The Mendenhall Glacier - More evidence of global warming.


If you go on a cruise to Alaska, you are going to see glaciers.  The truth is more like that you get to see what's left of them.  The truth is simple - they are melting, fast.  And the weird thing is that they are melting faster the further north you go.

Artic amplification is the term used to describe this phenomenon.  Ice reflects much of the sun's energy back into space.  As there is less ice to moderate temperatures, the heat from the sun has a greater impact on local climates than previously.  And this relationship is exponential.  

We did a rafting trip down the Mendenhall River from Mendenhall Lake to a takeout point just before the confluence of the Mendenhall and Taku Rivers.  We didn't get too close to the glacier itself, mostly because it is much smaller than it used to be.  You can see that the glacier occupied much of the lake in 1958, whereas today the glacier's foot barely touches the lake's edge.  Yes, in 67 years it has shrunk by that much.

Not only has the glacier shrunk in length, it has also diminished vertically.  You can see the difference in height between the two glaciers.  In another 67 years, I doubt the glacier will be visible from where I was standing when I took the photo.  At that point, you will see evidence of glaciation.  Of course, you can see that just about anywhere in Canada.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com



 


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