Studies in High Altitude Geoecology of the Colorado Front Range: A Review of the Research Program of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado

Abstract

The past, present, and future research programs of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) are described and discussed. The early phase (1950 to 1967) concentrated upon reconnaissance, establishment and maintenance of climatological stations, and tabulation of data as a basis for the study of the geoecology of the high mountains of Colorado with emphasis on the Front Range where INSTAAR's mountain research station is located at 2,930 m elevation. The impact of significant expansion in 1968 in the size, scope, and extent of INSTAAR activities to the present is discussed. The climatological data is being analyzed using the TAXIR System of data reduction. Biological studies, many of which are associated with the IBP Tundra Biome's alpine site on Niwot Ridge, include tundra plant productivity, tree line fluctuations in the forest-tundra ecotone, ornithology, and entomology, and others. The abiotic field studies include glacier mass balance, soil movement, geochronology using lichenometry, stratigraphy, palynology, and mapping of tills and moraines. Lately application of remote sensing using NASA/ERTS-1 and Skylab imagery has widened the possible scope of landscape studies. Future research will develop work to date and apply it to resource development problems and conservation. In the short-term a monograph on the geoecology of the Colorado Front Range is planned. The paper concludes with a list of cited references pertaining to Front Range research and a bibliography of related publications and current master's degree and doctoral dissertation research topics.