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Activity 2.2 – Cryosphere: Grinnell Glacier, Montana

Original Picture

Second Picture

Google Maps Earth View (2025)
Google Earth (2025)

Problem 

   Prior to the 1940s Grinnell Glacier located in Glacier National park was once known as one of the parks largest glaciers. However past the mid 1900s officials noticed the once grand alpine glacier started reducing in size. Now current day Grinnell Glacier has lost a considerable amount of size and has seen a massive increase of the mountains river right below. Grinnell Glacier was also classified as a alpine glacier seen as it was formed on a mountains valley. 


Explanation

As global warming continues to rise the temperature of the Earth each year winter becomes every so slightly hotter. This is very important in discussing the life of a Glacier as winter is the time for Glaciers to regain all the lost snow mass from the summer. With less time to recover and hotter winters Glacier such as Grinnell have seen a dramatic decrease in mass over the last 100 years. Seen in the image above there is a lake right under Grinnell if the glacier continues to melt there is eventual threat of flooding even pouring out of the mountain. This is why is is so important to keep that ice in those mountains Glacier  and not water. 

Work Cited

Hileman, TJ. "Grinnell Glacier 1938" USGS, 1938, https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/grinnell-glacier-1938

McKeon, Lisa "Grinnell Glacier 2019" USGS, 2019, https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/grinnell-glacier-2019

Google Earth (2025) Grinnell Glacier Mount Gould https://maps.app.goo.gl/oXPUFPubrEwCNPkw6


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