Geological Survey Professional Paper 1180 Grinnell and Sperry Glaciers, Glacier National Park, Montana: A Record of Vanishing Ice

Cover

Abstract

Introduction

Summary of investigations
Acknowledgments

Climate

Grinnell Glacier

Location and accessibility
Discovery and early descriptions
Pictorial record
Area
Recession
Movement
Fluctuations in surface elevation
   Profiles
   Ablation
Precipitation and runoff
Vegetative succession

Sperry Glacier

Location and accessibility
Discovery and early descriptions
Pictorial record
Area
Recession
Movement
Fluctuations in surface elevation
   Profiles
   Ablation

References cited

FRONTISPIECE. Aerial photograph of upper part of Sperry Glacier, 1969.

PLATE

1. Map and profiles of Grinnell Glacier (omitted from the online edition)

2. Map and profiles of Sperry Glacier (omitted from the online edition)

FIGURE

1. Index map showing location of Grinnell and Sperry Glaciers

2. Graphs showing annual precipitation and temperatures and departures from mean for Summit, West Glacier, and Kalispell

3. Photograph of George Bird Grinnell, discoverer of Grinnell Glacier

4-8. Comparative photographs of Grinnell Glacier:

4. Grinnell Glacier from upper end of Lake Josephine, 1887 and 1952

5. Front of Grinnell Glacier, 1887 and 1969

6. Grinnell Glacier from side of Mount Grinnell, 1900, 1911, 1935, and 1956

7. Grinnell Glacier from mountainside on the north, 1911 and 1966

8. Crest of moraine north of Grinnell Glacier, 1911 and 1956

9. Graph showing mean annual elevations of segments of the profiles, Grinnell Glacier, 1950-69

10. Graphs of cumulative departures from mean water content at Allen Mountain snow course and mean May-September runoff for Swiftcurrent Creek at Many Glacier

11. Photograph of Lyman Beecher Sperry, discoverer of Sperry Glacier

12-17. Photographs of Sperry Glacier:

12. Sperry Glacier from Avalanche Basin

13. Crevasses on Sperry Glacier

14. Sperry Glacier, October 18, 1901

15. Terminal area of Sperry Glacier, 1897 and 1969

16. Panoramic views of Sperry Glacier from side of the Little Matterhorn, 1913 and 1956

17. Terminus and terminal area of Sperry Glacier, 1913 and 1956

18. Photograph of moat at east side of Sperry Glacier, 1913

TABLE

1. Selected precipitation and temperature records for Summit, West Glacier, and Kalispell

2. July and August 1960-69 temperatures and precipitation at Sperry Chalets

3. Movement of marked rocks on Grinnell Glacier, 1947-69

4-6. Mean elevations of segments of profiles at Grinnell Glacier:

4. Profile A—A'

5. Profile B—B'

6. Profile C—C'

7. Ablation measurements at Grinnell Glacier

8. Annual ablation measurements at Grinnell Glacier

9. Precipitation and runoff in vicinity of Grinnell Glacier, 1949-69

10. Monthly and annual runoff at Grinnell Creek near Many Glacier (PDF format)

11. Runoff measured at two gaging stations on Grinnell Creek below Grinnell Glacier

12. May-September monthly precipitation at Grinnell Creek gaging stations near Many Glacier

13. Mean snow depth, water content, and density at Allen Mountain and Marias Pass snow courses

14. Annual ring count of trees near the Grinnell Glacier, as determined from cores

15. Movement of marked rocks on Sperry Glacier

16. Mean elevation of segments of profile A—A' on Sperry Glacier

17. Mean elevation of segments of profile B—B' on Sperry Glacier

18. Seasonal ablation at Sperry Glacier

19. Annual ablation measurements at Sperry Glacier

Aerial view, southeastward, of the upper part of Sperry Glacier, July 27, 1969. Part of Gunsight Mountain is visible at the right. Photography by Mel Ruder, Hungry Horse News, Columbia Falls, Montana. Published through the courtesy of the photographer.

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Recorded observations, during approximately 80 years of the shrinkage of the two largest glaciers in Glacier National Park

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
CECIL D. ANDRUS, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
H. William Menard, Director

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Johnson, Arthur, 1903-
Grinnell and Sperry Glaciers, Glacier National Park, Montana
(Geological Survey Professional Paper 1180)
Bibliography: p. 29
Supt. of Docs. no.: 11916:
1. Grinnell Glacier, Mont. 2. Sperry Glacier, Mont. 3. Glacier National Park I. Title II. Series: United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 1180
GB2425.M9J63     551.3'12'0978652     80-607150

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