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March 23, 2015
Widespread Retreat Gilkey Glacier System, Alaska
Gilkey Glacier drains the west side of the Juneau Icefield and has experienced widespread significant changes since I first worked on the glacier in 1981. Here we examine the changes from the August 17, 1984 Landsat 5 image to the August 21, 2014 image from newly launched Landsat 8. Landsat 5 was launched in 1984, Landsat 8 launched in 2013. The Landsat images have become a key resource in the examination of …
December 18, 2011
Taku Glacier Transient Snow Line Paper Published
This post examines in simpler terms and more images the paper published this week in The Cryosphere on “Utility of late summer transient snowline migration rate on Taku Glacier, Alaska”. The transient snowline (TSL) is the point of transition from snow to older glacier firn and ice. The TSL rises during the course of the summer melt season and at the end of the melt season is the equilibrium line …
November 22, 2011
Field Glacier, Alaska Retreat, Lake expansion, tributary separation
Above is a paired Landsat image from 1984 left and 2013 right, indicating a 2300 m retreat in this period, below is further detailed examination. The Field Glacier flows from the northwest side of the Juneau Icefield, and is named for Alaskan glaciologist and American Geographical Society leader William O. Field. Bill also helped initiate the Juneau Icefield Research Program, which Maynard Miller then ably managed for more than 50 …
September 25, 2011
Eagle Glacier Retreat, Juneau Icefield Alaska
Above is a paired Landsat image from 1984 left and 2013 right indicating the 1100 m retreat during this period of Eagle Glacier.My first visit to the Eagle Glacier was in 1982 with the, ongoing and important, Juneau Icefield Research Program, that summer I just skied on the glacier. In 1984 we put a test pit at 5000 feet near the crest of the Eagle Glacier to assess the snowpack …
May 29, 2011
Gilkey Glacier Ogive Spacing and Retreat
The Gilkey Glacier is a 32 km long outlet glacier flowing west from the Juneau Icefield. From 1948 to 1967 the Gilkey Glacier retreated 600 m and in 1961 a proglacial began to form. By 2005 Gilkey Glacier has retreated 3900 m from the 1948 terminus location. USGS map of Gilkey Glacier from before lake formation. Google Earth of the developing lake. The glacier is currently terminating in this still …
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.