Cascade glacier meltdown stuns scientists

[swag]

http://www.katu.com/stories/85773.html

By Brian Barker
and KATU.com Web Staff


. . . Scientists say ice and snow on mountains up and down the West Coast are melting at an alarming rate.

In the past 100 years, some glaciers in our own back yard have shrunk by as much as 80 percent.

Mount Hood is our mountain, an icon of the Northwest, and an 11,000-foot reminder of Oregon's violent volcanic past and, apparently, warm present.

It also supplies water, in the form of melted snow, to thousands of Oregon residents.

But now, Mount Hood's 11 glaciers are receding at an alarming pace. In 100 years, some have shrunk by half.

And it's happening not just on Mount Hood, but also on Mount Rainier, Mount Jefferson, and every other glaciated peak on the West Coast.

It seems that the glaciers are dying.

. . .

[Inland]

1. We are so screwed. nt

[YankeyMCC]

2. That looks like a lot less than 50% to me

[opihimoimoi]

3. And we once thought we could Best Nature...HAH....silly us....

[Radio_Lady]

4. Swag, thanks for this post. Here's something to think about:

I'm in Edinburgh, Scotland today and we went through the fantastic Dynamic Earth exhibit yesterday.

It shows millions of years of evolution and projects us into the future as well.

So many changes have taken place on this planet that it sort of puts our puny human existence in proper perspective.

http://www.dynamicearth.co.uk/

What is Our Dynamic Earth?
The Mother Earth of all adventures.
Our Dynamic Earth is a visitor attraction in the heart of Edinburgh which tells the story of the planet Earth, taking you on a journey of discovery and exploration of our dynamic planet's past, present and future.

NEW Earthscape Scotland
You can discover Scotland's own geological heritage in our brand new external gallery, where you can go where no man has gone before, on a journey to the centre of the Earth!

You'll travel back in time 15,000 million years to witness the Big Bang through the eyes of the Hubble Telescope. You'll be shaken by erupting volcanoes, fly over glaciers, go on an underwater exploration and travel from one extreme to another as you journey across our planet, from the freezing sub-zero Antarctic temperatures, through the dry heat of the desert, on towards the steamy heat of the tropical rainforest.

[LibDemAlways]

5. I visited Hubbard Glacier in Alaska in 2002 and

again in 2004. In 2002 the glacier ice extended in front of and blocked a small inlet. By 2004 the inlet was exposed. The ice was gone. The change in just two years was dramatic.

[XemaSab]

6. I went to Portage Glacier in 89

And apparently now you can't even see the glacier from the visitor center. :(