Disappearing glaciers in Alaska

[frozentripper]

Maybe OT to some... OTOH maybe not, since canoeing is done on rivers that flow with glacial meltwater... eg. the Bow river in Alberta.

Somewhat dark and desolate, still very well done and a new look how the north is changing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYEffAAFtUk&app=desktop

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I've been to that glacier. We are in an interglacial period, during which glaciers have been melting for the last 10,000 years. I don't see the phenomenon as primarily dark and desolate. Quite the contrary. But that's perhaps mostly OT.

Alaskan glacial rivers are of course very scenic, but I didn't care for the water quality at all. It's mostly turbid and silty from glacial till. And (((cold))). It's not the kind of water I want to try to drink or swim in, and it wasn't that enticing to me as a paddler. On the other and very important hand, there was great water all summer, which you don't find in lower latitudes and warmer climes. Some of the very small and nondescript tributaries were more interesting to me than the big powerful rivers, which I've never really liked anywhere.

I will now hide in my safe space until the Yukon fans all drive by.

 

[lowangle al]

It is very obvious if you visit any glaciers up here. A few years ago we took the grandkids for a 3\4 mile hike to a glacier. Two years later the glacier wasn't even visible when we went back.

On the bright side rapidly melting glaciers results in higher water for WW paddlers. The good thing about glacial fed rivers is that you get the highest water during the hottest suniest wheather.

 

[frozentripper]

We are in an interglacial period, during which glaciers have been melting for the last 10,000 years. I don't see the phenomenon as primarily dark and desolate. Quite the contrary. But that's perhaps mostly OT.

Hmm, well, all that meltwater draining into the oceans combined with ocean water warming increasing ocean volume seems to be increasing sea levels which may be a pretty good indicator... that, and the accelerating rate of sea level rise, might mean something. I'll leave it to scientists to draw out the bigger picture and maybe rely on religious cults dancing around with poisonous snakes to flesh out the finer, more local details.

Has something happened here recently?


https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-data-reveal-stunning-acceleration-of-sea-level-rise/

 

[southcove]

It is very obvious if you visit any glaciers up here. A few years ago we took the grandkids for a 3\4 mile hike to a glacier. Two years later the glacier wasn't even visible when we went back.

We'd been to the Portage and Exit glaciers on the road down to Seward many times over the years... I don't know or pretend to know the real science behind man's involvement in global warming but I can tell you that in several years time, almost annual visits over 35 years, those several glaciers more or less disappeared from the viewing areas...(hundreds of yards of retreat) surprising many visitors who think they are going to see alot of calved floes. And probably in one case the park service who built a very fancy visitor center where floes used to be within hand reach - now it's a pricey boat trip to go near the face. Glaciers are almost certainly doomed in the lower 48 parks, something almost unthinkable in John Muirs time.

 

[dogbrain]

Hmm, well, all that meltwater draining into the oceans combined with ocean water warming increasing ocean volume seems to be increasing sea levels which may be a pretty good indicator... that, and the accelerating rate of sea level rise, might mean something. I'll leave it to scientists to draw out the bigger picture and maybe rely on religious cults dancing around with poisonous snakes to flesh out the finer, more local details.

Has something happened here recently?


https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-data-reveal-stunning-acceleration-of-sea-level-rise/

Inconvenient facts indeed.

 

[yellowcanoe]

We are going to glacier hunt in Alaska and Montana.. We were there in 2012 and expect to see no glaciers in Glacier.. In 2012 there was an exhibit in a hotel about the disappearing glaciers over time
Columbia Icefield used to be right next to the highway. Now its a good mile back.. There are placards indicating the dates so you can see how fast it is receding.

Below is Big Salmon Glacier.. You can drive right to the overlook.. I ts about half an hour outside Hyder Alaska
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps430f7dbb.jpg