Cryosphere

The 1932 image is one of the first to initiate the "Repeat Photography Project" representing the disappearance of glacial ice. Boulder is no longer considered an active glacier. Source: National Park Service

GNP: ~150 present in 1850, most still there when park established in 1910. 26 remain as of 2015 that are larger than 25 acres (a guideline to be considered a glacier). Glacier retreat begins near 1914, responding to industrial revolution. Glaciers have reduced by ~85%. Average area reduced by ~39%

Contributions to the Ecosystem

• Habitats
  • Flora and fauna
  • Rare and endangered species (bull trout and grizzly bear)
• Maintain stream flow
  • Release water in late summer and periods of drought to low/no flowing streams
  • Regulates stream temperatures
• Water storage – Drinking water supply
• Agricultural practices & recreational uses
• Timber

Impacts

• Disrupts wildlife and aquatic food chain
  • Native fish and aquatic insects (temperature sensitive) rely upon glacial melt
  • Stonefly Larva consumes algae and fungi in sediments (important to glacier food chain)
• Increase hybridization of native and invasive species
• Public health
• Loss of sustained water source
• Risk of vegetation loss
  • Loss of alpine meadows puts species at higher elevations at risk of losing habitats
• Agriculture
  • Costs of adaptation
  • Development of technologies and management
  • Availability and timing of water
• Infrastructure
  • Increasing wildfire
  • Insect outbreaks (mountain pine beetle infestation)
  • Tree disease
  • Earlier snowpack melt and increasing hot days
  • Air quality
• Cloud development
  • Wind-blown dust is catalyst for formation of ice particles in clouds impacting reflectivity and lifetime of clouds
  • 2019, Peter Deneen. How Dust From Receding Glaciers Is Affecting the Climate. GlacierHub, 10 June 2019.
  • Retreat of Glaciers in Glacier National Park