How many glaciers currently exist in Alaska?
Based on the most recent comprehensive survey in 2011, there were about 27,000 glaciers in Alaska. However, the number of glaciers is a misleading statistic. Scientists are more interested in total glacial land coverage as a measure. The number of glaciers is less important since large ones can split up into several as they retreat. The amount of area glaciers occupy in Alaska is trending downward.
Roughly a third of Alaska’s glaciers have been given official names that can be found in the online Geographic Names Information System.
Learn more: USGS Water Science School - Glaciers: Things to Know
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Satellite image atlas of glaciers of the world -- North America
Williams, Richard S.; Ferrigno, Jane G.
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Gilkey Glacier, Juneau Icefield, Alaska
Interactions between glaciers, bedrock, and surface debris on the Gilkey Glacier, Juneau Icefield, Alaska.
Glacier off Sargent Icefield
Landscape view of an un-named glacier off the Sargent Icefield, directly across from Wolverine Glacier, above the Nellie Juan River, in Alaska. Taken during a visit to a wolverine glacier field site as part of a study to examine how alpine areas are changing as temperatures rise in Alaska.
Alaska Interior Mountain Range
Alaska Interior mountain range shot with snow capped mountains.
Coring on the Juneau Icefield, Alaska
An ideal ice core site is the highest, flattest glacier in a region. In 2016, a transect of 7-9 m ice cores was drilled on the Matthes Glacier, Juneau Icefield to determine if recent fires are affecting the glacier surface. (Photo: Lucas Foglia, used with permission)
Llewellyn Glacier, Juneau Icefield
The rapidly degrading Llewellyn Glacier, Juneau Icefield.
Crevices on glacier, Juneau Icefield
Crevices on glacier, Juneau Icefield
Photograph of the Wolverine Glacier, Kenai Mountains, Alaska taken at sunrise in the fall of 2013.
Photograph of the Wolverine Glacier, Kenai Mountains, Alaska taken at sunrise in the fall of 2013.
Cataract Glacier
Cataract Glacier, Harriman Fiord, western Prince William Sound, AK.