Glaciers Rapidly Shrinking and Disappearing: 50 Years of Glacier Change in Montana

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://www.usgs.gov/news/glaciers-rapidly-shrinking-and-disappearing-50-years-glacier-change-montana

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Glaciers Rapidly Shrinking and Disappearing: 50 Years of Glacier Change in Montana[/font]

Release Date: May 10, 2017

[font size=4]The warming climate has dramatically reduced the size of 39 glaciers in Montana since 1966, some by as much as 85 percent, according to data released by the U.S. Geological Survey and Portland State University.[/font]

[font size=3]On average, the glaciers have reduced by 39 percent and only 26 glaciers are now larger than 25 acres, which is used as a guideline for deciding if bodies of ice are large enough to be considered glaciers.

The data include scientific information for the 37 named glaciers in Glacier National Park and two glaciers on U.S. Forest Service land. The retreat of glaciers is significant in Montana because of the impact shrinking glaciers can have on tourism, as well as being a visual indicator of mountain ecosystem change in the northern Rocky Mountains.

“The park-wide loss of ice can have ecological effects on aquatic species by changing stream water volume, water temperature and run-off timing in the higher elevations of the park,” said lead USGS scientist Dr. Daniel Fagre.

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[pokerfan]

1. I've been visiting it for fifty years

as it's my closest National Park and the changes are dramatic. Some of the glaciers I wouldn't even call glaciers anymore; just year-round snowfields.

[StevieM]

2. I was there in 1998. Has it really changed that much since then? (eom)

[pokerfan]

4. I expect that you will detect some changes

And of course, warming had already begun decades before I came along. These images show the extant of the damage over a hundred years or so...









More: http://mashable.com/2014/12/17/glacial-melt-climate-change/#kQJBNJX6Fiqq

It's looking likely that, by 2030, there might not be any glaciers left in Glacier National Park.

Plan your trips today.

[we can do it]

3. We will be there in August, first visit.

Can't wait.