Changing Ice: Insights from a Decade of Research on Easton Glacier, Mt. Baker

Mt. Baker is the second most heavily glacier-clad volcano in the U.S., and its glaciers are a vital component of the hydrologic, ecologic, geologic, and societal systems of the surrounding region.  Yet despite their imposing size and apparent permanence, they are anything but static, constantly changing in response to changes in climate.  The glaciers have left clues of prehistoric times when they were much larger than at present, primarily in the moraines and deposits they have left behind.  In contrast, studies of the existing ice demonstrate that the glaciers have been experiencing dramatic retreat over the past century, with no indication that the retreat will stop anytime soon.  In this talk, I will discuss the results of two decades of research with my students and other colleagues concerning glacier change at Mt. Baker, with an eye towards the implications for the future.