Adams Glacier decline

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drm
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Adams Glacier decline

Post by drm » December 20th, 2021, 3:54 pm

From the AGU (American Geophysical Union) website:

Adams Glacier, Washington 50% area loss since 1998, No retained Snow in 2021

excerpts:
Sittts et al (2010) mapped the area change of Mount Adams glaciers from 1904 to 2006. The area was 6.93 km2 in 1904 declining to 5.16 km2 by 1969, 4.62 km2 by 1998, and 3.68 km2 in 2006. This decline since 1969 has been due largely to increased summer temperatures (Sittts et al 2010) .
I would add that loss in glacier area underestimates the total loss because it also loses thickness in that time:
This summer mass losses will be in the 2-3 m range on Adams Glacier, based on the duration of exposed ice and percentage of the glacier in the accumulation zone. This will represent a 5-10% volume loss for this glacier in 2021.

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drm
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Re: Adams Glacier decline

Post by drm » December 20th, 2021, 6:48 pm

One thing I for got to mention: this huge decrease in the mass of the Adams Glacier occurred in a year in which the snowpack the previous winter was way above average: 157% of average according to the article. All that extra snow was no match for the summer heat.

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Charley
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Re: Adams Glacier decline

Post by Charley » December 21st, 2021, 12:19 am

drm wrote:
December 20th, 2021, 3:54 pm
From the AGU (American Geophysical Union) website:

Adams Glacier, Washington 50% area loss since 1998, No retained Snow in 2021
Amazing. :o
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.

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Chip Down
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Re: Adams Glacier decline

Post by Chip Down » December 22nd, 2021, 6:22 am

...the now separated Adams Outlier section.
Cool, we have a new glacier on Mt Adams! :geek:
Should we call them Big Adams Glacier and Little Adams Glacier, or something more imaginative?

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sgyoung
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Re: Adams Glacier decline

Post by sgyoung » December 31st, 2021, 7:43 pm

Chip Down wrote:
December 22nd, 2021, 6:22 am
...the now separated Adams Outlier section.
Cool, we have a new glacier on Mt Adams! :geek:
Should we call them Big Adams Glacier and Little Adams Glacier, or something more imaginative?
Melting Soon and Melting Sooner, maybe?

This is depressing, but in no way surprising. Adams was completely snow free when I was there in early Sept - bare summit and everything. Hopefully no more heat domes or whatever occur in the near future so maybe we can hang on to the glaciers for a little longer.

Related, just came across this today: https://www.wweek.com/outdoors/2021/12/ ... sappeared/

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