Athabasca Glacier

Athabasca Glacier

1. Outlet Valley Glacier flowing north-eastwards from the Canadian Ice Fields

2. In Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies

3. 6 km long and 1 km wide, covering 10 km2

4. Evidence of Retreat

   • Pictures
     • Transverse crevasses caused when glacier flows downhill
     • Diagonal crevasses caused by friction slowing down the glacier
   • Monitoring Data
     • Glacier retreated 1500 m since middle of 19th century
     • Rate of retreat has increased:
       • 170m from 1840 to 1906 (66 years)
       • 500m from 1945 to 1992 (47 years)
     • Terminal Moraine marks the extent of the glacier
     • Scientists predict that the glacier will be gone in another 300 years
   • Amount of meltwater
     • Sunwapta Lake shows where glacier melted
     • Channels of meltwater on surface of glacier

5. Causes of Retreat

   • Ablation exceeding accumulation over a period of time
   • Increasing Temperatures
     • Natural changes
     • Global warming
     • Average temperature rise is about 0.9'C