Boulder Glacier (Montana)

Last updated
Boulder Glacier (Montana)
Boulder Glacier 2007.jpg
Boulder Glacier as seen in 2007
USA Montana relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Boulder Glacier (Montana)
Location in Montana
Type cirque glacier
Location Glacier National Park, Flathead County, Montana, U.S.
Coordinates 48°57′27″N114°05′16″W / 48.95750°N 114.08778°W / 48.95750; -114.08778 Coordinates: 48°57′27″N114°05′16″W / 48.95750°N 114.08778°W / 48.95750; -114.08778 [1]
Area13 acres (0.053 km2) in 2005 [2]
Length.08 mi (0.13 km)
TerminusBarren rock
StatusRetreating

Boulder Glacier is located in the U.S. state of Montana in Glacier National Park (U.S.). The glacier is situated to the north of Boulder Peak and west of the Continental Divide. [3] Between 1966 and 2005, Boulder Glacier lost more than 75 percent of its surface area. As of 2005 the glacier was measured to cover only 13 acres (0.053 km2), and no longer met the 25 acres (0.10 km2) threshold often cited as the minimal area to qualify as an active glacier. [2]

Boulder Glacier was photographed in 2007 by researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey and those images demonstrate that the glacier has almost disappeared. Earlier images taken in 1910 depict a glacier that was far larger than what was recorded in 2007.

Boulder Glacier was far larger when this image was taken in 1910. Compare to the image in the infobox upper right. Boulder Glacier 1910.jpg
Boulder Glacier was far larger when this image was taken in 1910. Compare to the image in the infobox upper right.
Boulder Glacier from a different angle in 1932 Boulder Glacier 1932.jpg
Boulder Glacier from a different angle in 1932
Boulder Glacier in 2005 Boulder Glacier 2005.jpg
Boulder Glacier in 2005

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grinnell Glacier</span> Glacier in Glacier National Park, Montana, United States

Grinnell Glacier is in the heart of Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacier is named for George Bird Grinnell, an early American conservationist and explorer, who was also a strong advocate of ensuring the creation of Glacier National Park. The glacier is in the Lewis Range and rests on the north flank of Mount Gould at an altitude averaging 7,000 feet (2,100 m), in the Many Glacier region of the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackfoot Glacier</span> Glacier in Montana, United States

Blackfoot Glacier is the second largest of the remaining 25 glaciers in Glacier National Park, Montana. Blackfoot Glacier is just to the north of Blackfoot Mountain and near Jackson Glacier. The glacier was most recently measured in 2015 at 370 acres (1.5 km2), yet when first documented in 1850, the glacier also included the now separate Jackson Glacier and together, they covered 1,875 acres (7.59 km2). In 1850, there were an estimated 150 glaciers in the park. Glaciologists have stated that by the year 2030, all the glaciers in the park may disappear. However, under a modest increase in overall carbon dioxide levels, some glaciers will remain until the late 23rd century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swiftcurrent Glacier</span> Glacier in Montana, United States

Swiftcurrent Glacier is in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana.The glacier is on the east side of the Continental Divide arête known as the Garden Wall. Swiftcurrent Glacier is one of several glaciers that are being monitored to determine stream flow alterations that occur due to glacial retreat. Compared to other glaciers in Glacier National Park, Swiftcurrent Glacier has experienced relatively slow retreat. As of 2005, the glacier had an area of 55 acres (0.22 km2), a 14 percent reduction since 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agassiz Glacier (Montana)</span> Glacier in Montana, United States

Agassiz Glacier is in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. It is named after Louis Agassiz, a Swiss-American glaciologist. The glacier is situated in a cirque to the southeast of Kintla Peak west of the Continental Divide. Agassiz Glacier is one of several glaciers that have been selected for monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey's Glacier Monitoring Research program, which is researching changes to the mass balance of glaciers in and surrounding Glacier National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shepard Glacier</span> Glacier in Montana, United States

Shepard Glacier is a glacier remnant (glacieret) In Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacieret is immediately southeast of Cathedral Peak. Shepard Glacier was one of a number of glaciers that have been documented by the United States Geological Service (USGS) to have retreated significantly in Glacier National Park. Shepard Glacier was measured in 2009 to have decreased to less than 25 acres (0.10 km2), considered to be a minimal size to qualify as being considered an active glacier. Between 1966 and 2005, Shepard Glacier lost 56 percent of its surface area.

Miche Wabun Glacier is a glacier remnant (glacieret) in the U.S. state of Montana in the northeastern region of Glacier National Park. The glacieret is situated in a cirque to the east of Goat Haunt Mountain. Miche Wabun Glacier was measured in 2010 to have retreated to less than 25 acres (0.10 km2) in area, considered to be a minimal size to qualify as being considered an active glacier. Between 1966 and 2005, the glacier lost over 55 percent of its surface area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logan Glacier (Montana)</span> Glacier in Montana, United States

Logan Glacier is in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacier is situated in a cirque to the northeast of Mount Logan. Just east of the Continental Divide, Logan Glacier is northwest of Red Eagle Glacier. Estimated in 2005 to cover an area of 75 acres (0.30 km2), Logan Glacier covered almost 125 acres (0.51 km2) in 1966, a reduction in area of 40 percent in about 40 years. Comparing images of the glacier taken in 1914 with those from 2009, indicates that the glacier has experienced extensive retreat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Eagle Glacier</span> Glacier in Montana, United States

Red Eagle Glacier is a glacier remnant (glacieret) in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacieret is a hanging glacier located on the north slope of Clyde Peak, and to the southeast of Mount Logan and Logan Glacier. Between 1966 and 2005, Red Eagle Glacier lost 53 percent of its surface area and now covers less than 25 acres (0.10 km2) which is below the threshold to qualify as an active glacier. Comparing images of the glacier taken in 1914 with those from 2009, indicates that the glacier has experienced extensive retreat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrison Glacier</span> Alpine glacier in Montana, United States

Harrison Glacier is a glacier located in the US state of Montana in Glacier National Park. Situated on a southeast‐facing ridge immediately south of Mount Jackson, it is the largest remaining glacier in Glacier National Park, estimated in 2005 to have an area of 466 acres (1.89 km2). Though many experts have stated that all the glaciers in Glacier National Park may disappear by the year 2030, Harrison Glacier lost only 9 percent of its surface area in the 40-year period between 1966 and 2005 and will likely still exist well beyond 2030. Compared to many of the vanishing glaciers in Glacier National Park, Harrison Glacier's accumulation zone is at a much higher altitude, which has allowed it to maintain some equilibrium in its glacier mass balance. Comparisons of images of the glacier taken in 1913 with images from 2009 indicate that the glacier has experienced thinning and retreat.

Baby Glacier is a glacier located in the U.S. state of Montana in Glacier National Park. Baby Glacier is situated in a cirque on the northeast slope of Numa Peak at an elevation between 7,200 feet (2,200 m) and 6,800 feet (2,100 m) above sea level. The glacier covers approximately 19 acres (0.077 km2) and does not meet the threshold of 25 acres (0.10 km2) often cited as being the minimum size to qualify as an active glacier. Between 1966 and 2005, Baby Glacier lost a third of its surface area.

The Carter Glaciers are in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glaciers are situated along a ridge immediately to the east of the Continental Divide, mainly below an unnamed peak which rises to 9,164 feet (2,793 m). The glaciers cover an area of approximately 50 acres (0.20 km2) at an elevation between 8,500 feet (2,600 m) and 7,200 feet (2,200 m) above sea level. The Carter Glaciers consist of between three and four separate small glacial remnants (glacierets), none of which meet the threshold of 25 acres (0.10 km2) often cited as being the minimum size to qualify as an active glacier.

Dixon Glacier is located in the U.S. state of Montana in Glacier National Park. The glacier is situated in a cirque immediately to the north of The Sentinel at an elevation between 8,500 feet (2,600 m) and 7,400 feet (2,300 m) above sea level. Immediately east of the Continental Divide, the glacier is 1 mi (1.6 km) east of Thunderbird Glacier. Dixon Glacier covers an area of approximately 59 acres (0.24 km2) and between 1966 and 2005 lost over 45 percent of its surface area.

Hudson Glacier is located in the US state of Montana in Glacier National Park. The glacier is situated in a cirque immediately to the east of the Continental Divide at an elevation between 7,500 feet (2,300 m) and 7,200 feet (2,200 m) above sea level. A half-mile south of Lake Nooney and Lake Wurdeman, Hudson Glacier covers an area of approximately 8 acres (0.032 km2) and does not meet the threshold of 25 acres (0.10 km2) often cited as being the minimum size to qualify as an active glacier. Between 1966 and 2005, the glacier lost more than 66 percent of its acreage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kintla Glacier</span> Glacier in the United States

Kintla Glacier is in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacier is situated on a plateau 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Kintla Peak at an elevation between 8,700 feet (2,700 m) and 7,700 feet (2,300 m) above sea level. The glacier has numerous crevasses and is actually two glaciers with a combined area of 280 acres (110 ha) as of 2005. This is a 34 percent decrease in area from 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lupfer Glacier</span> Glacier in Montana, United States

Lupfer Glacier is in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacier is situated immediately to the east of Mount Phillips at an elevation between 6,500 ft (2,000 m) and 6,000 ft (1,800 m) above sea level. Lupfer Glacier covers an area of approximately 16 acres (0.065 km2) and does not meet the threshold of 25 acres (0.10 km2) often cited as being the minimum size to qualify as an active glacier. Between 1966 and 2005 Lupfer Glacier lost over 50 percent of its surface area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Swiftcurrent Glacier</span> Glacier in the U.S. state of Montana

North Swiftcurrent Glacier is a glacier in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. It is situated immediately to the east of the Continental Divide and north of Swiftcurrent Mountain at an elevation between 8,000 ft (2,400 m) and 7,000 ft (2,100 m) above sea level. North Swiftcurrent Glacier consists of several remnant glaciers and additional ice patches, none of which exceed 19 acres (0.077 km2) in surface area and do not meet the threshold of 25 acres (0.10 km2) often cited as being the minimum size to qualify as an active glacier. The glacier lost over 32 percent of its area between 1966 and 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piegan Glacier</span> Glacier in Montana, United States

Piegan Glacier is in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacier is situated in a cirque on the southeast slope of Piegan Mountain and just below the summit at an elevation between 8,800 and 8,200 ft above sea level. The glacier covered an area of approximately 62 acres (0.25 km2) in 2005, a 10 percent reduction in its surface area since 1966. Comparing images of the glacier taken in 1930 with those from 1998, indicates that the glacier experienced relatively little change during that period.

Pumpkin Glacier is a glacier in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. It is northeast of Blackfoot Mountain and adjacent to Pumpelly Glacier, the two glaciers separated by crevasses. Pumpkin Glacier covers approximately 35 acres (0.14 km2) at elevations between 8,500 feet (2,600 m) and 8,000 feet (2,400 m) above sea level. Pumpkin Glacier is immediately west of the Continental Divide. Pumpkin and Pumpelly Glaciers covered 310 acres (1.3 km2) as of 2005, a 15 percent reduction in area since 1966.

Siyeh Glacier is in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacier lies in a deep cirque to the north of Mount Siyeh at an elevation between 7,200 feet (2,200 m) and 6,800 feet (2,100 m) above sea level. Siyeh Glacier covers an area of less than 10 acres (0.040 km2) and does not meet the threshold of 25 acres (0.10 km2) often cited as being the minimum size to qualify as an active glacier. Siyeh Glacier has experienced massive retreat, losing over 73 percent of its surface area between 1966 and 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Salamander Glacier</span> Glacier in Montana, United States

The Salamander Glacier is in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. The glacier lies on a shelf on the east side of the arête which is part of the Continental Divide, at an average elevation of 7,200 feet (2,200 m) above sea level. The Salamander Glacier covered an area of approximately 57 acres (0.23 km2) as of 1993. Before Grinnell Glacier retreated significantly, it used to encompass The Salamander Glacier and the two become separate sometime before 1929. The Salamander Glacier was measured at 42 acres (0.17 km2) in 2005, which is a 23 percent reduction since 1966. Though only .10 mi (0.16 km) in length, The Salamander Glacier is about .75 mi (1.21 km) wide.

References

  1. "Boulder Glacier". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  2. 1 2 "Retreat of Glaciers in Glacier National Park" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. 2010. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  3. Mount Carter, MT (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved 2012-09-01.