North Cascades Glaciers by Size

[Steph_Abegg]

In 1971, Austin Post et al published a USGS paper "Inventory of Glaciers in the North Cascades", listing the largest glaciers that were at the time 1 sq. km. or larger. I had some fun putting together a map of these glaciers, posted below. I'd sure be interesting if someone did a new inventory to see how much these glaciers have shrunk in the last 38 yrs.

 

 

Link to larger version

 

-Steph

 

 

Edited September 3, 2009 by Steph_Abegg

[olyclimber]

wow...really cool map Steph. where does the Blue Glacier fit in?

[Steph_Abegg]

where does the Blue Glacier fit in?

According to this study, the Blue Glacier is 4.3km^2, so that fits in as one of the larger glaciers, like the Deming Glacier on Baker or Chickamin Glacier. Perhaps I should add the glaciers on Olympus to the map!

[olyclimber]

ah...4.3...right above Challenger according to Wikipedia.

[Skeezix]

You should send this to my friend Jon Reidel. He is the geologist at North Cascades National Park. He'd be interested in seeing your map...

[pup_on_the_mountain]

Very cool map Steph!!

 

How would the glaciers on Mt Rainier compare to these glaciers? I'm guessing many of them would be bigger, but actual sizes would be nice to see. Didn't find any info on the UW Geology Projects site (I didn't dig deep though).

[olyclimber]

Steph...are you saying all the data on your map is from 1971?

[Steph_Abegg]

How would the glaciers on Mt Rainier compare to these glaciers?

I can't find a complete list of Rainier glaciers by size (anyone know of one?) but the Emmons is the largest at 11.1 sq. km. So, larger than any of these....

 

[Steph_Abegg]

Steph...are you saying all the data on your map is from 1971?

 

Unfortunately, yes. So, all the glaciers are smaller than listed, it would be VERY interesting to know how much smaller. The 1971 study is the most recent I know of for glaciers in the Cascades.

[olyclimber]

I can't believe such a study hasn't been done since 1971. Seems like important information. Maybe I should go back to school.

[olyclimber]

Any grant writers out there?

[rocketparrotlet]

This site might be helpful to you:

 

http://www.nichols.edu/departments/Glacier/

 

The glaciologist in charge of this, Mauri Pelto, is pretty helpful, you should send him an email. He probably has some data on this, seeing as it's his entire career.

 

-Mark

[dennyt]

It looks like there is an ongoing study of four glaciers in the North Cascades:

Noisy Glacier on Bacon Peak, Silver Glacier on Mount Spickard, North Klawatti Glacier on Primus Peak, and Sandalee Glacier on McGregor Mountain.

 

(m w.e. = meters of water equivalent, i.e. volume)

 

One more link you may find interesting - a summary of surveys of several glaciers from the 1940's to the 1990's: (PDF)

[Steph_Abegg]

An older version that includes Rainier and Olympics for comparison. Sorry, you really have to zoom in to read the text!

 

 

Link to larger version.

Edited September 3, 2009 by Steph_Abegg

[AllYouCanEat]

Cool map...having just crossed through the Noisy Glacier area last week, I was really surprised how big it was for such a small peak. Very, very cool area.

[tvashtarkatena]

Um...the Craggies Glacier is missing.

 

I wonder if Google Earth might be able to provide an updated estimate of area for some of these glaciers, at least the ones in areas covered by higher rez (summer season) photos. Import pics from Google Earth (which are current to within 2 or three years as I recall) to any drawing program that can calculate square area, trace around the glacier, taking scale into account, and there you have it. An afternoon's work. Given the massive ongoing recessions, the differences in size between 71 and today should be huge.

 

 

[Jens]

Julie Brugger is working on a project about the the public perceptions around Cascade Glaciers retreating.

[Jens]

Gotta' love the mighty Boston Glacier!