Geological Survey Professional Paper 715—B Combined Ice and Water Balances of Maclure Glacier, California, South Cascade Glacier, Washington, and Wolverine and Gulkana Glaciers, Alaska, 1967 Hydrologic Year

ICE AND WATER BALANCES AT SELECTED GLACIERS IN THE UNITED STATES

COMBINED ICE AND WATER BALANCES OF MACLURE GLACIER, CALIFORNIA, SOUTH CASCADE GLACIER, WASHINGTON, AND WOLVERINE AND GULKANA GLACIERS, ALASKA,
1967 HYDROLOGIC YEAR

By WENDELL V. TANGBORN, LAWRENCE R. MAYO, DAVID R. SCULLY, and ROBERT M. KRIMMEL

Combined ice and water balances were measured in the 1967 hydrologic year (October 1-September 30) on four glaciers in western North America ranging in latitude from 37° to 63° N. This hydrologic year was characterized by heavier than normal winter precipitation in California and Washington and abnormally dry winter conditions in coastal Alaska. In summer the western conterminous states were abnormally dry and central and southern Alaska experienced very wet conditions.

Maclure Glacier (lat 37°45' N., 3,650-m (metres) mean equilibrium line altitude) had an above normal winter balance of 3.46 m and a positive annual balance of 1.05 m (metres of water equivalent).

South Cascade Glacier (lat 48°22' N., 1900-m mean equilibrium line altitude) had a winter balance of 3.28 m, slightly above average. Above normal summer ablation resulted in a final annual balance of -0.58 m, slightly more negative than has been the case for the past decade.

Wolverine Glacier's (lat 60°24' N., 1,200-m mean equilibrium line altitude) winter balance was 1.17 m, considerably below normal; the annual balance was -2.04 m.

Gulkana Glacier (lat 63°15' N., 1,700-m mean equilibrium line altitude) had a winter balance of 1.05 m, approximately normal for this glacier; the final annual balance was -0.30 m.