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Climate Change in Mountain Ecosystems (CCME)

Filter Total Items: 75

Sperry Glacier Mid View

Repeating Elrod’s photograph from the same photo point was impossible since he shot from the elevated perspective of the glacier’s surface. The terminus of the glacier has retreated beyond the field of view, but these images give a sense of the glacier’s extent and mass early in the 20th century.
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Sperry Glacier Mid View

Repeating Elrod’s photograph from the same photo point was impossible since he shot from the elevated perspective of the glacier’s surface. The terminus of the glacier has retreated beyond the field of view, but these images give a sense of the glacier’s extent and mass early in the 20th century.
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Sperry Glacier - Panorama

The 1913 image of Sperry Glacier shows the thickness of the glacial ice that once covered the Sperry basin. Now, at approximately 1/3 of it's maximum area, Sperry Glacier continues to recede at a rapid rate. It is one of the glaciers that USGS scientists are monitoring as a benchmark glacier.
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Sperry Glacier - Panorama

The 1913 image of Sperry Glacier shows the thickness of the glacial ice that once covered the Sperry basin. Now, at approximately 1/3 of it's maximum area, Sperry Glacier continues to recede at a rapid rate. It is one of the glaciers that USGS scientists are monitoring as a benchmark glacier.
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Sperry Glacier from Comeau Pass

The expanse of Sperry Glacier that once greeted hikers facing NE on Comeau Pass is in stark contrast to the bedrock and vegetation that has since emerged as the ice retreated. The Marble image, most likely taken in the 1920s or early 1930s, was featured on a postcard with this caption: " Sperry Glacier from the river."
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Sperry Glacier from Comeau Pass

The expanse of Sperry Glacier that once greeted hikers facing NE on Comeau Pass is in stark contrast to the bedrock and vegetation that has since emerged as the ice retreated. The Marble image, most likely taken in the 1920s or early 1930s, was featured on a postcard with this caption: " Sperry Glacier from the river."
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Sperry Glacier

The northwest portion of Sperry Glacier once spanned Comeau Pass to the base of Edwards Mountain.
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Sperry Glacier

The northwest portion of Sperry Glacier once spanned Comeau Pass to the base of Edwards Mountain.
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Shepard Glacier 1913 - 2005

Shepard Glacier from Pyramid Peak, Glacier National Park.
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Shepard Glacier 1913 - 2005

Shepard Glacier from Pyramid Peak, Glacier National Park.
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Shepard Glacier 1911 - 2005

Shepard Glacier in Glacier National Park. The red line on the 2005 image illustrates glacier retreat from 1911 to 2005.
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Shepard Glacier 1911 - 2005

Shepard Glacier in Glacier National Park. The red line on the 2005 image illustrates glacier retreat from 1911 to 2005.
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Sexton Glacier

Sexton Glacier from bench below Siyeh Pass, Glacier National Park.
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Sexton Glacier

Sexton Glacier from bench below Siyeh Pass, Glacier National Park.
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Piegan Glacier

Piegan Glacier is one of the few glaciers in Glacier National Park that has not significantly changed since photographed in the 1930s.
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Piegan Glacier

Piegan Glacier is one of the few glaciers in Glacier National Park that has not significantly changed since photographed in the 1930s.
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Red Eagle Glacier

Although the 2009 photo location does not exactly match the historic photo station, a comparison of relative glacial coverage can still be made. Logan Glacier is in the foreground, while Red Eagle Glacier sits beneath the pyramidal peak that bears the same name. It appears that these two glaciers were joined at the time the historic photo was taken, but recessed into their own basins as time...
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Red Eagle Glacier

Although the 2009 photo location does not exactly match the historic photo station, a comparison of relative glacial coverage can still be made. Logan Glacier is in the foreground, while Red Eagle Glacier sits beneath the pyramidal peak that bears the same name. It appears that these two glaciers were joined at the time the historic photo was taken, but recessed into their own basins as time...
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Jackson Glacier

At the time this historic photograph was taken in 1911, Blackfoot Glacier encompassed the current Jackson Glacier. By 1939, Blackfoot Glacier's recession had resulted in two distinct glaciers, Jackson and Blackfoot. This photo pair shows glacial recession and successive vegetation growth along Jackson Glacier's terminus.
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Jackson Glacier

At the time this historic photograph was taken in 1911, Blackfoot Glacier encompassed the current Jackson Glacier. By 1939, Blackfoot Glacier's recession had resulted in two distinct glaciers, Jackson and Blackfoot. This photo pair shows glacial recession and successive vegetation growth along Jackson Glacier's terminus.
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Iceberg Glacier circa 1940 - 2008

Iceberg Glacier in Glacier National Park.
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Iceberg Glacier circa 1940 - 2008

Iceberg Glacier in Glacier National Park.
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Harrison Glacier

While difficult to quantify, this photo pair of Harrison Glacier exemplifies the loss of glacier volume. Comparison of the ice profile in the foreground of the photos shows a marked thinning of the glacier over the years,. Colorful layers of sedimentary bedrock are being exposed as the glacier recedes from the cliff bands.
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Harrison Glacier

While difficult to quantify, this photo pair of Harrison Glacier exemplifies the loss of glacier volume. Comparison of the ice profile in the foreground of the photos shows a marked thinning of the glacier over the years,. Colorful layers of sedimentary bedrock are being exposed as the glacier recedes from the cliff bands.
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