You are browsing the archive for British Columbia Glacier retreat Archives - From a Glacier's Perspective.
September 27, 2023
From Mount Hood to Mount Robson Extremely Limited 2023 Snowcover Retained
Written by Ben Pelto, Jill Pelto and Mauri Pelto Field Sketch of Ice Worm Glacier from Aug. 13, 2023 on photograph of glacier. (Jill Pelto) It was July 5, 1981 and Juneau meteorologist Brad Coleman had just informed us that Juneau had experienced one of its warmest least snowy winter ever. I was with the Juneau Icefield Research Program and we were headed up to the icefield the next day, …
April 28, 2023
Jacobsen Glacier, BC Diminishes to Smallest Size in Thousands of Years
Written with Dan Smith Jacobsen Glacier in Landsat images from 1987 and 2019. Red arrow 1987 terminus location, yellow arrow 2022 terminus location and purple dots the snowline. Point A indciates ice marginal lake in 1987, Point C is the glacier junction, Point B an emerging rock rib and Point D a nunatak. Jacobsen Glacier is a large outlet glacier flowing from the Monarch Icefield in the Pacific Ranges of …
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 …
October 21, 2022
Icemantle Glacier, British Columbia Declinining Rapidly
Icemantle Glacier in Landsat images from 2000-2022 illustrating the retreat exposing a new lake (Point A) and separation at Point D. Also the lack of snowcover in 2009, 2015 and 2022 indicative of mass balance loss that drives retreat. Icemantle Glacier is on the north side of Greenmantle Peak just north of Snowcap Lake in the Lilloet River Basin of southwest British Columbia. Here we focus on the retreat and …
August 21, 2022
Speel Glacier Retreats out of Alaska
Speel Glacier in 1984 and 2022 Landsat images illustrating lake expansion and detachment of tributaries A-C. Red arrow is 1984 terminus location and yellow arrow is 2022 terminus location. In 1984 I observed Speel Glacier while flying into Juneau, AK to work with the Juneau Icefield Research Program. Speel Glacier is south of the Taku Inlet and the Juneau Icefield draining west from a shared accumulation area with Wright Glacier. …
June 16, 2022
Todd Icefield, British Columbia Retreat and Separation
Todd Icefield in 1987 and 2020 Landsat images illustrating retreat and separation. Red arrows indicate 1987 terminus location, Point A indicates location where the glacier has separated. Point B and C are locations of expanding bedrock high on the icefield. Point D is further glacier separation. Todd Icefield is an icefield 30 km northeast of Stewart BC at the head of Portland Canal, with Todd Glacier being the main outlet …
March 22, 2022
Pashleth Glacier, BC Retreat Driven Fragmentation 1987-2021
Pashleth Glacier in 1987 Landsat and 2021 Sentinel image. Red arrow is 1987 terminus location, yellow arrow 2021 terminus location. Point B-D mark locations where separation has or is occurring along the main glacier and Point A on the western arm. Pashleth Glacier, British Columbia drains into Pashleth Creek a tributary to the Machmell River, Owikeno Lake and then River Inlet on the British Columbia Coast. Here we examine the …
January 12, 2022
Braithwaite Icefield, British Columbia Fragments, Proglacial Lakes Develop and Accumulation Zone is Lost
East Creek Glacier, a Braithwaite Icefield glacier in Sentinel images from 2018, 2019 and 2021 illustrating the at Point A and B where the glacier has disconnected from other glaciers of the icefield . Point C is a the terminus of one icefield outlet glacier that develops a proglacial lake. Point D is adjacent to the ice divide where ice flows both north and south from. Note the area is …
December 9, 2021
Swanson River Glaciers Retreat: Two Very Bad Summers in 2018 & 2019
Swanson River glaciers, British Columbia in Landsat images from 1984 and 2019. EM=East Meade Glacier, CG=Canning, red arrows=1984 terminus, yellow arrow=2019 terminus, purple dots=snowline. Points 1-8 are specific glacier locations with very limited to no retained snowcover. The Swanson River feeds into Tagish Lake in NW British Columbia. The watershed is host to dozens of glaciers. Here we exaine the retreat of the two largest glaciers in the watershed from …
July 21, 2021
Tulsequah Glacier, BC 2021 Glacier Lake Outburst Flood
Landsat images of Tulsequah Glacier on June 22 and July 5, 2021. Lake No Lake is between the yellow arrows with the margin of glacier extending upvally on June 22nd. By July it has receded back to main valley and lake has largely drained. The former location of Tulsequah glacier dammed lake is at red arrow. Tulsequah Glacier, British Columbia drains east from the Juneau Icefield and is best …
Dean of Academic Affairs at Nichols College and Professor of Environmental Science at Nichols College in Massachusetts since 1989. Glaciologist directing the North Cascade Glacier Climate Project since 1984. This project monitors the mass balance and behavior of more glaciers than any other in North America.