Climate Change in Mountain Ecosystems (CCME)

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.

As Grinnell Glacier retreats, vegetation establishes itself in the newly exposed surfaces. The increase in vegetation along the moraine (center) in this pair is especially obvious.

Upon close inspection of this photo pair, the viewer can appreciate the change in the volume of glacial ice that has melted from Grinnell Glacier. In the 2010 image, the glacier's terminus can be seen along the edge of Upper Grinnell Lake, a feature that did not exist in 1936.

This large boulder was used by Morton Elrod and other scientists as a baseline to measure the retreat of Grinnell Glacier’s terminus. It is now referred to as “Elrod’s Rock,” and the glacier’s terminus is no longer visible from this point.

This large boulder was used by Morton Elrod and other scientists as a baseline to measure the retreat of Grinnell Glacier’s terminus. It is now referred to as “Elrod’s Rock,” and the glacier’s terminus is no longer visible from this point.

This pair of photographs from Grinnell Glacier’s southeast edge shows the dramatic change in the glacier’s volume and area. Note the glacier’s depth along the headwall and its extent at the terminal moraine in the historic photograph.

North moraine of Grinnell Glacier. In 1924 the glacier’s ice margin was still in proximity to its lateral moraine .

View from north moraine of Grinnell Glacier. Image Use Most of the repeat photography images available on this website are in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Images with restrictions are noted below the downloadable image. Please respect the photographer: When using these photographs, please credit the photographer and source (eg. T.J. Hileman, courtesy of Glacier...

The 1920 photo shows National Park Service Director, Steven Mather, on Piatt Path near present day Grinnell Glacier Overlook. A man strikes a similar pose in the 2008 repeat photograph. Image Use Most of the repeat photography images available on this website are in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Images with restrictions are noted below the downloadable image. Please...

Portrait image of Grinnell Glacier taken from the Highline Trail, Glacier National Park. Image Use Most of the repeat photography images available on this website are in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Images with restrictions are noted below the downloadable image. Please respect the photographer: When using these photographs, please credit the photographer and source...

Grinnell Glacier taken from the Grinnell Glacier Overlook off the Highline Trail, Glacier National Park. The view of Grinnell Glacier taken circa 1940 shows the early formation of Upper Grinnell Lake, a proglacial lake visible at the terminus of the glacier. The 2013 photo shows a dramatic increase in the size of the lake as a result of melting ice. Image Use Most of the repeat photography images...

This is a view of Grinnell Glacier from the summit of Mount Gould. Image Use Most of the repeat photography images available on this website are in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Images with restrictions are noted below the downloadable image. Please respect the photographer: When using these photographs, please credit the photographer and source (eg. T.J. Hileman...