Photo Evidence: Glacier National Park Is Melting Away | National Geographic

Summary

The video discusses the rapid shrinkage of glaciers, particularly in Glacier National Park, where the number of glaciers has decreased from 150 in the 1800s to just 25 today. Scientists monitor these changes using repeat photography and GPS measurements. The region is warming at 2-3 times the global average, contributing to glacier melt, decreased snowpack, and increased wildfires. These environmental shifts threaten species like aquatic insects and disrupt food sources for animals like grizzly bears. The park remains a vital research site, demonstrating the impacts of climate change on natural landscapes.

Takeaways

• ❄️ Glaciers have significantly shrunk since the 1800s, from 150 glaciers to only 25 today.
• 📸 One method of measuring glacier changes is repeat photography, comparing photos over time from the same location.
• 🕐 The frequency of glacier photography has increased recently due to rapid changes in glacier size.
• 🌍 Glaciers contribute to water systems as they melt, retreating towards mountain heads and expanding lakes.
• 🛰️ Modern methods like GPS are used to track the precise margins of glaciers to measure changes in ice area over time.
• 🔥 Glacier National Park is warming at 2-3 times the global average, affecting glaciers, snowpack, and increasing wildfires.
• 🐛 Some aquatic insect species in the area are at risk of extinction due to climate change, with contractions in their range since the 1960s.
• 🚰 Glaciers impact downstream ecosystems, including the snowpack, which influences crops like huckleberries vital to wildlife such as grizzly bears.
• 🐻 Animals in high elevations, adapted to cold temperatures, are particularly vulnerable to warming temperatures and food supply changes.
• 🌿 Despite the changes, Glacier National Park remains an important research site and a symbol of the impacts of climate change on natural landscapes.

Q & A

How many glaciers were estimated to exist in the 1800s?

In the 1800s, about 150 glaciers were estimated to exist.

How many glaciers remain today?

Today, only 25 glaciers remain.

What is one common method used to measure glacier changes?

One common method is repeat photography, where scientists reoccupy a site where a photo was previously taken and compare the images over time.

Why has the frequency of repeat photography increased recently?

The frequency has increased due to the rapid changes in glacier retreat observed in recent years.

What modern technology is used to track glacier changes?

Scientists use precision global positioning systems (GPS) to measure the margins of the ice and track changes in glacier area over time.

Why is Glacier National Park considered an excellent natural laboratory?

It is considered an excellent natural laboratory because it allows for the study of the effects of climate change, with warming occurring two to three times faster than the global average.

What impact has climate change had on the snowpack and glaciers?

Climate change has decreased the snowpack and glaciers in high-altitude areas and increased the frequency of disturbance events such as wildfires.

Which species are particularly vulnerable to climate change in this region?

Aquatic insects are especially vulnerable and may be among the first species to go extinct due to the effects of global climate change.

How do glaciers and snowpacks affect downstream ecosystems?

Glaciers and snowpacks affect ecosystems by impacting water supplies and influencing the availability of vital food sources like the huckleberry crop, which is essential for species like grizzly bears.

What future role might Glacier National Park play despite the changes caused by climate change?

Even with future changes, the park will remain valuable as an outdoor research laboratory and a lesson in how climate change affects natural landscapes.