Blue Glacier

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Blue Glacier
Type Mountain glacier
Location Mount Olympus, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates 47°48′29″N, 123°41′16″W[1]
Area 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²)[2]
Length 2.7 mi (4.3 km)[2]
Status retreating[2]

Blue Glacier is a large glacier located to the north of Mount Olympus in the Olympic Mountains of Washington. The glacier covers an area of 1.7 mi² (4.3 km²) and contains 580 million ft³ (0.57 km³) of ice and snow in spite of its low terminus elevation.[2] The glacier length has decreased from about 3.4 miles (5.5 km) in 1800 to only 2.7 mi (4.3 km) in the year 2000.[2]

Contents

[edit] Description

Starting at an elevation of 7,800 feet (2,380 m) near Mount Olympus's three summits, the Blue Glacier begins as a snow/ice field separated by arêtes.[3] As the glacier flows north, it cascades down a steep slope and thus, the smooth ice turns into a chaotic icefall, replete with seracs and crevasses. After the ice passes the icefall, the glacier ends up in a valley and takes a left turn to the west.[4] Another ice stream from a snowdome located to the northwest of Mount Olympus joins the Blue Glacier and together, the joined ice streams flow down to a cliff at 4,050 feet (1,234 m).[3] On this steep, barren, rocky slope, the Blue Glacier terminates after dropping over 3,700 feet (1,130 m) in only 2.7 mi (4.3 km). The rocky cliff used to host a second icefall before the terminus of Blue Glacier retreated up the cliff.[2]

[edit] Hydrology

Due to orographic lift and the glacier's proximity to the Pacific Ocean, more precipitation falls on the Blue Glacier than any other glacier in the lower 48 United States. About 180 inches (4.5 m) of precipitation falls on the glacier each year.[2] Precipitation exceeds 180 inches (4.5 m) on the upper reaches of Mount Olympus and Blue Glacier.[5] During winter, most of the precipitation on Blue Glacier consists of snow. Average annual snowfall on the upper reaches of Mount Olympus is 100 feet (30 m).[6] In addition, a significant amount of rain falls on the Blue Glacier as well, especially during spring and summer.[2] Because of this high precipitation and the volume of this body of ice, the Blue Glacier contributes a significant amount of water to the Hoh River via Glacier Creek.[7] The Hoh River eventually discharges in the Pacific Ocean after flowing down 34 mi (55 km) through temperate rain forest in Olympic National Park.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Google Earth images.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Drummond, Benjamin (2002-03-11). Blue Ice. Carleton College Geology Department. Retrieved on 2007-10-13.
  3. ^ a b Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates.
  4. ^ USGS Mount Olympus (WA) Topo Map. USGS Quad maps. TopoQuest. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  5. ^ Maps of Annual Precipitation and Snowfall along the Cascade Range. Oregon State University, Spatial Climate Analysis Service (2000).
  6. ^ Mt. Olympus. National Park Service (2005-06-09). Retrieved on 2007-10-14.
  7. ^ Olympic National Park map, 2007
v • d • e
Glaciers of the Olympic Mountains
Mount Olympus
Blue Glacier · Hoh Glacier · Hubert Glacier · Humes Glacier · Jeffers Glacier · White Glacier
Mount Anderson
Other mountains
See also
Glaciers of Mount Adams · Glaciers of Mount Baker · Glaciers of Glacier Peak · Glaciers of Mount Rainier · Glaciers of other Washington mountains