal periods centered on 1990, and a count was made of the number of confirmed surges (Index 1 in Table 1) that occurred in the 14 years before and after. In particular, three Landsat 5 images were used as the 1990 base scenes, and compared against the 1976–1980 Landsat 2/3 and DISP scenes, and the 2000–2004 Landsat 7 and ASTER scenes (Table 2). By subsetting the imagery in this way we ensured that differences in the repeat imaging of a region over time did not bias the results. In addition, issues with differences in the ability to detect surges between different image sources were considered to be insignificant as clear-sky imagery of the entire study region was available for all periods, and the observed changes occurred over a much larger scale than that of the imagery. In addition, the old DISP imagery (e.g., Fig. 3, a) provided similar or better resolution than the more recent Landsat and ASTER imagery (e.g., Fig. 3, c). Additional information from published articles was used to supplement and confirm the surges identified from the satellite imagery. Any surges which occurred over the year 1990 itself were excluded from this analysis.
Overall, a total of 39 glacier surges occurred during the study period that met the requirements outlined above (Table 1); a total of 13 occurred during 1976–1990 (Fig. 5, a), while 26 occurred during 1990–2004 (Fig. 5, b). This large recent increase was also noted by Hewitt (1998), who described an apparent increase in the incidence of glacier surging in the Karakoram since the early 1990s (albeit on a smaller scale), arguing that the glaciers in this region may be unusually sensitive to climate change due to the potentially large impact of changes in monsoon conditions. This point was further expanded by Hewitt (2005), who reported an increase in glacier surging and widespread expansion of non-surging glaciers in the Karakoram in the late 1990s. In a further detailed study that focused just on surging glaciers, Hewitt (2007) found that 13 surges had occurred since 1985 in the Karakoram and that "since 1985, more surges have been recorded than in any comparable period in the records since the 1850s" (Hewitt, 2007, p.181). The present study is in line with these earlier results, but increases the number of glaciers known to have surged recently.
(a) Distribution of glacier surges observed during 1976–1990. (b) Distribution of glacier surges observed during 1990–2004. Numbers refer to glaciers listed in Table 1.
One of the most interesting findings from our inventory is that there has been a marked increase in the recent occurrence of glacier surging in the Karakoram. This contrasts with the expectation that the incidence of surging across a large region with many surge-type glaciers would occur randomly if there was no change in forcing, meaning that long-term (decadal +) variations in surging would likely be small. Given that our ability to detect surging using satellite imagery has remained essentially constant since the 1970s, we must therefore consider whether there have been changes in forcing over time. One potential source of changes in forcing comes from changes in valley geometry over time, whereby surges in one glacier can trigger surges in others in a connected drainage network. For example, Kotlyakov et al. (2008) discussed how the surges of several large glaciers in the Pamirs (e.g., Sugran, Oktyabr'sky) are strongly controlled by interactions between trunk and tributary glaciers, with an advance in one having the ability to cause damming in another and subsequent surge(s) once the blockage is released. This issue has been previously discussed in the Karakoram by Hewitt (2007) in relation to the exceptionally high concentration of tributary glacier surges of Panmah Glacier. However, a comparison between Figure 5, a and b, indicates that the location of glacier surges in 1976–1990 vs. 1990–2004 is well distributed across our study area, with only limited clustering in particular basins. This suggests that forcing due to changes in valley geometry alone cannot explain the recent increase in surging.
Several previous studies have discussed how glacier mass balance plays an important role in defining the frequency at which a particular glacier will surge (Harrison and Post, 2003). For example, studies at Variegated Glacier, Alaska (Eisen et al., 2001), and Medvezhiy Glacier, Russia (Dyurgerov et al., 1985), indicate that a specific cumulative snowfall is necessary to trigger a surge. For Variegated Glacier, this amounts to an ice-equivalent snowfall of 43.5 ± 1.2 m in its accumulation area between each of its last four surges, meaning that a more positive mass balance results in a shorter period between subsequent surges (Eisen et al., 2001). In Svalbard, Dowdeswell et al. (1995) demonstrated that a marked reduction in the occurrence of glacier surging (from 18 to 5) between 1936 and 1990 was related to a marked decrease in glacier mass balance over the same period. In the European Alps, Vernagtferner surged repeatedly during the 1600s–1800s with a periodicity of ∼80 years, but did not surge again as expected at the start of the 20th century, most likely due to strongly negative mass balance conditions (Hoinkes, 1969). However, the glacier did undergo a rapid terminus advance/surge in the late 1970s and early 1980s after a period of positive mass balance since 1954 (Braun, 1995; Escher-Vetter et al., 2009). The relationship between mass balance and surge periodicity does not hold true for all surge-type glaciers, however, as studies in Iceland have found little connection between these factors (Björnsson et al., 2003).
Climate records from the Karakoram are generally patchy, although data from the few available stations indicate that there was a significant increase in winter, summer, and annual precipitation in the Karakoram over the period 1961–1999 (Archer and Fowler, 2004). Similarly, ERA-40 climate reanalysis data presented by Quincey et al. (2009; their Fig. 8, b) showed a mean annual precipitation of 2.58 mm day−1 for the period 1980–1989, compared to 2.83 mm day−1 (∼10% higher) for the period 1991–2000. In terms of temperature changes, Archer and Fowler (2004) found a general decrease in mean summer temperatures since the early 1960s due mainly to increased summer cloudiness, but winter warming. Taken together, these changes are favorable for positive glacier mass balance, a point supported by the recent stability and expansion of many non-surge glaciers in this region (Hewitt, 2005; Pecci and Smiraglia, 2000; Mayer et al., 2006), including increases in surface velocity (Quincey et al., 2009). The recent increase in glacier surging therefore appears to be a response to positive mass balances over the Karakoram over the past few decades, and is in line with the many other glaciological indicators of recent changes in this area. Hewitt (2007) argued that recent increases in glacier surging in the Panmah basin were related to warming and increased melting at high altitudes in the Karakoram, but the evidence presented here suggests that increases in snowfall are the more likely cause. This is in line with studies in other areas that have found direct relationships between changes in glacier mass balance and surge periodicity (Dyurgerov et al., 1985; Dowdeswell et al., 1995; Eisen et al., 2001).
To conclude, it is evident that glacier surging is more extensive than previously reported in the Karakoram and that the number of glacier surges has increased recently. To provide an analysis of why a particular glacier surges, or why there is a particular concentration of surge-type glaciers in the Karakoram, is beyond the scope of this study. For detailed analysis of the mechanisms that cause a glacier to surge, a comprehensive inventory of the physical characteristics (e.g., length, area, elevation, aspect) of all glaciers in the Karakoram is required, which motivates work currently being undertaken by projects such as GLIMS. The inventory presented here will also improve efforts to assess the causes of glacier fluctuations in this region, as terminus variations on surging glaciers should be largely excluded from assessments of glacier responses to climate change (Yde and Paasche, 2010).
We would like to thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Ontario Research Fund, University of Ottawa, U.S. National Science Foundation (grant BCS-0242339), National Geographic Society, and NASA (grant NNG04Gl84G) for funding. ASTER data courtesy of the GLIMS project. We also gratefully acknowledge Penny Clendon, the K2 2005 medical team, and our dedicated porters and guides for assistance in the field. We thank Hester Jiskoot and Will Harrison for useful reviews that helped improve the original manuscript.
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Accepted: 1 May 2011; Published: 1 November 2011
Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
Luke Copland, Tyler Sylvestre, Michael P. Bishop, John F. Shroder, Yeong Bae Seong, Lewis A. Owen, Andrew Bush, Ulrich Kamp "Expanded and Recently Increased Glacier Surging in the Karakoram," Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 43(4), 503-516, (1 November 2011)


Often considered a throw-in, an afterthought, underlayment for new hard surface glue-down, nail-down and floating floors in residential and commercial installations is anything but. Underlayment that is well matched to the floor covering contributes benefits during installation and for the life of the floor.
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Look for IIC (Impact Insulation Class) and STC (Sound Transmission Class) sound ratings that meet or exceed your local code. The higher the numbers the better they are at improving acoustics.
IIC tests the ability of a particular floor/ceiling assembly to block impact sound by measuring the resistance to the transmission of impact noise or structure-borne noise. The typical range for an IIC rating is between 20 and 80, with the International Building Code minimum standard for multi-family dwellings at 50 for new construction tested in a controlled lab environment, and at least 45 when tested in an actual building after the floor installation is completed.
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Manufacturers that test their products and get good results typically post them on company literature, on the company website, and/or on the packaging, making it easy for both the salesperson and buyer to see them.
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Floating laminate or engineered wood floors are especially susceptible to damage from moisture coming up from below, such as from a concrete slab on grade. If installed properly, vapor barriers situated on the top side of the underlayment (over the padding) can also help remedy moisture from incidental spills that might flow to the perimeter of a room at the floor's edge. Although the pad may wick in the spill, the attached vapor barrier keeps the harmful moisture from reaching the bottom surface of the overlying floor, protecting it from potential warping or buckling.
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Similar to the acoustics ratings, manufacturers that provide products with strong R-values will showcase them on their literature and packaging so both the salesperson and buyer can easily see it.
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Also, underlayment made specifically for use under glue-down or floating floors may provide the proper compression resistance to help minimize impressions and indentations that can occur. In addition, these underlayments can help laminate flooring sound more like real wood or tile when walked upon.
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There's so much more a properly matched underlayment can do to help make the flooring system work for the end user's benefit. These six examples, though, are key reasons why it is important for retail and commercial salespeople to better understand the properties of the various underlayments on the market so they can help their customers select the one that is best suited for the floor covering they are purchasing. A properly aligned flooring assembly will benefit everyone, especially end users who you can bet will share their experience with family, friends and colleagues.


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Grant Compliance and Management
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The art history program at LSU is interdepartmental: the undergraduate program in liberal arts lives within the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, and the graduate program and art history faculty live within the College of Art & Design's School of Art. The MA program prepares students for careers in both academia and the art world by providing exceptional grounding in art from globally diverse cultures and by encouraging students to explore a range of historical strategies, research techniques, and critical theories. We accommodate students seeking a terminal graduate degree and those who plan to continue to a PhD program at another institution.
Read more about the art history program at LSU.
Applicants are required to have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. If the overall GPA falls below 3.0, a GPA of 3.0 for the last two years prior to application may be considered adequate. Applicants are expected to have a combined score of at least 290 on the verbal and quantitative (math) portions of the GRE, though students with lower scores are occasionally accepted on probation.
Though not a requirement for admission to the program, applicants who have taken a range of undergraduate courses in art history are highly desirable, as are applicants with reading knowledge of French or German—a reading knowledge of Chinese or Japanese will be especially valuable for students intending to specialize in Asian art.
The art history program accepts graduate applicants for both fall and spring semesters, but not the summer semester. Application deadlines are March 1 for the following fall semester and October 1 for the following spring semester.
Students wishing to enter the Master of Arts (MA) in Art History program should apply directly to the LSU Graduate School. Candidates can apply online at gradapply.lsu.edu. Please direct questions to the graduate school at 225-578-2311.
In addition to the materials above, at least two but preferably three confidential letters of recommendation written on official letterhead stationery are required. Letters should be sent to the art history graduate coordinator in the LSU School of Art, at arthistoryma@lsu.edu.


A Thorough Examination is a bit like a car's MOT. Both a Thorough Examination and an MOT are means of certifying that, at the time of testing, all components which have a bearing on safety have been formally inspected and assessed as being in a safe condition.
Is a Thorough Examination a legal requirement?
PUWER 98 (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) which deals with all other safety-related items, such as brakes, steering and tyres.
Just as a car's MOT and 10,000 mile service are two different things, a Thorough Examination is distinctly separate from a truck's regular maintenance programme.
Whose job is it to arrange the service?
Where the employer is also the outright owner of the truck, the implication of this duty (in the light of LOLER 98 and PUWER 98) is clear: the employer must arrange a regular Thorough Examination schedule appropriate to the truck and its use. Clearly, a truck working in an outdoors environment will have different requirements than one being used in a warehouse.
Does this apply if it is rented?
If the truck is leased, or rented on a long-term basis (12 months or more), the responsibilities are the same as if it was owned outright, and the duty remains with the employer of the truck operator.
What about a short term rental?
If the truck is provided on a short term basis (one day to one year) the rental company has responsibility for arranging Thorough Examination as its owner, but the employer of the truck's operator must still satisfy themselves that the truck carries a valid Thorough Examination – usually by insisting on having a copy of the Thorough Examination included with the rental documentation.
The truck must have a valid Thorough Examination whenever it leaves an owner's undertaking. In effect, when it changes hands, or, is transferred between companies, whether on a temporary or permanent basis.
The person carrying out the Thorough Examination, the 'Competent Person', will be able to determine the appropriate interval.


text:
News|Israel-Palestine conflict
Palestinian villagers in Masafer Yatta face immediate expulsion
Palestinian residents of Masafer Yatta, in the occupied West Bank, have been told they will be displaced imminently.
A Palestinian woman looks on as Israeli bulldozers demolish a Palestinian house in the occupied West Bank area of Masafer Yatta [File: Abed Al Hashlamoun/EPA-EFE]
By Zena Al Tahhan
The Israeli army has informed Palestinian officials of their imminent plans to forcibly displace more than 1,000 Palestinian residents, including some 500 children, in the Masafer Yatta area of the southern occupied West Bank, according to human rights organisations and Palestinians in Masafer Yatta.
The Israeli High Court of Justice (HCJ) had green-lit the plan in May 2022, in a decision that concluded a legal battle the residents waged for more than 20 years against their displacement.
Residents say they expect their forced displacement and the demolition of their homes at any moment after the plans emerged on Monday.
"They may come without notice – they may isolate each village and displace them one by one, or they may carry out mass displacement at once. We don't know," Nidal Younis, head of the Masafer Yatta Village Council, told Al Jazeera.
"In the last period, especially after the court decision, they paralysed the movement of people in this area," continued Younis. "There are villages with checkpoints at their entrances, and only residents of the area are allowed to enter and exit," he added, noting that the army has held up residents for up to 12 hours in the past.
The forcible transfer of protected residents – defined by the Geneva Convention as "civilians who find themselves in the hands of a party to the conflict of which they are not nationals" – in occupied territory is classified as a war crime under international law.
According to the Israeli human rights organisation B'tselem, Israel has offered Masafer Yatta residents "alternative locations" to live in.
B'tselem commented that the offer was meaningless. "Forcible transfer of protected persons in occupied territory is a war crime," the organisation said. "It is a violent threat that leaves the residents with no choice."
The situation in Masafer Yatta has garnered international condemnation. Let's take a closer look:
What is Masafer Yatta?
Masafer Yatta is a semi-desert region located in the southern district of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
It is home to some 2,500 Palestinians distributed across 12 villages or hamlets, spanning approximately 30,000 dunams (7,000 hectares).
Masafer Yatta falls in the 60 percent of the occupied West Bank designated as "Area C", under full Israeli military and administrative rule.
Many of the families lived there prior to Israel's occupation of the West Bank in 1967. They make their living as shepherds and farmers but face a myriad of Israeli military policies including restrictions on maintaining and developing their homes, and an inability to access the electricity grid and water network.
They are also surrounded by a belt of illegal Israeli settlements and live under what human rights organisations call systematic Israeli police, army and settler violence.
The Carmel settlement in Masafer Yatta [Louy Alsaeed/Al Jazeera]
Why is Israel trying to force them out?
In the 1980s, Israel classified most of Masafer Yatta as a closed "firing zone" to be used for military training purposes, termed Firing Zone 918.
Since 1967, Israel has designated some 18 percent of the occupied West Bank as closed military training or firing zones, rendering more than 6,000 Palestinians "illegal" residents in their own homes.
In 1999, Israeli forces expelled all the residents in Masafer Yatta on the grounds that they were living there "illegally" and had not been permanent residents, despite most residents having documents proving their ownership of their lands.
A few months after the expulsion, they were permitted to return "temporarily" after an interim injunction from an Israeli court, and have fought for their right to remain on their lands since then.
The Israeli military regularly demolishes Palestinian homes and infrastructure in Masafer Yatta, and conducts training in and around the villages, including with live ammunition and tanks, exposing residents to injury or death.
What if you woke up in the morning to find that your home became a field for training ammunition and firearms, army tanks pass through your village, bombs are fired next to your children's school, and warplanes are flying and landing over your head.
Here's #MasaferYatta pic.twitter.com/WzCn2AUmdO
— Ali Awad Eye on Masafer Yatta (@Ali_awad1998) June 23, 2022
What has the reaction been like so far?
Younis, the head of the Masafer Yatta village council, told Al Jazeera the residents "have made a decision to remain in their homes".
"People are steadfast in their villages and will not leave. The actions of the occupation don't mean anything to them," he added.
Israel just said they'll evict our 14 villages in Masafer Yatta, kicking 1,000+ people, most of them children, from their homes – in "short time". The ethnic cleansing of my community, Masafer Yatta, is one of the first moves Israel's new far right government is making. URGENT pic.twitter.com/YPxrICz55W
— #SaveMasaferYatta (@basel_adra) January 2, 2023
An international digital campaign was launched last year by activists and action groups in Palestine and abroad under the hashtag #SaveMasaferYatta, in the hope of drawing attention to the imminent risk facing the residents and pressuring Israel to cease displacement efforts.
The Israeli military trainings that began today in Masafer Yatta are an ethnic cleansing strategy — a way of taking over Palestinian land and making life unlivable for the Palestinians who have inhabited it for centuries. 🧵#SaveMasaferYatta pic.twitter.com/OI9cC3f45f
— Jewish Voice for Peace (@jvplive) June 21, 2022
Human rights groups and the international community have also responded.
The United Nations said in a statement that Masafer Yatta faces "imminent risks of forced evictions, arbitrary displacement and forcible transfer, in serious breach of international humanitarian and human rights laws".
"By upholding this policy to drive Palestinians out of Masafer Yatta, the Israeli judicial system has given carte blanche to the Israeli Government to perpetuate the practice of systematic oppression against Palestinians," the UN said on May 16.
Tor Wennesland, the special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, called on Israel at a meeting of the UN Security Council last month "to end the demolition of Palestinian-owned property, prevent the possible displacement and eviction of Palestinians and approve plans that will enable Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs".
International rights group Amnesty International said: "[D]enying Palestinians a home is a pillar of Israel's system of apartheid."
The Palestinian Authority, which governs limited parts of the occupied West Bank, said the demolitions would be a "flagrant violation of international law".


Why date online in the 21st century?
Hundreds of years ago when people lived in small communities and a young woman inquired about a young man, chances are someone knew everything about him.
With that knowlege, the young woman could make up her mind whether or not she might be interested. Today, communities are too large. Online dating gives you the advantage of knowing everything about that person before you meet, just as it was done centuries ago. It makes dating so much easier. That is why we wrote this why date online column. We want to help make it easy.
It definitely beats the bar scene night after night. Seeing the same types over and over can be a drag. Online provides thousands of singles at your fingertips which will help prove that variety is the spice of life. Online is considered the yellow pages of dating. Let your fingers do the walking.
It helps you find someone or two or three with the same interests very quickly. We don't know of too many people who can handle more than one at a time at the bar scene. I never could.
Thirty nights at a bar can be quite expensive compared to the minor cost of an online dating service.
A dating service allows you to really get to know someone before the first date. Singles Online Dating Mall covers the best online services so you can shop till you drop, anytime, day or night! Visit best-online-dating to read our spin on what you need from an online service and the only companies we recommend. You'll find some major players left off the list because we cover only the best.
You can avoid all those ridiculous pickup lines. But if you really miss them, click over to our Funfest section to read about the lines you'll be missing. And we invite you to add to our list.
Online dating works. Thousands of married couples are a result. Every dating service has hundreds of testimonials of couples who swear by the company that introduced them.
Online dating is as safe or safer than meeting someone at a bar or anywhere else that doesn't give you enough time for making that all-important personal judgement about him/her. All the best dating services give you numerous options to help you free yourself of any worries. There are ways to remain perfectly anonymous until you are absolutely sure. We also help you by giving you excellent safety tips in the Fear Factor section of our mall.
Why date online? Just try it and you'll know exactly what we are talking about. And, you'll be glad you did!
Return from why date online to mall entrance.


Tips for beginner, intermediate, and advanced enthusiasts of digital film.
This has been far too long in the works, but it's finally here: A how-to DIY repair guide for taking apart (and rebuilding) the Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS (both the IS v1 and II) to fix the stripped focus ring gear issue.
Stripped focus ring gears are extremely common on these lenses – and with a bit of patience and care, can be fixed for all of $10.
WARNING: By viewing and/or following this guide, you accept full responsibility for any malfunctions or damage that may be caused to your lens in the course of any service you may attempt to perform on it. Following this guide will void your warranty.
You like videos…now, do you like Mustangs?
Counterfeit Canon EOS rear end caps: How to avoid them (and why should I care?).
5 Comments on "Canon DIY Lens Repair: EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS"
You cannot (and do not) want to buy stripped focus gears (or stripped focus rings if they existed – but they don't). You want to buy replacement focus gears, which you can find on eBay. Buy the black gears, not the white/green gears.
Hi, do you know what size screwdriver is needed to removed those 1st two screws? They are very small.
I believe I used between 1.8mm and 3.0mm screwdrivers. The thinner the points, the better.
I have the I'll version. It has three screws hidden under the ring. I got the ring off and removed the screws but the front element will not rotate. How do I remove the element? There is a fungus in my lens that I am trying to get rid of. Any advice is welcome.


< Fish fish and more fish!
I spent most of the day yesterday at the The Old School House Gallery's "Grand Prix D'Art" held in Qualicum Beach.
It was a rather serendipitous day all the way along. I had selected 2 large canvases to bring. One which I almost left at home, a 12x36 long rectangle, and another, a 24x24" square. I wanted to force myself to paint out of my comfort zone so I decided against using the standard sizes that I normally use for such an occasion. I found a parking spot right close, which was not an easy thing to do with the Art market, the St Marks fair and the Grande Prix on all in the same day. I then walked into the school house and pulled a location blindly out of the box. I was to set up in the QF walkway, which happened to be just across the road from where I was parked. Lucky. I went to scope out the location. I had a bench, some shade and lo and behold! On the lamp post was a banner I had painted for the town. I felt like I was being directed by some unseen force to paint just that scene. It was like "Hey! Look over here! How obvious can I make this for you!!" I knew I had to use the narrow canvas. Good thing I listened to that little voice this time and threw it in the car.
After all was said and done, I was judged by 3 respected artists as a first prize winner. I did not react as a winner in a lottery, but was filled with relief and introspection, thinking that my years of hard work was beginning to pay off. I actually felt like I knew what I was doing. The whole thing is encouraging. Very encouraging.
What also topped the day off, was that a couple purchased the painting right then and there.
Perseverance is a wonderful tool. It goes hand and hand with patience. Eventually you shall be rewarded.
Fish fish and more fish!
For some reason I have been painting alot of fish these days. Maybe it has something to do with going fishing? I do not like fishing....but I do like to paint fish it seems. I have also been painting hermit crabs. One in particular. I was at the VIU Deep Bay Research Center and was watching and photographing the creatures in the large saltwater tank when a good sized hermit crab worked his way from the back up to the glass where I was photographing. Maybe it was the red of my camera? Or maybe he was just bored. I cant blame him for that. We live in an amazing place with many amazing creatures. Looks like I may be exploring that. Note: I do not say "I WILL" explore that, any of you that know me also know how fast I can change direction. So for now...its ocean creatures!
Summer! Isn't it wonderful! As you have noticed I have not blogged for quite awhile. I have been busy. Summer does that to you. I thought it would be ok because readers would probably be too busy themselves to read anyways!
I have a few important dates coming up.
This Saturday, the 27th I will be participating in the "Grande Prix d'Arts" in Qualicum Beach. This always promises to be a fun event that draws a huge crowd into the area. Its great exposure for artists. A participant draws a location just before it is time to start, they zip over to that location, set up and begin painting at the bell. I believe we have 3 hours to work. We have an hour to present the work framed or ready to hang. The works are judged in an outdoor display and all work is for sale.
My next date is "Art and Photography in the Garden" at Milner Gardens in Qualicum Beach. This is a two day event August 10th and 11th. I will have a tent set up with paintings for sale and will be painting as well.
Then is my favorite, "The Island Expo", which is held in Qualicum Bay, 240 Lions Way, closer to home for me. The event is not until November 2nd and 3rd but I am already thinking about how I am going to display this year. I will be in my favorite spot, booth 24 once again this year.
I have recently finished two commission pieces which are just a little different than my usual style. The first one I had actually given up on and decided to take a day and play with it. Voila! It worked once the pressure was off. Off it went to Alberta. I was then commissioned by someone else to paint another much like the first but tailored towards the recipient a little differently. I enjoyed them and who knows, I may do a couple more in this style. They are Westcoast after all! I have also uploaded two new Chrome Island paintings to my Westcoast studio page. The Salish Sea Market loves to receive these lighthouse paintings. So do the tourists and locals alike.
Yesterday I spent the whole day on an open 19' aluminum boat at the south end of Hornby Island. I packed up my paints determined to keep myself busy with the many landscape opportunities all around me. I took my watercolors and my acrylics. This was new territory and I had no idea what I would need!
My husband and I were up at the crack of dawn. 4 AM. We were on the water by 4:45. We were greeted by a magnificent sunrise as we churned through the black silky water leaving our bubbly wake to dissipate back into darkness. Chrome Island with her crisp red and white buildings stood washed in a light purple /blue shadow against the orange and maroon sky. The day was promising to be perfect.
My husband busily set up his fishing gear as I snapped photographs and marveled at the beauty before me. I dug into my backpack and pulled out my small watercolor cases and haphazardly laid them around myself attempting to organize them for easy access. Cramped but loosely set up, I began a small painting of Hornby Island. No sooner had I put the colors onto the paper, I had started to feel "green" myself. The constant rocking of the boat was messing with my annoyingly sensitive equilibrium. Impatience quickly set in and that was the end of that for a bit. We moved closer to land to a smoother surface and I tried once again, this time working quickly with pen then finishing with watercolor. Much better, but I was still feeling off.
A little later after watching the horizon and actually relaxing and just "being in the moment" , I tried my hand at acrylics. I was feeling excited about setting them up and found a workable area in the bow of the boat that was comfortable. With my easel in front of me I pointed out to my husband the area I was going to paint and asked him if he was going to continue in that direction. Yes. That would work for me. I began to put down my under painting of orange and red and sketched quickly in the lines of the mountains. Not an easy task with the boat moving. I decided it was not important to have straight lines anyways! It was feeling good. BUT every time I looked up, there was a slightly different scene than the one I was painting. I had to turn my head a little more each time. The longer I stayed working on my painting before I looked up again, the worse the shock was. It may sound like I am being melodramatic, but when I go into that creative space, it is important to keep the "zone" constant. By using the logical "left" side of my brain to find where I was at, I was going in and out of the creative space and getting frustrated. I have to be honest� I ended up plastering the F-bomb across the sky on my canvas. It made me feel better. My husband noticed my wonderful artwork and asked the question, "You having some troubles honey?". Ummm�is it that obvious?
So, I decided to put it all away and forget about it. I then just sat back and absorbed the sun and the scenery, played with my camera, my umbrella and my phone and even steered the slow moving boat for awhile.
Next time I will go, as it is nice to spend time with my husband, but I will be dropped off on the beach with my paints while he fishes on the water.
I have learned to follow my instincts and feelings. When I haven't, I have looked back and wished I did. When I have followed my instincts I have been glad I did and it was always for a good reason that comes to light after the fact.
I still have an urge to retreat. I have been working on a gradual retreat for a few years now, by leaving a group studio I was involved with, and a great critique group I was a member of. I have pretty much stopped going to federation meetings, which as a member I really should be involved with more. Its like I have some force holding me back from going and it has a choke hold on me. Maybe I am trying to tell myself something. Come to think of it, I have never been a team player. Only in the last 8 years have I joined any kind of group and I did it to find out what was going on out there. In this day of the internet I can find out what is going on without stepping out the door. Most of the time that suits me perfect.
Time to evaluate. What I need to do now is to figure out what I want as an artist and as a person. I have to figure out what rules I want to follow and which ones I want to ignore.
I just want to paint from my heart. I just want to do what I want to do....thats all I have ever needed to do.


My productivity starts with writing down all of the ideas that come to me. I jot down almost everything—a new idea for a blog post, a movie I want to watch, someone's request to do something, etc. Why is this so important to me? Read on!
Today I'm going to write about my productivity system. I will treat this post as a kind of table of contents that lists all the components of my system. The description of each point I will add over time as separate blog posts.
and the long term goals that are related to the above points.
OneNote - I use this application to store and manage all my notes.
The current "look & feel" of my productivity system is a result of three years of work. Marcin Kwieciński's workshop called "Embrace the Chaos" had the biggest impact on it. He helped me to change the way I work by streamlining my system and introducing new techniques to improve it. Like the technique described in last post.
What I do now is only fine-tune the system to my needs. I read a lot about productivity and try to be on top of all new discussions on the subject (like the technique I described in the last post).
I will elaborate about each point I listed above in a separate post. Stay tuned!


The BBC are having a Dark Side of the Moon day on Monday. Nice trailer video for the Tom Stoppard play - although more than a shade of Elysium about it.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Preview Darkside Video Animation for BBC R2.
This page contains a single entry by David published on August 21, 2013 1:28 PM.
Edinburgh Fringe 2013 was the previous entry in this blog.
Battle of Tudela Refight is the next entry in this blog.


Due to some requests from some participating universities, we have decided to postpone the competition date to June 2018. Besides, the competition in June is planned to cope with the press conference on 28th of June. The press conference will include the introduction of the robots and also prize ceremony of this competition.
The new schedule and details of the tournament is attached below. If there is anything we can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Malaysia 1st MonsoonSIM Online Tournament 2018 is going to kick off from May 28th to 27th June 2018. (MonsoonSIM is recommended by SAP for all universities across S.E.A!). The tournament is open to all Polytechnics and universities in Malaysia. Attractive Prizes, Medals, Trophies awaits competitors to win!!!.
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4) Registration due date is on 23rd May 2018.
5) The tournament starts on 28th May 2018 and ends on 27th June 2018.


A USQ researcher is bound for the US Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama after being awarded a highly competitive Advance Queensland grant.
Dr Ravinesh Deo, a leading scientist from USQ's School of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Science and the Institute for Life Sciences and the Environment, will head up a project looking at attributing land use and land-cover change influence on hydrological-ecosystem interactions with artificial intelligence.
The project will construct artificial intelligence tools to look at land use change and hydro-meteorological impacts considering the response and climate signal filtering mechanism to separate climate variability and climate change.
Working with global research leaders at the laboratory in Panama, Dr Deo said it was an honour to be expanding the University's research outreach to the US through the Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowships Program.
"We will use artificial intelligence-based computer models to forecast different land use and watershed environments in Panama and Queensland and this research will help in critical decisions that can protect landscapes and drive strategic climate change adaptation policy," Dr Deo said.
USQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Innovation Professor Mark Harvey commended Dr Deo for being one of three researchers selected for 2018.
"Advance Queensland Fellowships are awarded to a select group of Queenslanders and it is a fantastic opportunity not only for Dr Deo but also USQ to share knowledge with the Smithsonian Institute and collaborate with such a leading research institution," he said.
Dr Deo will collaborate with STRI Staff Scientist Dr Jefferson Hall, Dr Robert Stallard and several other researchers in Panama and the United States, during his overseas visit.
This research (in partnership Agua Salud) is partly supported by a generous research grant from the Lloyd's Tercentenary Research Foundation.
USQ researcher Dr Ravinesh Deo is bound for the US Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama after being awarded a Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship.


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NewsBusiness
Mastercard to Support Cryptocurrency Payments in 2021
Mastercard is moving beyond crypto cards to support direct payments in "select cryptocurrencies"—but not Bitcoin.
By Jeff Benson
Mastercard has a number of crypto-related projects in the offing. Image: Shutterstock
Mastercard will allow customer-to-merchant payments in cryptocurrency this year without the need to settle in fiat.
The announcement makes clear that Mastercard is interested in integrating stablecoins rather than assets like Bitcoin.
Visa has also mulled running cryptocurrencies on its network.
Mastercard, a key player in the world of traditional payments, is getting into cryptocurrency.
In a blog post today, the credit card company announced that it will "start supporting select cryptocurrencies directly on our network" in 2021.
Though Mastercard already works with cryptocurrency payment companies Wirex and BitPay on crypto debit cards, today's news represents a shift to allowing cryptocurrencies to move within the actual network.
"Our crypto partners convert the digital assets on their end to traditional currencies, then transmit them through to the Mastercard network," the blog post explains. "Our change to supporting digital assets directly will allow many more merchants to accept crypto—an ability that's currently limited by proprietary methods unique to each digital asset. This change will also cut out inefficiencies, letting both consumers and merchants avoid having to convert back and forth between crypto and traditional to make purchases."
But which cryptocurrencies? The announcement is cagey on that point, noting that it's looking for "crypto assets that offer reliability and security." Namely, stablecoins—cryptocurrencies designed to hold their value relative to an asset such as the US dollar so that they can be used for payments.
According to Mastercard, its criteria for integrating cryptocurrency payments boil down to consumer protection, rigid regulatory and compliance measures such as KYC, and—crucially—a popular desire to use the cryptocurrency rather than merely invest it. It is a payments platform, after all, designed to take a percentage of every transaction.
Mastercard has previously shown interest in stable cryptocurrencies. In September, it launched a platform for central banks to test their own digital currencies, known as CBDCs.
All eyes have been on Bitcoin this week, as the world's largest cryptocurrency by market cap hit an all-time high after electric car maker Tesla purchased $1.5 billion of the asset. But use of stablecoins such as Tether and USDC has surged as retail and institutional investors ramp up their holdings and get ready to move funds.
Tether today reached a circulating supply of 30 billion USDT; there's about 25% more than there was last month. It's a similar story for USDC, the second-most-popular stablecoin; it's gone from a market cap of $4.7 billion to $6.7 billion in the last 30 days.
Late last month, the CEO of Mastercard rival Visa, Al Kelly said on a Q1 earnings call that his company was contemplating adding crypto to its network, though he did not make any commitments.
"To the extent a specific digital currency becomes a recognized means of exchange, there's no reason why we cannot add it to our network, which already supports over 160 currencies today," Kelly said.
Looks like Mastercard has beaten Visa to it.


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HOME / News / Target Opens Uptown Location in Minneapolis
Retail + Hospitality
Target Opens Uptown Location in Minneapolis
Retailer has not closed a single store location in fiscal 2017.
A rendering of Target's new Uptown location. (Image from Target)
Burl Gilyard
Is there room for one more Target store in the Twin Cities? Minneapolis-based retailer Target Corp. believes so. It's newest local store opens Wednesday, October 18, in the Uptown area of south Minneapolis. The 21,410-square-foot store is located on the ground level of the new Revel apartment building, which was developed by Minneapolis-based CPM Companies.
The Uptown location is one of 12 new Target store openings this week: 11 small-format stores and a standard big box store opening in Honolulu. The new stores bring Target's total U.S. store count to 1,828 locations.
"Located in our hometown, we know that the Uptown neighborhood is a mix of young working professionals and families," said Target spokeswoman Liz Hancock in a statement. "We currently operate 58 stores in the Twin Cities area, and know there is a compelling opportunity to reach additional guests living in the more urban neighborhoods – ones who may not have easy access to our current locations."
Small-format, urban stores with less than 50,000 square feet of retail space are driving the retailer's new store openings. Target now operates 56 small-format stores and plans to have more than 130 smaller locations by the end of 2019. The company's first small-scale store opened in the Dinkytown area of Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota campus in the summer of 2014.
The Uptown location is Target's third small-format store in the Twin Cities. The company also opened a small-format store in the Highland Park area of St. Paul in 2015. Target's standard suburban big box stores average 130,000 square feet.
In an intensely challenging climate for retailers everywhere, with a spate of bankruptcy filings this year, Target has not closed a single store location so far for its 2017 fiscal year which began on January 29. With the additional stores opening this week, Target has added 26 new stores this year.
Twin Cities Business recently spoke with Target CEO Brian Cornell about the company's plans to invest $7 billion to update stores over the next three years.
With many retailers battling sales declines in the face of online competition, Target drew some attention for its second quarter results. The company reported overall sales growth of 1.6 percent to $16.43 billion for the quarter. Comparable store sales – for stores open at least a year – for the period were up 1.3 percent. Digital sales climbed 32 percent.
The Uptown site has a history as a retail destination. For many years it was home to a Cheapo Records location. Prior to that Richfield-based electronics retailer Best Buy Co. Inc. operated a store on the site which closed in 1998.
Largest M&M's Store in the Midwest to Open at the Mall of America
Expert Insights on the Future of Retail
Express to Close Stores in Eden Prairie, Burnsville
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Climate adaptation networks are popping up across the country as practitioners, professionals, researchers, and interested citizens come together to take coordinated action based on common geographies or topical interests. Although groups vary in scope, size, and membership, there are still many commonalities to the experience of building and sustaining a climate adaptation network. Adaptation network conveners, coordinators and organizers (network leaders) face common challenges, such as communicating the complexities of climate change, network and community building, aligning messages across members, mobilizing action, managing logistics, sustaining institutional knowledge as members come and go, tracking projects and metrics of success, and evolving as needs and opportunities change.
We envision creating a "network of networks" – a community for those who coordinate and lead existing groups – to promote knowledge exchange and sharing of adaptation network-related lessons learned, professional development, and collaboration. This group is a space for network leaders to share ideas and benefit from a supportive community of peers. It is a mechanism to build capacity of coordinators through dissemination of best practices and learning from other networks' successes and failures. Sharing can include both climate change adaptation content (such as ASAP's Living Guide, climate communications guidance, or adaptation strategies) and network building or network science content (such as how to retain and connect network members). The group could also identify additional training needs or create new content or resources that might currently be lacking.
Welcome all! I'm looking forward to our working together to shape this group. Please note your availability here for our first group call: https://doodle.com/poll/cxqpa4e4duhhfdgb – Thanks!