Activity 2.2 - Cryosphere: Eliot Glacier, Mount Hood, Oregon

First Photo

(H.F. Reid, 1901)

Second Photo

(H. Basagic, 2012)

Google earth View 2022

(Google Earth, 2022)

Eliot Glacier on Mount Hood in Oregon

Problem

What we are seeing in these photos of the Eliot Glacier in Oregon is that the glacier is retreating and has been on a steady decline since the first photo taken in 1901. The Eliot Glacier is one of the two largest Glaciers on Mount Hood, with about 1.5 to 1.8 miles in length. (usgs.gov) As you can see between the first and second photo, during this one hundred year period there is a dramatic difference. Most of the snow and ice seems like it has disappeared. The ice has melted and moved down the mountain, decreasing the amount maintained up top and increasing water lower on the ground. The problem shown from these images is climate change effecting glaciers and the issues that arise from glacial retreat. 

Explanation

Glaciers like Eliot provide evidence for climate change. This is because the increased temperatures of the climate has contributed to melting of part of these glaciers, causing them to slide down or recede and then melt. We see that the period between 2012 and 2022, despite it being only a ten year difference, has lost a vast amount of its snow, which further enforces the idea of climate change becoming a larger factor in changing the environment. This can prove to have negative consequences. Yes, some might say it has some positive aspects, but those will only last for a short amount of time, and the negatives outweigh the positives. People say the glaciers melting add and contribute to our availability of fresh water, which is true, but considering the normal is for glaciers to melt very slowly, what is happening with these glaciers is not a normal nor positive. They are melting at a fast rate while not gaining any new ice, therefore, they will not have any glacier left to provide water, which will impact the ecosystem greatly by affecting habitats and water needed by plants and animals. Glacial retreats like this one will also affect sea levels from adding so much ice which causes levels to rise across the globe. Retreating glaciers also cause habitat destruction from its erosion and create safety hazards from potential avalanches. Overall the problem with these photos is the ice that seems to be disappearing, which shows us the effect climate change is having on the environment and causes us to think about the negative impacts it will cause. 

References:

H.F. Reid (1901). Eliot Glacier: Glacier Rephoto Database. ephoto.glaciers.us  https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115462382238657018379/album/AF1QipOeyP_mC1jfsqFw__QV9XKx6pWNwS_Va_nqYVWe/AF1QipPW4BxauPD4RUJT1s7JJ5vRgFtc1YhO5o_YTnDw

H. Basagic (2012). Eliot Glacier: Glacier Rephoto Database. ephot.galciers.us   https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115462382238657018379/album/AF1QipOeyP_mC1jfsqFw__QV9XKx6pWNwS_Va_nqYVWe/AF1QipPW4BxauPD4RUJT1s7JJ5vRgFtc1YhO5o_YTnDw

Google Earth, Google. (2022). Eliot Glacier, Oregon   https://earth.google.com/web/search/Eliot+Glacier,+Oregon/@45.3889041,-121.66208981,2087.73280617a,0d,60y,252.5614206h,93.76532225t,0r/data=CigiJgokCcRi3sBC0FFAEVyPrs6nKiBAGXLf2vVPYFTAIfjSFkR5dmLAIhoKFnpkdHRZd3BPY19EUTF4WDlBUG5CWlEQAg

“Glaciers at Mount Hood, Oregon.” Glaciers at Mount Hood, Oregon | U.S. Geological Survey, https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mount-hood/glaciers-mount-hood-oregon.

“What Are the Impacts of Glacier Loss, Other than Losing an Aesthetic Landscape Feature?” What Are the Impacts of Glacier Loss, Other than Losing an Aesthetic Landscape Feature? | U.S. Geological Survey, https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-impacts-glacier-loss-other-losing-aesthetic-landscape-feature.