From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blue Glacier is a large glacier located to the north of Mount Olympus in the Olympic
Mountains of Washington. The glacier covers an area of
1.7 mi² (4.3 km²) and contains 580 million ft³ (0.57 km³)
of ice and snow in spite of its low terminus elevation.[2]
The glacier length has decreased from about 3.4 miles
(5.5 km) in 1800 to only 2.7 mi (4.3 km) in the year
2000.[2]
Description
Starting at an elevation of 7,800 feet (2,380 m) near
Mount Olympus's three summits, the Blue Glacier begins as a
snow/ice field separated by arêtes.[3] As
the glacier flows north, it cascades down a steep slope and thus,
the smooth ice turns into a chaotic icefall, replete with seracs and crevasses. After the ice passes the
icefall, the glacier ends up in a valley and takes a left turn to
the west.[4] Another
ice stream from a snowdome located to the northwest of Mount
Olympus joins the Blue Glacier and together, the joined ice streams
flow down to a cliff at 4,050 feet (1,234 m).[3] On
this steep, barren, rocky slope, the Blue Glacier terminates after
dropping over 3,700 feet (1,130 m) in only 2.7 mi
(4.3 km). The rocky cliff used to host a second icefall before
the terminus of Blue Glacier retreated up the cliff.[2]
Hydrology
Due to orographic lift and the glacier's
proximity to the Pacific Ocean, more precipitation falls
on the Blue Glacier than any other glacier in the lower 48 United
States. About 180 inches (4.5 m) of precipitation falls on the
glacier each year.[2]
Precipitation exceeds 180 inches (4.5 m) on the upper reaches of
Mount Olympus and Blue Glacier.[5] During
winter, most of the precipitation on Blue Glacier consists of snow.
Average annual snowfall on the upper reaches of Mount Olympus is
100 feet (30 m).[6] In
addition, a significant amount of rain falls on the Blue Glacier as
well, especially during spring and summer.[2]
Because of this high precipitation and the volume of this body of
ice, the Blue Glacier contributes a significant amount of water to
the Hoh River via
Glacier Creek.[7] The Hoh
River eventually discharges in the Pacific Ocean after flowing down
34 mi (55 km) through temperate rain
forest in Olympic National Park.[2]
See also
References
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