We hear on the news almost weekly now how glaciers are melting at an ever increasing rate, and that if action isn’t taken soon, many of the worlds glaciers will vanish in the next few decades. Sadly this falls on deaf ears for a large portion of society, who brush it off as not that big of a deal, or something that will correct itself over time. This is partially due to how little visual evidence is ever produced to show them just how bad the situation is. People need to see the damage and destruction with their own eyes before they are willing to address the problem. This has been the case with many issues ranging from toxic waste and deforestation to torture and war. With that in mind, here is photographic evidence of just how much glaciers have retreated during the last century.
Before
Boulder Glacier 1932 T.J. Hileman Courtesy of GNP Archive
After
Boulder Glacier 2005 Greg Pederson USGS
Before
Boulder Glacier Ice Cave 1932 George Grant- Courtesy of Glacier National Park Archives
After
Boulder Glacier Ice Cave 1988 Jerry DeSanto Courtesey of K. Ross Toole Archive
Before
Chaney Glacier 1911 M.R. Campbell USGS
After
Chaney Glacier 2005 Blase Reardon USGS
Before
Shepard Glacier 1913 W.C. Alden USGS
After
Shepard Glacier 2005 Blase Reardon USGS
Before
Bear Glacier 1920, National Snow and Ice Data Center
After
Bear Glacier 2005 Molnia, Bruce F. Bear Glacier 1920, National Snow and Ice Data Center
Before
Carroll glacier, 1906, Wright, Charles Wil National Snow and Ice Data Center
After
Carroll Glacier 2004 Molnia, Bruce F. National Snow and Ice Data Center
Before
Mccarty Glacier 1909 Grant, Ulysses Sherman National Snow and Ice Data Center
After
Mccarty Glacier 2004 Molnia, Bruce F. National Snow and Ice Data Center
Before
Muir Glacier 1941 Field, William O. National Snow and Ice Data Center
After
Muir Glacier 2004 Molnia, Bruce F. National Snow and Ice Data Center
By Mark Johnson
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I found your site on Google and read a few of your other entires. Nice Stuff. I’m looking forward to reading more from you.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:34 am
Scientists have revently proven the connection between the solar activity and the average temp on earth. Now we have the lowest solar activity in years – it was even a few(AFAIR
months without a single sun spot. Now it’s becoming possible that we may face another small ice age as it was around 1800. Another thing is that during XIV century, the average temperature was higher than today.
It’s weird to me when most of you green guys are so affraid of climate changes, even if we know that it had changed significantly over the years. Why should now be any different? Why is it so bad anyway? For me those pics without ice look better.
September 4th, 2009 at 5:40 am
Not sure that this is true:), but thanks for a post.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Hi, Ugh, I liked! So clear and positively.
Thank you
September 7th, 2009 at 5:19 am
Thanks for article. Everytime like to read you.