‘Near the cusp’: Glacier experts fear warm winter could have drastic effects
'Just a couple bad years, and they'll no longer be an active glacier.'
SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Heading into 2021, Oregon's glacial health was already showing signs of trouble.
In fact the Oregon Glaciers Institute recently completed the first survey since the 1950s of the Beaver State's glaciers which pointed to losses.
"Of the 36 named glaciers in Oregon, only 26 remain. We've lost about 30 percent of Oregon's glaciers," the institute's president, Anders Carlson, said Monday.
Carlson said this winter was projected to be a La Nina event, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states brings warmer winter temperatures than normal in the Southeast, and cooler than normal in the Northwest.
But Carlson said the year is proving to have different weather patterns.
"In Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, it makes for a colder (season) that then transitions more of a rain than snow, and we've just not seen that happen this year," Carlson said.
Carlson explained that our snowpack is below average, which has him concerned after a summer that was tough on glaciers.
"That meant the summer had a long time to melt out," he said. "In some places, it looked like the glaciers accumulated no snow -- at least down in the Bend area, probably glaciers gained no mass, they only lost."
Carlson said that with the low snowpack, if the summer is fairly normal, the sun will melt the snow faster and the ice will be exposed more quickly.
"A way to think about it is like your long-distance swimmer in the ocean, well, you usually build up a layer of basal fat," Carlson explained.
Carlson maintained that while more research needs to be done to know where the glaciers' threshold is to still move and form, he is very concerned about glacier health, especially if these weather patterns continue.
"That is very much a worry, particularly in the Three Sisters region around Bend where there are some glaciers on South Sister, and also on all three of the Sisters that are near the cusp," he said. "Just a couple bad years, and they'll no longer be an active glacier."
There used to be glaciers in John Day and the Steens as well so it sounds like a natural progression if anything.
Yep, same as all the COVID deaths. Mother Nature just keeping everything in check like she supposed to.
We are being held in check alright but by media/government/business/entertainment. Look how effortlessly we’ve given in to manipulation by snickering autocrats with the tools of fear, guilt, and character assassination! Climate hoax, racism hoax, virus hoax, Russia hoax, gender hoax, we’ve allowed it! Why? What sins have laid the ground work for the new tower of Babel under hasty construction? Fearlessly search your hearts because tomorrow never comes and justice rides swiftly 🤠
Yeah I guess, but if glaciers come and go…. where are the ones “coming” at?
Seems like a one way street right now. That doesn’t seem to concern and thinking doesn’t seem to register with anyone who can’t think further than what they’re gonna have for lunch today though.
Yes it seems the shortsighted don’t care what kind of world their offspring inherit or, for that matter, even care if they can survive with some degree of quality of life. I wonder if there’s any correlation between the climate deniers and the insurrectionists who also seem to think their kids would be better off under a dictator. Both frames of mind seem to have a search and destroy feel…
Because our lives are so short, we tend to look only at what is happening in our short lifetime. Geologic time is a bit different. Fort Rock was surrounded by a lake at one point, even when people were here. The lake receded long before man was creating chlorofluorocarbons or significant carbon monoxide. You should read “Environmental Overkill, What Ever Happened to Common Sense” written by Dixie Lee Ray, a scientist and former Democratic governor of the state of Washington.
Exactly. Thank you.
It is sad. But just a nice reminder that climate change is very real and climate change has ZERO to do with mankind. Glaciers have been coming and going for thousands of years.
Zero to do with mankind? Barney Lerten was there when the first Glacier was invented.
Sorry Mr.Lerten. Older folks are just easier to pick on. Supposedly.
Theres a hole in my bucket dear Liza, dear Liza, theres a hole in my bucket oh what should I do?
I see where they are going, but where are there glaciers that are “coming”?
Last glacial period was about 11,500 years ago. Looking at the past, we should start into another one in about 2,000 years but the earth is dynamic so one can only guess.
Dont worry, Q has snowmakers on standby
Do you miss the dinosaur?
Well at least the Dinosaurs will be happy everything will be back to normal
Glaciers are the canary in the coal mine…
Yes. And, apparently, we need to explain this to “partyofcommonsense”…talk about a misnomer !!!
What is the consequence if we lose these glaciers in Oregon?
Wipes out the stream that was fed by this glacier.