Activity 2.2 - Cryosphere: Boulder Glacier

 Original Photo: 

(Morton Elrod, GNP Archives)

Second Photo: 

(Fagre/Pederson USGS)

Google Maps Photo:

Google Earth 

Problem: 

Our glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate and so far, we have no answer in sight to slow glacial retreating. Glacier National Park in Montana is expected to lose all its glaciers soon. Glacier National Park at one point in time had about 80 active glaciers after the Little Ice Age in 1850. Now there are about 26 active glaciers left. (National Park Services) Boulder Glacier was one of them and now it’s no longer an active glacier. From 1988 through 2008 Boulder Glacier had retreated 490 meters which put glacial retreating at 16 meters per year. Additional satellite photo was taking in 2009 that shows that the glacier had retreated even further to about 515 meters (Mauri S, Pelto Nichols College) Eventually Boulder Glacier became too small to be considered as an active glacier in Glacier National Park. If we do nothing to slow down retreating of glaciers and melting of sea ice some of the consequences' we will face will be flooding of coastal cities which would cause billions of dollars in damage, disruptive weather patterns due to rising sea temperatures, and a loss of certain animal species like the polar bears, and the walrus. (World Wildlife)

Explanation. 

The explanation for the melting of glacial ice around the world and what's happening in Glacier National Park is due to human activity. Since the Industrial revolution humans have produced large amounts of greenhouse emissions that get trapped within the earth’s atmosphere which causes the earth to heat up causing temperatures to rise. With rising temperatures this will cause sea ice to melt, and glaciers to retreat. Glaciers are retreating at a faster rate due to ablation out pacing accumulation in the colder months. Boulder Glacier did not respond well to climate change which resulted in it becoming inactive. Glaciers must be at 25 acres at a minimum in size to considered by scientist in Glacier National Park to be active. Anything smaller than this is consider stagnant, and too small to move. (USGS)

 

 

Work Cited:

Hancock, Lorin. “Why Are Glaciers and Sea Ice Melting?” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/pages/why-are-glaciers-and-sea-ice-melting.

“North Cascade Glacier Climate Project.” North Cascade Glacier Climate Project Mauri S. Pelto, NCGCP Director Founded in 1983, Nichols College, Dudley, MA Mspelto@Nichols.edu, glaciers.nichols.edu/boulder-glacier/.

Source, USGS/M. Elrod/Science. “Boulder Glacier, Glacier NP, 1910 .” Science Source Stock Photo - Boulder Glacier, Glacier NP, 1910, www.sciencesource.com/archive/Image/Boulder-Glacier--Glacier-NP--1910-SS2538333.html.

Google Earth, Google, earth.google.com/web/search/Boulder+Glacier,+Montana/@48.95944331,-114.08708654,2299.93940737a,1966.72091627d,35y,-106.50603445h,39.99657599t,0r/data=CoMBGlkSUwolMHg1MzZmNTgwNWNjM2YxMTE3OjB4ZTg1YTA5OWRjMzMwZjhiMBmJD0eyonpIQCFACX36mYVcwCoYQm91bGRlciBHbGFjaWVyLCBNb250YW5hGAEgASImCiQJk3PLvXeBSEARSGUOuw57SEAZTizzWCx_XMAh_Jq-EXuIXMA.

Is There a Size Criterion for a Glacier?, www.usgs.gov/faqs/there-a-size-criterion-a-glacier?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products.