Glacial Extent
Giffen B and Hall D. 2011. Glacial Extent
Glaciers are a significant feature in several SWAN park units, including Katmai (KATM), Kenai Fjords (KEFJ) and Lake Clark (LACL), where glaciers/permanent snowfields comprise approximately 5%, 50% and 13% of the landscape, respectively. Alaska’s glaciers have been retreating since the waning of the Little Ice Age (~100 years ago). Although historically ice loss occurred at varying rates, current evidence suggests that the rate has increased in recent decades. This widespread glacial recession is largely responsible for substantial landscape changes in SWAN park units that are visible today.
- Type
- Resource Brief
- Authors
- Giffen, Bruce; Hall, Dorothy
- Date of Issue
- 2011-10
- Units
- KATM , KEFJ , LACL , SWAN
- Keywords
- Glacier
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Glacial Features and Processes