Mass Balance of “Vesper” Glacier, Washington, U.S.A.
Abstract During 1974–75 glaciologic and geologic studies were conducted on a small (0.17 km 2 ) avalanche-nourished glacier in the North Cascade Range of Washington. The approximate equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) for this ice body, informally called “Vesper” glacier, lies at 1475 m, some 300 m belo...
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1981
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000015380 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000015380 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000015380 2024-03-03T08:46:09+00:00 Mass Balance of “Vesper” Glacier, Washington, U.S.A. Dethier, David P. Frederick, Jan E. 1981 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000015380 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000015380 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) Journal of Glaciology volume 27, issue 96, page 271-282 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 Earth-Surface Processes journal-article 1981 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000015380 2024-02-08T08:40:37Z Abstract During 1974–75 glaciologic and geologic studies were conducted on a small (0.17 km 2 ) avalanche-nourished glacier in the North Cascade Range of Washington. The approximate equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) for this ice body, informally called “Vesper” glacier, lies at 1475 m, some 300 m below the regional ELA value. Estimated annual accumulation was 6 100±675 mm during the two years of study; 15 to 30% of this flux resulted from avalanche and wind–transported snow. Average annual ablation during the period was 5 350 mm, giving a total net balance of + 1 600 mm for the two-year study period. “Vesper” glacier persists well below the regional snow-line because of excessive local precipitation, substantial avalanche contributions, and a favourable north-facing aspect. Neoglacial moraines indicate that maximum ELA lowering in this period was approximately 165 m and occurred prior to a.d. 1670. Minor re-advances occurred during the nineteenth century. These reconnaissance measurements are consistent with the sparse geologic data reported from other glaciers in the Cascade Range. While the relationship between regional lowering of snow-line and avalanche activity is uncertain at present, these data suggest that avalanche-nourished glaciers provide a useful record of climatic fluctuations. Article in Journal/Newspaper Journal of Glaciology Cambridge University Press Ela ENVELOPE(9.642,9.642,63.170,63.170) Journal of Glaciology 27 96 271 282 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth-Surface Processes |
spellingShingle |
Earth-Surface Processes Dethier, David P. Frederick, Jan E. Mass Balance of “Vesper” Glacier, Washington, U.S.A. |
topic_facet |
Earth-Surface Processes |
description |
Abstract During 1974–75 glaciologic and geologic studies were conducted on a small (0.17 km 2 ) avalanche-nourished glacier in the North Cascade Range of Washington. The approximate equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) for this ice body, informally called “Vesper” glacier, lies at 1475 m, some 300 m below the regional ELA value. Estimated annual accumulation was 6 100±675 mm during the two years of study; 15 to 30% of this flux resulted from avalanche and wind–transported snow. Average annual ablation during the period was 5 350 mm, giving a total net balance of + 1 600 mm for the two-year study period. “Vesper” glacier persists well below the regional snow-line because of excessive local precipitation, substantial avalanche contributions, and a favourable north-facing aspect. Neoglacial moraines indicate that maximum ELA lowering in this period was approximately 165 m and occurred prior to a.d. 1670. Minor re-advances occurred during the nineteenth century. These reconnaissance measurements are consistent with the sparse geologic data reported from other glaciers in the Cascade Range. While the relationship between regional lowering of snow-line and avalanche activity is uncertain at present, these data suggest that avalanche-nourished glaciers provide a useful record of climatic fluctuations. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Dethier, David P. Frederick, Jan E. |
author_facet |
Dethier, David P. Frederick, Jan E. |
author_sort |
Dethier, David P. |
title |
Mass Balance of “Vesper” Glacier, Washington, U.S.A. |
title_short |
Mass Balance of “Vesper” Glacier, Washington, U.S.A. |
title_full |
Mass Balance of “Vesper” Glacier, Washington, U.S.A. |
title_fullStr |
Mass Balance of “Vesper” Glacier, Washington, U.S.A. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mass Balance of “Vesper” Glacier, Washington, U.S.A. |
title_sort |
mass balance of “vesper” glacier, washington, u.s.a. |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1981 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000015380 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000015380 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(9.642,9.642,63.170,63.170) |
geographic |
Ela |
geographic_facet |
Ela |
genre |
Journal of Glaciology |
genre_facet |
Journal of Glaciology |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 27, issue 96, page 271-282 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000015380 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
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27 |
container_issue |
96 |
container_start_page |
271 |
op_container_end_page |
282 |
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1792502131343753216 |