Repeat Photography of Alaskan Glaciers

A pair of northeast looking photographs, both taken from the same location on the west shoreline of Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska showing the changes that have occurred to Muir Glacier during the 113 years between September 2, 1892 and August 11, 2005. The 1892 photograph shows the more than 100-meter (328-feet) high, more than 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) wide tidewater terminus of the glacier with a face capped by angular séracs. Some icebergs, evidence of recent calving, can be seen floating in Muir Inlet. The mountain located right-of-center is Mount Wright. Mount Case is in the background. Note the absence of vegetation. (H. F. Reid photograph, muir1892_417, courtesy of National Snow and Ice Data Center). In the 2005 photograph, Muir Glacier is no longer visible, as it has retreated more than 50 kilometers (31 miles).  During the interval between photographs, Muir Glacier ceased to have a tidewater terminus. Note the lack of floating ice and the abundant vegetation on many slopes throughout the photograph. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of northwest looking photographs, both taken from the same location on the east shoreline of Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska showing the changes that have occurred to Muir Glacier during a period of more than a century, between 1880s – 1890s date of the black-and-white photograph and August 11, 2005. The early photograph shows the more than 100-meters (328-feet) -high tidewater terminus of the glacier with a face capped by angular séracs. Numerous icebergs, some more than 2 meters (6.6 feet) in diameter are grounded on the tidal flat in the fore- and middle-ground of the photograph. The tidal flat is probably ice cored, underlain by glacier ice. The tides in this area are greater than 3 m (9.9 feet). A photographer and seven tourists are exploring the icebergs.

Note the formal dress of the people in the photograph, including the bustle on the woman on the right and the bowler hat and morning coat on the photographer. Many late-19th century photographs of Muir Glacier were made by tourists. Information associated with this photograph attributes it to a photographer named G. D. Hazard. Hazard may have been a camera-carrying passenger on one of the steamers that visited Glacier Bay. Tops of several bedrock ridges just poke above the top of the glacier on the skyline on the right side of the photograph. (G. D. Hazard, 7807, courtesy of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Archive). By the date of the 2005 photograph, Muir Glacier has retreated more than 50 kilometers (31 miles) and is completely out of the field of view. The glacier in the distance to the right center of the photograph is Riggs Glacier. Formerly a tributary to Muir Glacier, it is approximately 40 kilometers (26 miles) from the late-19th century photo point and about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from Muir Glacier. The beach in the foreground is covered by a cobble and pebble lag deposit, which was winnowed from sediment that was deposited by Muir Glacier and by melting grounded icebergs. Many of the cobbles are covered by barnacles. Note the abundant vegetation on the west side of the inlet. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of northeast looking photographs, both taken from the same location on the west shoreline of Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska showing the changes that have occurred to Muir Glacier during a period of more than a century, between the late-19th century and August 11, 2005. The late-19th century photograph, actually a postcard, shows the approximately 100-meters (328-feet)-high tidewater terminus of the glacier with a face capped by angular séracs. The eastern part of Muir Glacier’s terminus is composed of ice contributed by Adams Glacier, flowing out of what is now Adams Inlet, located in the gap between the essentially-snow-free mountains in the center of the picture. Numerous icebergs, some more than 5 meters (16 feet) in diameter, are grounded in the shallow water in the foreground of the photograph. Photographs used on many late-19th and early 20th-century postcards, including this one, were airbrushed to simplify the complex topography of the image’s mountains. No vegetation is visible. (L.V. Winter and P. E. Pond, postcard # C141 in the personal collection of the author). In the roughly 105-110 years between photographs, Muir Glacier has retreated more than 50 kilometers (31 miles) and is completely out of the field of view. The angular rocks in the foreground are part of a cobble lag deposit winnowed from sediment previously deposited by Muir Glacier and by melting grounded icebergs. Note the abundant vegetation on the near-ground slopes on the east side of Muir Inlet and in the lower part of Adams Inlet. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of northeast looking photographs, both taken from the same location on the west shoreline of Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska showing the changes that have occurred to Muir Glacier during a period of more than a century, between the late-19th century and August 11, 2005. The late-19th century photograph, actually a postcard, shows the approximately 100-m-high tidewater terminus of the glacier with a face capped by angular séracs. The eastern part of Muir Glacier’s terminus is composed of ice contributed by Adams Glacier, flowing out of what is now Adams Inlet, located in the gap between the essentially-snow-free mountains in the center of the picture. Numerous icebergs, some more than 5 m in diameter, are grounded in the shallow water in the foreground of the photograph. Photographs used on many late-19th and early 20th-century postcards, including this one, were airbrushed to simplify the complex topography of the image’s mountains. No vegetation is visible. (L.V. Winter and P. E. Pond, postcard # C141 in the personal collection of the author). In the roughly 105-110 years between photographs, Muir Glacier has retreated more than 50 km and is completely out of the field of view. The angular rocks in the foreground are part of a cobble lag deposit winnowed from sediment previously deposited by Muir Glacier and by melting grounded icebergs. Note the abundant vegetation on the near-ground slopes on the east side of Muir Inlet and in the lower part of Adams Inlet. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of north-looking photographs, both taken from the same location on Triangle Island, Queen Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska, showing the changes that have occurred to Carroll Glacier and upper Queen Inlet during the 97 years between August 1906  and September 7, 2003. The 1906 photograph, by USGS Geologist Charles Will Wright, shows the calving terminus of Carroll Glacier sitting at the head of Queen Inlet (USGS Photo Library Photograph - Wright 333). No vegetation is visible. The 2003 photograph shows that the terminus of Carroll Glacier has changed to a stagnant, debris-covered glacier that has significantly thinned and retreated from its 1906 position. The head of Queen Inlet has been filled by sediment. An examination of early 20th century nautical charts suggests that the sediment fill exceeds 125 meters (410 feet). Note the developing vegetation on the island. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

Two northwest looking photographs located on the northeast side of Wachusett Inlet, Saint Elias Mountains, Alaska. The September 9, 1961 photograph shows the lower reaches of Plateau Glacier, then a tidewater calving valley glacier with parts of its terminus being land based on either side of the fiord. The central part of the terminus is capped with séracs and rises about 35 meters (115 feet) above tidewater. The terminus has a large semi-circular embayment in its center. Including submarine ice, the total ice thickness here is greater than 200 meters (656 feet). Note the absence of any vegetation in the foreground, which is covered by a boulder till. To the upper right of center, a black, linear medial moraine can be seen on the surface of a tributary to Plateau Glacier that descends from Mount Wordie. Two people are located on the knob in the center of the photograph. (M.T. Millet photograph M-61-P51, courtesy of the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Archive). The September 14, 2003 repeat photograph documents changes that occurred during the ensuing 42 years. Plateau Glacier retreated out of the field of view and has all but melted away, after leaving a small remnant, Plateau Remnant, on the flanks of the Bruce Hills (northeast of the field of view). The tributary glacier that formerly supported the medial moraine has retreated more than 2.75 kilometers (1.71 miles), thinned by as much as 275 meters (902 feet), and left an area of debris-covered ice in the path of its retreat. The dense vegetation covering much of the foreground area that was previously only bare boulder till includes Alnus, Salix, Populus, and Picea. The vegetation was so dense that the two geologists, wearing orange float-coat, standing at the shoreline on the right side of the peninsula, were unable to reach the point of the headland occupied by the two individuals in the 1961 photograph. (National Park Service photograph by R.D. Karpilo).

Kenai Fjords National Park

A pair of north looking photographs of Pedersen Glacier, Kenai Mountains, Aialik Bay, Alaska, both taken from the same location on the west shoreline of Aialik Bay. The first photograph is an undated summer view, probably dating from between the mid-1920s and the early 1940s. This photograph is from a postcard labeled Pederson Glacier, Aialik Bay, Alaska. The water in the foreground is part of an ice-marginal lake/lagoon located adjacent to Aialik Bay. When photographed, Pedersen Glacier was calving icebergs into the lake from a séracs-capped terminus that ranged from 20-40 m (66–131 feet) high. No vegetation is visible. (undated, unnumbered postcard; unknown photographer, courtesy of Kenai Fjords National Park). The second photograph dates from August 10, 2005. In the roughly 60 - 80 years between photographs, most of the lake/lagoon has filed with sediment and now supports several varieties of grasses, shrubs, and aquatic plants. Several dozen dead trees are remnants of a mid-20th century forest that was drowned by more than 3 meters (9.8 feet) of down warping of the coast during the 1964 Alaskan Earthquake. Pedersen Glacier’s terminus has retreated more than 2 kilometers (1.24 miles). The tributary located high above Pedersen Glacier separated from it sometime during the third quarter of the 20th century. No icebergs are visible. Isolated patches of snow are present at a few higher elevation locations. Note the stands of trees that have developed between the sediment filled wetland and the glacier. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of northwest looking photographs of Pedersen Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Mountains, Aialik Bay, Alaska, both taken from the same location on the west shoreline of Aialik Bay. The first photograph by U.S. Grant, is a July 23, 1909 view of the then retreating northern part of the terminus. The water in the foreground is part of an ice-marginal lake/lagoon located adjacent to Aialik Bay. When photographed, Pedersen Glacier was calving icebergs into the lake from a sérac-capped terminus that was as much 40 meters (131 feet) high. Very little vegetation is visible. (USGS Photo Library Photograph – Grant 130). The second photograph dates from August 10, 2005. In the 94 years between photographs, most of the lake/lagoon has filed with sediment and now supports several varieties of grasses, shrubs, and aquatic plants. Several dozen dead trees are remnants of a mid-20th century forest that was drowned by more than 3 meters (9.8 feet) of down warping of the coast during the 1964 Alaskan Earthquake. Pedersen Glacier’s terminus is no longer in the field of view and has retreated more than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) to the west. Only a few small icebergs are visible, the result of calving into a new lake that has formed as Pedersen Glacier has retreated. Note that vegetation has developed on nearly every exposed land surface. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of north looking photographs of Yalik Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Mountains, Nuka Passage, Alaska,, both taken from the same location in Nuka Passage, about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) south of the position of the 1909 terminus of the glacier. The first photograph by D.F. Higgins, is an August 6, 1909 view of the then retreating northern part of the terminus. The absence of any icebergs indicates that by 1909, the glacier was no longer tidewater. When photographed, Yalik Glacier had a gently sloping terminus with little elevation at its margin. It is impossible to determine if vegetation was present. (USGS Photo Library Photograph – Grant 235). The second photograph dates from August 8, 2004. In the 95 years between photographs, Yalik Glacier has thinned by more than 100 meters (328 feet) and retreated more than 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles). It is now fronted by an ice-marginal lake. The shoreline south of the glacier supports several varieties of grasses, shrubs, and trees. Note the vegetation on the mountain slopes. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of northwest looking photographs of Aialik Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Mountains, Aialik Bay, Alaska, both taken from the same location on the northwest shoreline of Squab Island. The first photograph by U.S. Grant, is a July 20, 1909 view of the then slowly retreating western part of the terminus. When photographed, Aialik Glacier was actively calving icebergs into the bay from a sérac-capped terminus that was as much as 40 meters (131 feet) high. No vegetation is visible. (USGS Photo Library Photograph –Grant 128). The second photograph dates from August 12, 2005. In the 96 years between photographs, the terminus of Aialik Glacier remains close to its 1909 position, retreating a maximum of 300 meters (984 feet) and thinning 20–50 meters (65.6-164 ft). Although only a few small icebergs are visible in the photograph, Aialik Glacier is still a major tidewater calving glacier. Note that vegetation has developed on nearly every exposed land surface. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of northwest-looking photographs, both taken from the same location in McCarty Fiord, Kenai Mountains, Alaska, shows changes to the McCarty Fiord area between 1909 and 2004. The July 30, 1909 photograph shows the west side of the terminus of the then retreating McCarty Glacier, It was taken from a location about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of the mouth of McCarty Fiord. The area in the foreground is composed of a variety of types of glacial deposits including recessional moraines and outwash. The area is probably underlain by a thick mass of relict ice. Note the barren zone and adjacent Picea-dominated vegetation, located to the left of the summit ridge of glacier ice. A number of Alnus are growing in the foreground. (USGS photograph by D.F. Higgins). The August 11, 2004 photograph is taken from the same location, but more than years later. During the period between photographs, the terminus of McCarty Glacier has retreated about 15 kilometers (9.8 miles) to the north. The area in the foreground, formerly covered by a variety of types of glacial sedimentary deposits, is now open ocean water, the result of melting of the relict glacier ice underlying the sediment deposits. In places, the depth to the fiord floor exceeds 200 meters (656 feet). The former barren zone and adjacent hillside is now covered by dense vegetation, featuring mature Picea. Note the absence of any icebergs. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of northeast-looking photographs, both taken from the same location on a ridge in Bulldog Cove, near Bear Glacier Point, Kenai Mountains, Alaska, shows changes to Bear Glacier between the early 1920s and 2005. The older photograph is from a postcard labeled Harding Glaciers, Resurrection Bay, Alaska. The water in the foreground is part of lower Resurrection Bay. The name Harding Glacier or Glaciers was never officially adopted for Bear Glacier. In 1923, President Warren G. Harding visited Alaska, including a trip to Resurrection Bay and nearby Seward. The name Harding Icefield was officially approved in 1950 for the upland accumulation area that feeds Bear Glacier and a number of other glaciers of the Kenai Fiords. When photographed in the 1920s, Bear Glacier’s piedmont lobe was greatly expanded. Note that a few small shrubs or trees are present on the low sediment plain in front of the glacier’s terminus. (undated, unnumbered postcard; unknown photographer, courtesy of Kenai Fjords National Park). The second photograph was made on August 12, 2005. In the approximately 80 years between photographs, Bear Glacier’s piedmont lobe has retreated completely out of the field of view. Large icebergs, floating in the ice-marginal lake that fills the basin formerly occupied by Bear Glacier’s piedmont lobe, represent the only glacier ice that is visible. Isolated patches of snow are present at a few higher elevation locations. Note the dense vegetation that has developed around the margin of the lake and on most of the lower gradient slopes. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of northeast looking photographs taken from the same location on the cobble backbeach south of Bear Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Mountains, Resurrection Bay, Alaska. The first photograph by U.S. Grant, is a July 20, 1909 photograph of the eastern part of the terminus of Bear Glacier, fronted by a small outwash plain and several moraine ridges. When photographed, the glacier was slowly retreating. (USGS Photo Library - Photograph Grant 123). ). The second photograph dates from August 11, 2005. In the 96 years between photographs, Bear Glacier has retreated more than 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) and is no longer in the field of view. It has thinned by as much as 200 meters (656 feet). The sediment body in the foreground is often overtopped by storm waves, hence the driftwood log. The water in the middle of the photograph is part of the river that connects the large ice-marginal lake that has developed adjacent to the retreating terminus with Resurrection Bay. Note the abundant vegetation north of the river. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of north looking photographs taken from the same location on the backbeach south of Bear Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Mountains, Resurrection Bay, Alaska. The first photograph by U.S. Grant, is a July 20, 1909 photograph of the eastern part of the terminus of Bear Glacier, fronted by a small outwash plain and a small lagoon. When photographed, the glacier was slowly retreating. (USGS Photo Library - Photograph Grant 120). The second photograph dates from August 11, 2005. In the 96 years between photographs, Bear Glacier has retreated more than 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) and thinned by as much as 200 meters (656 feet). Only a very small part of Bear Glacier is visible. The tributary descending from the mountains was not visible in 1909 as it was hidden by the then massive terminus of the glacier. The lagoon present in 1909 has been filled with sediment and the outwash plain to the north is covered by grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of northwest-looking photographs, both taken from the same location in Harris Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Mountains, Alaska, showing the changes that have occurred to Northwestern Glacier and its adjacent regions during the 95 year period from July 26, 1909 and August 11, 2004. The 1909 photograph by U.S. Grant shows the then retreating terminus of Northwestern Glacier, then extending to within 450 meters (1,476 feet) of its late-Little Ice Age maximum position. In places, the height of the terminus exceeded 50 meters (164 feet). No vegetation is visible in the photograph. (USGS Photo Library - Photograph Grant 136). By August 2004, Northwestern Glacier has retreated out of the field of view. In fact, the 2004 terminus is located more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) to the northwest. Ogive Glacier, a former tributary glacier to Northwestern Glacier, is the glacier visible to the left of center. Ice-free Harris Bay and Northwestern Lagoon make up the foreground of the image. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of northwest-looking photographs, both taken from the same location on a cobble beach on the west shoreline of Harris Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Mountains, Alaska, showing the changes that have occurred to Northwestern Glacier and its adjacent regions during the 95 year period from July 26, 1909 and August 11, 2004. The 1909 photograph by U.S. Grant shows the then retreating terminus of Northwestern Glacier, then extending to within within 450 meters (1,476 feet) of its late-Little Ice Age maximum position. In places, the height of the terminus exceeded 50 meters (164 feet). No vegetation is visible in the photograph. (USGS Photo Library - Photograph Grant 137). By August 2004, Northwestern Glacier has retreated out of the field of view. In fact, the 2004 terminus is located more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) to the northwest. Ice-free Harris Bay makes up the foreground of the image. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of north looking photographs, both taken from the same location on the west shoreline of Harris Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Mountains, Alaska. The first photograph is an undated winter to early summer view, probably dating from between the mid-1920s and the 1940s. This photograph is from a postcard. The rocky shoreline in the foreground is covered by numerous pieces of brash ice, small icebergs, calved by the retreating Northwestern Glacier. When photographed, Northwestern Glacier had a sérac-capped terminus that ranged from 20-50 meter (65.6-164 feet) high. No vegetation is visible. (Undated, unnumbered postcard; unknown photographer, courtesy of Kenai Fjords National Park). The second photograph dates from August 12, 2005. In the roughly 60 - 80 years between photographs, Northwestern Glacier has retreated out of the field of view. In fact, the 2005 terminus is located more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) to the northwest. Ice-free Harris Bay makes up the foreground of the image. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

A pair of northeast looking photographs, both taken from the same location on the west shoreline of Harris Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Mountains, Alaska. The first photograph is an undated winter to early spring view, probably dating from between the mid-1920s and the 1940s. The shallow water adjacent to the shoreline in the foreground appears to be covered by a small thickness of sea ice, containing a number of pieces of brash ice. Northwestern Glacier spans most of the width of the photograph. When photographed, the glacier was retreating and had a sérac-capped terminus that ranged from 20-50 meters (65.6-164 feet) high. Note the large trees. This location was being used for subsistence hunting by local Native Alaskans. (Undated, unnumbered photograph; unknown photographer, courtesy of Kenai Fjords National Park). The second photograph dates from August 12, 2005. In the roughly 60 - 80 years between photographs, Northwestern Glacier has retreated out of the field of view. Sedimentation and uplift have expanded the shore area and produced a marshy wetland covered by a diverse array of vegetation. (USGS Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia).

Western Prince William Sound

Denali National Park