Blue Glacier
Description
Starting at an elevation of 7,800 feet (2,380 m) near Mount Olympus's three summits, the Blue Glacier begins as a snow/ice field separated by arêtes. 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. 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 4,050 feet (1,234 m). On this steep, barren, rocky slope, the Blue Glacier terminates after dropping over 3,700 feet (1,130 m) in only 2.7 mi (4.3 km). The rocky cliff used to host a second icefall before the terminus of Blue Glacier retreated up the cliff.
A weather station operated from 1957 to 1963 at an elevation of 6910 ft near the glacier recorded rain and snowfall events, and average temperatures. However, the temperature record is irregular and contains mostly summer months. Nevertheless, at least one snow event occurred in all twelve months during the six years the station was operated.
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 in (460 cm) of precipitation falls on the upper reaches of Mount Olympus and Blue Glacier each year. During winter, most of the precipitation on Blue Glacier consists of snow. 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. The Hoh River eventually discharges in the Pacific Ocean after flowing down 34 mi (55 km) through temperate rain forest in Olympic National Park.
See also
References
- ^ "Blue Glacier". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
- ^ Drummond, Benjamin (2002-03-11). "Blue Ice" (PDF). Carleton College Geology Department. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
- ^ "Glaciers and Climate Change". National Park Service. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
- ^ Mount Olympus, WA (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved 2012-10-05.
- ^ Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates.
- ^ "BLUE GLACIER, WASHINGTON - Climate Summary".
- ^ "Maps of Annual Precipitation and Snowfall along the Cascade Range". Oregon State University, Spatial Climate Analysis Service. 2000. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
- ^ Olympic National Park map, 2007