Blue Glacier

Infobox_Glacier | glacier_name = Blue Glacier


caption =
type = Mountain glacier
location = Mount Olympus, Washington, U.S.
coordinates = coord|47|48|29|N|123|41|16|W|type:glacier [Google Earth images.]
area = convert|1.7|sqmi|km2|1Cite web|title=Blue Ice|url=http://www.carleton.edu/departments/geol/Links/AlumContributions/blueice/BlueIce.pdf|accessdate=2007-10-13|date=2002-03-11|last=Drummond|first=Benjamin|publisher=Carleton College Geology Department]
length = Convert|2.7|mi|km|1|abbr=on
thickness =
terminus =
status = retreating

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. The glacier length has decreased from about Convert|3.4|mi|km|1 in 1800 to only Convert|2.7|mi|km|1|abbr=on|abbr=on in the year 2000.

Description

Starting at an elevation of Convert|7800|ft|m|-1 near Mount Olympus's three summits, the Blue Glacier begins as a snow/ice field separated by arêtes.Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates.] 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. [Cite web|title=USGS Mount Olympus (WA) Topo Map|work=USGS Quad maps|url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=47.81051&lon=-123.69146&datum=nad27&zoom=8|accessdate=2008-05-15|publisher=TopoQuest] 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 Convert|4050|ft|m|0. On this steep, barren, rocky slope, the Blue Glacier terminates after dropping over Convert|3700|ft|m|-1 in only Convert|2.7|mi|km|1|abbr=on|abbr=on|abbr=on|abbr=on. The rocky cliff used to host a second icefall before the terminus of Blue Glacier retreated up the cliff.

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. Precipitation exceeds 180 inches (4.5 m) on the upper reaches of Mount Olympus and Blue Glacier. [Cite web|title=Maps of Annual Precipitation and Snowfall along the Cascade Range|url=http://www.skimountaineer.com/CascadeSki/CascadeSnow/CascadePrecipMap.Med.gif|publisher=Oregon State University, Spatial Climate Analysis Service|date=2000|accessdate-2007-10-13] 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). [Cite web|title=Mt. Olympus|url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/olym/wic/dmtol.htm|date=2005-06-09|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2007-10-14] In addition, a significant amount of rain falls on the Blue Glacier as well, especially during spring and summer. 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. [Olympic National Park map, 2007] The Hoh River eventually discharges in the Pacific Ocean after flowing down Convert|34|mi|km|0|abbr=on through temperate rain forest in Olympic National Park.

ee also

*List of glaciers

References