Scientists collect exposed ablation stakes during fall fieldwork on South Cascade Glacier in Washington.
South Cascade Glacier is located in the midlatitude maritime climate of the North Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Glacier observations began at this site in 1958.
Return to Glaciers and Climate Project
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. Dominated by a maritime climate, the glacier receives heavy annual precipitation, exceeding 4.5 m in places (PRISM Climate Group, 2006) and is heavily influenced by climate conditions in the Pacific Ocean (Walters and Meier, 1989). In 2015, South Cascade glacier had an area of 1.8 km2 in the 6.14 km2 South South Cascade Lake Basin (O'Neel et al, 2019). The glacier spans nearly 660 m in elevation in the steep sided basin which forms the headwaters of the South Fork of the Cascade River.
In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, one of four "benchmark glaciers" in the US. R Repeated point measurements at established index sites, in conjunction with local meteorology and runoff data, are used to estimate glacier-wide mass balances. These data constitute the longest continuous set of mass-balance data in North America (Josberger and others, 2007) which are used to understand glacier dynamics and hydrology, and to measure the glacier's response to climate change.
Research
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Glacier mass balance
In 1959 the USGS began a suite of continuous mass balance measurements at South Cascade Glacier, one of four benchmark glaciers in North America. Extensive glaciological measurements within the basin include: streamflow runoff, precipitation, air temperature, barometric pressure, snow thickness and density, ice ablation, surface speed, and surface altitude. Multiple site visits are made annually for facility maintenance, instrument repair and installation, and direct measurement of snow and ice. There are six stakes dispersed along a center transect from the terminus to the head of the glacier where measurements of ice ablation, and snow depth and density are repeated annually.
Direct field measurements are combined with weather data and imagery analyses to calculate the seasonal and annual mass balance of each glacier. Access all the data here.
Meteorologic
Meteorological observations began in 1959 with installation of temperature and precipitation instruments at several locations in the basin. At the Salix Creek and Middle Tarn gaging station air temperature is measured with thermistor-based sensors in passively ventilated radiation shields, between 3-3.5 m above the ground. At the Hut, air temperature, wind speed, and incoming solar radiation are measured about 1.5 m above the roof.
Air temperature at a constant height of 2.0 m above the glacier surface has also been collected during summer months for a portion of the period of record at South Cascade Glacier.
Liquid precipitation is measured by means of tipping bucket rain gage at Salix and Middle Tarn gaging stations. These unheated gages do not account for precipitation in the form of snow so the record of precipitation at both sites is limited to summer catch.
Current data available from the South Cascade weather station (USGS 12181110) includes:
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
- Temperature, air
- Wind direction
- Wind speed
- Precipitation
- Solar Radiation
Hydrologic
Runoff from Middle Tarn basin was computed from discharge of the South Fork of the Cascade River where it empties from Middle Tarn. Details of calculations and determination of rating curves can be found in USGS summaries of balance years.
Previous Work
South Cascade glacier, the site of one of North America's longest glacier mass balance records, has been the focus of many facets of glacier research over the years. The world's first radio-echo sounding measurements in temperate ice were conducted on South Cascade Glacier and subglacial water flow have been studied on this glacier, among various other studies aimed at advancing the understanding glaciers. Past data and observations of snow and ice changes on South Cascade Glacier can be found in the collection of USGS Scanned Field Notebooks from South Cascade Glacier, Washington, 1957 - 2022. More Info South Cascade Glacier | Glaciers of the American West
Glaciers and Landscape Change
Mountain glaciers are dynamic reservoirs of frozen water, deeply interconnected with their surrounding ecosystems. Glacier change in North America has major societal impacts, including to water resources, natural hazard risk, tourism disruption, fisheries, and global sea level change. Understanding and quantifying precise connections between changing glaciers, the surrounding landscape and climate...
Lemon Creek Glacier
Lemon Creek Glacier is located in the high-latitude maritime region of Alaska, at the southernmost tip of the Juneau Icefield. Glacier observations began at this site in 1953.
Gulkana Glacier
Gulkana Glacier is located in the high-latitude continental climate regime of Alaska’s Delta Mountains. Glacier observations began at this site in 1966.
Additional Research Glaciers
Black Rapids, Columbia and Hubbard glaciers are also researched by the USGS.
Wolverine Glacier
Wolverine Glacier is located in the high-latitude maritime climate regime of Alaska’s Kenai Mountains. Glacier observations began at this site in 1966.
Sperry Glacier
Sperry Glacier is located along the Continental Divide within Glacier National Park, Montana. It represents the midlatitude continental or transitional climate. Glacier observations began at this site in 2005.
Mass Balance Summary
The USGS Benchmark Glacier Project measures changes in mass balance at five benchmark glaciers: Gulkana (AK), Wolverine (AK), Lemon Creek (AK), South Cascade (WA), and Sperry (MT).
Mass Balance Methods - Measuring Glacier Change
Nearly all Earth's alpine glaciers are losing ice, usually expressed as loss of mass. Rates of mass loss for North American glaciers are among the highest on Earth (Gardner, 2013) and shrinking glaciers are often the most visible indicators of mountain ecosystems responding to climate change.
Scientists collecting ablation stakes
Scientists collect exposed ablation stakes during fall fieldwork on South Cascade Glacier in Washington.
South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State
South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientist collecting samples on South Cascade Glacier
Scientist collection samples on South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientist collection samples on South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State. South Cascade Glacier is located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State. South Cascade Glacier is located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
1928 South Cascade Glacier
1928 black-and-white oblique-angle aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State, looking approximately southeast.
1928 black-and-white oblique-angle aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State, looking approximately southeast.
1958 South Cascade Glacier
1958 black-and-white vertical aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. Top of photo is south.
1958 black-and-white vertical aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. Top of photo is south.
2006 South Cascade Glacier
2006 oblique-angle aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State, looking approximately south-southeast.
2006 oblique-angle aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State, looking approximately south-southeast.
South Cascade Glacier is located in the midlatitude maritime climate of the North Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Glacier observations began at this site in 1958.
Return to Glaciers and Climate Project
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. Dominated by a maritime climate, the glacier receives heavy annual precipitation, exceeding 4.5 m in places (PRISM Climate Group, 2006) and is heavily influenced by climate conditions in the Pacific Ocean (Walters and Meier, 1989). In 2015, South Cascade glacier had an area of 1.8 km2 in the 6.14 km2 South South Cascade Lake Basin (O'Neel et al, 2019). The glacier spans nearly 660 m in elevation in the steep sided basin which forms the headwaters of the South Fork of the Cascade River.
In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, one of four "benchmark glaciers" in the US. R Repeated point measurements at established index sites, in conjunction with local meteorology and runoff data, are used to estimate glacier-wide mass balances. These data constitute the longest continuous set of mass-balance data in North America (Josberger and others, 2007) which are used to understand glacier dynamics and hydrology, and to measure the glacier's response to climate change.
Research
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Glacier mass balance
In 1959 the USGS began a suite of continuous mass balance measurements at South Cascade Glacier, one of four benchmark glaciers in North America. Extensive glaciological measurements within the basin include: streamflow runoff, precipitation, air temperature, barometric pressure, snow thickness and density, ice ablation, surface speed, and surface altitude. Multiple site visits are made annually for facility maintenance, instrument repair and installation, and direct measurement of snow and ice. There are six stakes dispersed along a center transect from the terminus to the head of the glacier where measurements of ice ablation, and snow depth and density are repeated annually.
Direct field measurements are combined with weather data and imagery analyses to calculate the seasonal and annual mass balance of each glacier. Access all the data here.
Meteorologic
Meteorological observations began in 1959 with installation of temperature and precipitation instruments at several locations in the basin. At the Salix Creek and Middle Tarn gaging station air temperature is measured with thermistor-based sensors in passively ventilated radiation shields, between 3-3.5 m above the ground. At the Hut, air temperature, wind speed, and incoming solar radiation are measured about 1.5 m above the roof.
Air temperature at a constant height of 2.0 m above the glacier surface has also been collected during summer months for a portion of the period of record at South Cascade Glacier.
Liquid precipitation is measured by means of tipping bucket rain gage at Salix and Middle Tarn gaging stations. These unheated gages do not account for precipitation in the form of snow so the record of precipitation at both sites is limited to summer catch.
Current data available from the South Cascade weather station (USGS 12181110) includes:
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
- Temperature, air
- Wind direction
- Wind speed
- Precipitation
- Solar Radiation
Hydrologic
Runoff from Middle Tarn basin was computed from discharge of the South Fork of the Cascade River where it empties from Middle Tarn. Details of calculations and determination of rating curves can be found in USGS summaries of balance years.
Previous Work
South Cascade glacier, the site of one of North America's longest glacier mass balance records, has been the focus of many facets of glacier research over the years. The world's first radio-echo sounding measurements in temperate ice were conducted on South Cascade Glacier and subglacial water flow have been studied on this glacier, among various other studies aimed at advancing the understanding glaciers. Past data and observations of snow and ice changes on South Cascade Glacier can be found in the collection of USGS Scanned Field Notebooks from South Cascade Glacier, Washington, 1957 - 2022. More Info South Cascade Glacier | Glaciers of the American West
Glaciers and Landscape Change
Mountain glaciers are dynamic reservoirs of frozen water, deeply interconnected with their surrounding ecosystems. Glacier change in North America has major societal impacts, including to water resources, natural hazard risk, tourism disruption, fisheries, and global sea level change. Understanding and quantifying precise connections between changing glaciers, the surrounding landscape and climate...
Lemon Creek Glacier
Lemon Creek Glacier is located in the high-latitude maritime region of Alaska, at the southernmost tip of the Juneau Icefield. Glacier observations began at this site in 1953.
Gulkana Glacier
Gulkana Glacier is located in the high-latitude continental climate regime of Alaska’s Delta Mountains. Glacier observations began at this site in 1966.
Additional Research Glaciers
Black Rapids, Columbia and Hubbard glaciers are also researched by the USGS.
Wolverine Glacier
Wolverine Glacier is located in the high-latitude maritime climate regime of Alaska’s Kenai Mountains. Glacier observations began at this site in 1966.
Sperry Glacier
Sperry Glacier is located along the Continental Divide within Glacier National Park, Montana. It represents the midlatitude continental or transitional climate. Glacier observations began at this site in 2005.
Mass Balance Summary
The USGS Benchmark Glacier Project measures changes in mass balance at five benchmark glaciers: Gulkana (AK), Wolverine (AK), Lemon Creek (AK), South Cascade (WA), and Sperry (MT).
Mass Balance Methods - Measuring Glacier Change
Nearly all Earth's alpine glaciers are losing ice, usually expressed as loss of mass. Rates of mass loss for North American glaciers are among the highest on Earth (Gardner, 2013) and shrinking glaciers are often the most visible indicators of mountain ecosystems responding to climate change.
Scientists collecting ablation stakes
Scientists collect exposed ablation stakes during fall fieldwork on South Cascade Glacier in Washington.
Scientists collect exposed ablation stakes during fall fieldwork on South Cascade Glacier in Washington.
South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State
South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientist collecting samples on South Cascade Glacier
Scientist collection samples on South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientist collection samples on South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State. South Cascade Glacier is located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier, Washington State. South Cascade Glacier is located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state. In 1959 scientists with the USGS began collecting mass balance data on South Cascade Glacier, now one of five "benchmark glaciers" in the US.
1928 South Cascade Glacier
1928 black-and-white oblique-angle aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State, looking approximately southeast.
1928 black-and-white oblique-angle aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State, looking approximately southeast.
1958 South Cascade Glacier
1958 black-and-white vertical aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. Top of photo is south.
1958 black-and-white vertical aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State. Top of photo is south.
2006 South Cascade Glacier
2006 oblique-angle aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State, looking approximately south-southeast.
2006 oblique-angle aerial photo of South Cascade Glacier, northwestern Washington State, looking approximately south-southeast.