Project involves field mapping of late Quaternary glacial and proglacial features and paleoglaciological reconstructions of alpine glaciers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The principal aim of the project is the use of paleoglaciology -- equilibrium line reconstructions, ice flow dynamics, mass and energy balance modeling -- to yield information on regional late Pleistocene to Holocene climatic change.

Publications:

• Leonard, E.M., 2007, Modeled patterns of Late Pleistocene glacier inception and growth in the Southern and Central Rocky Mountains, USA: sensitivity to climate change and paleoclimatic implications. Quaternary Science Reviews 26, 2156–2166.
   
• Leonard, E.M., 1989, Climatic change in the Colorado Rocky Mountains: estimates based on modern climate at late Pleistocene equilibrium lines: Arctic and Alpine Research 21, 245–255.
   
• Leonard, E.M., 1984, Late Pleistocene equilibrium-line altitudes and modern snow accumulation patterns, San Juan Mountains, Colorado: Arctic and Alpine Research 16, 65–76.

Abstracts:

• Armstrong, P.P., Leonard, E.M., MacGregor, K., 2007, Late Pleistocene glacier dynamics and paleoclimate in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs 39, 503.
   
• Brugger, K.A., Refsnider, K.A., Leonard, E.M., McCalpin, J.P., 2007, Late Pleistocene equilibrium–line altitudes on the Blanca Massif, Sangre de Cristo Range, Colorado: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs 39, 7.
   
• Brugger, K.A., Refsnider, K.A., Leonard, E.M., McCalpin, J.P., 2007, Late Pleistocene equilibrium–line altitudes and climate on the Blanca Massif, Sangre de Cristo Range, Colorado: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs 39, 79.
   
• Leonard, E.M., Brugger, K.A., Leonard, E.M., Armstrong, P., 2007, Estimates of climate at the last glacial maximum (LGM) in the Colorado Rockies: convergence of results from different paleoglaciological approaches: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs 39, 82.
   
• Refsnider, K.A., Brugger, K.A., Leonard, E.M., McCalpin, J.P., Armstrong, P., 2007, Late Pleistocene equilibrium line altitude trends and precipitation distribution in the Sangre de Cristo Range, Colorado: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs 39, 79.
   
• Leonard, E.M., 2006, Climatic and Topographic Controls on Inception and Growth of Late Pleistocene Glaciation in the Southern and Central Rocky Mountains, USA: American Quaternary Association Program and Abstracts, 19th biennial meeting, 105.
   
• Leonard, E.M., 2006, Late Pleistocene glaciation in the southern and Middle Rocky Mountains, USA: climatic controls, chronology, and paleoclimate: Abstracts Volume –– INQUA Workshop: Timing and Nature of Mountain Glaciation, from High Asia to the World, p. 25.
   
• Leonard, E.M., 2004, Late Pleistocene Glaciation and Paleoclimate in the Rocky Mountains: insights From GIS Analysis: American Geophysical Union Abstracts.
   
• Leonard, E.M., Panfil, M.S., Merritts, D.J., Muriceak, D.R., Carson, R.J., MacGregor, K.C, and McMillan, S.A., 1994, Late Pleistocene ice-dammed lakes, drainage diversion, and outburst flooding -- upper Rio Grande Drainage, San Juan Mountains, Colorado: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 26, 25–26.
   
• Leonard, E., Merrits, D., Carson, R. 1993, Quaternary geology, upper Rio Grande Drainage, San Juan Mountains, Colorado: Sixth Keck Research Symposium in Geology (abstracts volume), 170–172.
   
• Leonard, E.M., 1992, Late Pleistocene moisture sources in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, deduced from paleo equilibrium line altitudes and modern snow accumulation patterns: American Quaternary Association Program and Abstracts, 12th biennial meeting, 70.
   
• Leonard, E.M. and McCoy, W.D., 1990, An energy balance model of the late Pleistocene Middle Boulder Creek Glacier, Colorado Front Range: Geological Society of America Abstract with Programs 22, 19.
   
• Zielinski, G.A. and Leonard, E,M,, 1989, Lacustrine sediment record of late Holocene periglacial activity in the upper Spruce Creek Valley, Tenmile Range, Colorado, U.S.A.: Canadian Quaternary Association Abstracts, 51.
   
• Leonard, E.M. 1988, Estimates of late Pleistocene to Holocene climatic change in the Colorado Rocky Mountains: American Quaternary Association Program and Abstracts, 10th biennial meeting, 131.
   
• Leonard, E.M., Huston, M.M., and Manley, A.E., 1986, Ice dynamics modeling of Rocky Mountain paleoglaciers - methods, results, and paleoclimatic inferences: Geological Society of America Abstract with Programs 18, 671.
   
• Leonard, E.M., 1979, Topography and glaciation in the San Juan Mountains and Front Range, Colorado: Geological Society of America Abstract with Programs 11, 277.