| Summary: | Climate Change Starts Glaciers. CLIMATE CHANGE STARTS GLACIERS FAIRBANKS, Alaska, Feb. 24 — (/P)—"Runaway" Black Rapids glacier furnished an example today for a geologist who predicted a "few more winters like this one" might start the advance of many glaciers on the south side of the Alaskamountain range. Ernest N. Patty, geologist and former dean of the School of Mines at the University of Alaska, said any change in the "weather balance" doubtless would affect glacial ovement in a short time. He was at one time professor of geology at Washington State college. "It could cause glaciers to wipe out LriclgLis. railroads and highways and block rivers, changing their courses or damming them into lakes," Patty "But," he added, "such a geological revolution is unlikely to occur within the life time of any person now Patty believes the advance of Black Rappids glaicer toward the Richardson highway and a roadhouse in the Big Delta river valley probably will stop when spring-comes. The warmth then, he said, should melt the lower end of the glacier faster than pressure above forces the ice into the valley. Dr. James H. Hance, dean of the School of Mines at the university, returning here from an airpkine flight over the glacier said he estimated "the glacier has a quarter of a mile to go before it reaches the main (Big Delta) valley."
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