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You are browsing the archive for alberta glacier retreat Archives - From a Glacier's Perspective.

January 13, 2023

Tenderfoot Glacier, BC Fragmentation Accelerates

The glaciers of Tenderfoot Mountain in 1987 and 2022 Landsat images illustrating the decline in area and fragmentation. Tenderfoot Glacier B-C has lost more than 70% of its area and fragmented. Glacier D and E have experienced recession along their broad lower margins. Glacier F has disappeared Tenderfoot Mountain has an array of glaciers on its flanks that have been rapidly losing area and fragmenting. One of these is Tenderfoot …

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September 21, 2021

Bonnet Glacier, Alberta Displays Symptoms Indicative it Cannot Survive

Bonnet Glacier in Sentinel 2 images indicating the emergence of bedrock due to thinning in the former accumulation zone, Point A. Note the lack of retained snowcover in both years with at least a month left in the melt season. Bonnet Glacier, Alberta drains north from Bonnet Peak in the Sawback Range 30 km east of the Rocky Mountain Crest. It is at the headwaters of Douglas Creek that feeds …

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January 2, 2019

Chaba Glacier, Alberta Retreat and Icefall Separation

Chaba Glacier in 1986 and 2018 Landsat images.  Red arrow is 1986 terminus location, yellow arrow 2018 terminus location, pink arrows bedrock steps in icefall area, orange arrow, adjacent glacier and purple dots the snowline. Chaba Glacier is a valley glacier descending from the Chaba-Clemenceau Icefield ending in the headwaters regions of the Athabasca River in Alberta.  Jiskoot et al (2009) examined the behavior of the Clemenceau Chaba Icefield and found that …

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June 22, 2017

Bonnet Glacier, Alberta Retreat & New Lake Formation

Bonnet Glacier, Alberta compared in Landsat images from 1987 and 2016. The red arrows mark the 1987 terminus, yellow arrows are the 2016 terminus location and the orange arrow notes a separate glacier that has disappeared. Bonnet Glacier is at the headwaters of Douglas Creek that feeds into the Red Deer River.  The glacier drains north from Bonnet Peak in the Sawback Range 30 km east of the crest of …

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April 9, 2015

Rapid Retreat of Freshfield Glacier, Alberta 1964-2014

The Freshfield Glacier is a large glacier southeast of the Columbia Icefield in the Canadian Rockies where recent retreat  has exposed a new glacier lake.  Today the glacier is 9.8 km long beginning at 3070 meters and ending at 2000 m near the shore of the less than 5 year old lake. This glacier during the Little Ice Age stretched 14.3 km, one of the longest in the entire range extending …

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March 16, 2015

Conway Glacier Separation and Retreat, Alberta

Conway Glacier drains east from the border with British Columbia into the Howse River. The Howse River joins the Saskatchewan River upstream of the Bighorn Hydropower project, which impounds Lake Abraham and produces 120 MW of power. The map of this area was updated based on 1990 images which indicate Conway Glacier is comprised of two lobes that join near the terminus.   An inventory of glaciers in the Canadian Rockies indicate area loss …

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January 31, 2015

Southwest Brazeau Icefield Retreat, Alberta

The Brazeau Icefield straddles high peaks southeast of Jasper, Alberta.  The northern outlet glaciers drain into Maligne Lake and the southern outlet glaciers drain in to Brazeau Lake and the Brazeau River.  The Brazeau River flows into Brazeau Reservoir a 355 MW hydropower facility, before joining the Saskatchewan River. An inventory of glaciers in the Canadian Rockies indicate area loss of 15% from 1985 to 2005 (Bolch et al, 2010). …

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