South Cascade Glacier

South Cascade Glacier
South Cascade Glacier, October 2000. Note how far the glacier has retreated since the 1965 photo below.
Map showing the location of South Cascade Glacier
Map showing the location of South Cascade Glacier
South Cascade Glacier
Location in Washington
TypeAlpine glacier
LocationNorth Cascades, Skagit County, Washington, USA
Coordinates48°21′36″N 121°03′27″W / 48.36000°N 121.05750°W / 48.36000; -121.05750[1]
Length1.3 mi (2.1 km)
TerminusTalus/moraine
StatusRetreating

South Cascade Glacier is a large alpine glacier in the North Cascades of Washington, USA.[2] It is bordered on the east by 8,261-foot (2,518 m) Sentinel Peak, and is about 17 mi (27 km) north of Glacier Peak in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. Meltwater from the glacier flows directly into South Cascade Lake, which feeds the South Fork Cascade River, which is a tributary of the Skagit River.

South Cascade Glacier is one of the four "benchmark glaciers" that is monitored by the USGS and its mass balance has been monitored since 1959.[3] Its area has declined from 2.71 km2 in 1958 to 1.8 km2 in 2015 representing an area loss of 34%.[3][4] Between 1958 and 2009 South Cascade Glacier lost nearly a half of its volume.[5]

South Cascade Glacier on September 23, 1965

See also

References

  1. ^ "South Cascade Glacier". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  2. ^ Dome Peak, WA (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  3. ^ a b "Glaciers and Climate: South Cascade Glacier". www2.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  4. ^ Bidlake, William R. (2011). "South Cascade (USA/North Cascades)". Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin. 11: 8189.
  5. ^ Josberger, Bidlake, March, O'Neel (2009), Fifty-Year Record of Glacier Change Reveals Shifting Climate in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, USA: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2009-3046{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)