Activity 2.2 – Cryosphere: Jackson Glacier, Montana

 Original Photo 1912

Take note of the ice level, the glacier looks like it was already melting a little because of the cracks in the ice. (Elrod, 1912)

Second Photo 2009

The ice has been converted into small streams of water. (McKeon, 2009)

Google Maps, 2014

Jackson Glacier in Montana

Problem: 

Most of the glaciers around the world are melting over time. This is a problem for both humans and our ecosystems alike. Due to the fact that glaciers are made of ice and ice melts into water, our ocean is getting larger and higher every year. Melting of the glaciers also removes habitats of animals that live on them as well as those located near the water that runs off the glaciers.

Explanation:

We suffer many problems because of melting ice and most of the reasons glaciers melt is because of human interference. Humans release many gasses and chemicals into the ozone layer, through many industrial processes, that get trapped and absorb heat. This happens because of the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect can be summarized in three steps, first the sun's radiation energy hits earth, secondly earth reflects some of this energy back into the atmosphere, and lastly greenhouse gasses that have accumulated in the atmosphere absorb and release the heat on earth. The most abundant greenhouse gas is water vapor followed by Co2, methane and nitrous oxide. Now this might not sound too alarming because humans and other animals need heat to survive but this also has the side effect of melting our planet's ice. Melting of the Earth's glaciers is/can increase the water level of the ocean which can lead to flooding and the destruction of oceanside properties. Humans are also contributing greatly to the release of greenhouse gasses, namely Co2 or Carbon Dioxide with "37.12 billion metric tones in 2022" (Tiseo pg.1). This is increasing the rate at which the ice caps, frozen lakes and glaciers are melting which will destroy many habitats. The main problem with glaciers is that there is no easy way to fix or create them. The way glaciers grow is based on the seasons and rainfall. More water has to freeze and stay on the glacier during the winter than ice lost in the summer when the temperatures go down. 

References:

Elrod M. U of M (1912). Jackson Glacier: Repeat photography. Jackson glacier aerial photos from below the Glacier. usgs.gov. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/norock/science/repeat-photography-project?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

McKeon L. (2009). Jackson Glacier: Repeat photography. Jackson glacier aerial photos from mountainside. usgs.gov. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/norock/science/repeat-photography-project?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

Tiseo, Ian. Annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions worldwide from 1940 to 2021. Statista 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/276629/global-co2-emissions/#:~:text=Global%20carbon%20dioxide%20emissions%20from,billion%20metric%20tons%20(GtCO%E2%82%82).

Google Maps. (2014). Jackson Glacier, Montana. Retrieved from https://earth.google.com/web/search/Jackson+Glacier,+Montana/@48.60231623,-113.69250675,1997.36511148a,2587.64731975d,35y,-160.73001417h,81.76396144t,0r/data=CigiJgokCdr3ridqDVFAEXJPKQJIOj7AGaueDSzQr2FAIePrvqtXNUFA