Research Location

Glacier National Park (GNP) is a 4,082 km2 mountainous park located in the northwestern corner of the state of Montana along the border with Canada. Along with it’s neighbor to the north, Waterton Lakes National Park (Canada), GNP was designated the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in 1932, a Biosphere Reserve in 1976, and a World Heritage Site in 1995. The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, extensive national, state, and provincial forest lands, and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation surround the national parks to form a relatively unaltered landscape when contrasted to other areas of western North America. This is a snow-dominated region with over 70% of the annual precipitation falling as snow at higher elevations, which remain snow-free for as little as six weeks in late summer. GNP is the headwaters for its region. Elevations range from 984 m in valley bottoms to 3190 m peaks comprised of sedimentary rock up to 1.3 billion years old. The mountain topography was extensively reshaped by glaciation. Expansive conifer forests cover approximately 75% of the area. This region contains relatively intact floral and faunal assemblages. Species distribution and abundance vary along elevational gradients (extending to alpine vegetation) and from west to east (including grassland). Climate is controlled by dominant air masses with areas west of the Continental Divide receiving a stronger maritime influence from the Pacific Ocean and areas east of the Divide having a distinctly more continental climate. Precipitation varies dramatically between high elevation sites located near the Divide and lower elevation sites along the plains near the eastern edges of the region. For example, precipitation varies from 350 cm/yr (west side, high elevation) to 40 cm/year (east side, low elevation). Other factors, including dessicating east side winds, can enhance smaller differences in precipitation regimes between the east and west sides. This contrast in precipitation and other climatic factors over relatively small distances has a profound impact on microclimate, vegetation distribution and disturbance regimes.