Some examples of Little Ice Age geomorphic markers of the Glacier Bay Ice Field.

We flew in small aircraft throughout Glacier Bay to identify and map geomorphic markers of the Little Ice Age maximum glacial extent. Additional markers were identified from analysis of vertical airphotos and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission 30 m DEM. These observations have significantly improved constraints on a model of the Little Ice Age Glacier Bay Icefield. We now infer an ice volume loss of over 3000 km^3 from the collapse of this icefield, equivalent to a global rise in sea level of 8 mm.

95970022
Little Ice Age morraine above the Grand Pacific Glacier terminus (dark/light line draping across the mountainside). See close up view in the next photo
95970021
Close up of Little Ice Age moraine above lower Grand Pacific Glacier.
Berg Cr 5
Berg Creek trimline, where the Little Ice Age glacier pushed into existing forest.
Berg Cr 6
Another trimline near Berg Creek.
3d_trimlines
Map showing points where we have mapped trimlines, moraines, and other indicators of the Little Ice Age extent in Glacier Bay.
3d_90m_lia
Modeled Little Ice Age icefield filling Glacier Bay to the level of the points in the previous map.
3d_90m_present
Glacial extent in the 1950's
landsat_glacierbay_01aug99_lrg-1
Present day view of Glacier Bay (NASA image).

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