endless scree slopes in your future

[Ducknut]

or bye bye cascade glaciers

[catbirdseat]

Glaciers make up three-quarters of the "permanent" ice in the lower 48 states and drain into rivers to provide water for people, fish, industry and recreation

So where is the remaining 1/4 of the permanent ice? Do they mean ice caps that don't count as glaciers?

[Chriznitch]

the other 1/4 is in my margarita

[Bill_Simpkins]

Yeah, this sucks. The difference in glacier cover in the cascades is very visible.

At least we won't have pack in the crampons for late summer outings.

 

On a side note: A lot of conservatives disagree that humans are causing this, so in their minds,we can just go right ahead and drive our oversized pickups. However, to me it does not matter so much. Isn't this disgusting, stinky air we have to breathe every day now worth making a change and making small sacrifices? End of side note.

[Chriznitch]

I believe humans play a minor role that is combined with weather cycles and patterns...

However, if you have an SUV or truck only for groceries, you should definitely think about what you're doing

[willstrickland]

The other 1/4 could be permafrost, ice in high bowls/depressions/tarns that does not move, etc. I assume "glacier" by definition means movement.

 

Your quote say "lower 48" so the ice caps are out.

 

In related news, an El Nino is brewing, so maybe the resulting precipitation will help replinish the glaciers a bit. We hear quite a bit up here about an arctic icepack monitoring study using sattelite and aerial imaging and another ongoing study of permafrost temp fluctuations. The decrease in the arctic icepack over the last 10 years is unbelievable.