Glacier Change in a world of Climate Change
Each year since 2008 I have been responsible for summarizing the global alpine glacier status for each specific year in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society State of the Climate report. The 2025 report came out in early August. Below is the report with several added figures. The 2025 World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) Continue reading Global Alpine Glacier 2025 State of Climate…
2026 Field Season: For the 43rd consecutive summer we are heading into the field to measure and communicate the impact of climate change on North Cascade glaciers. This field season follows the 2021-2025 seasons that featured either historic heat waves and/or periods of extended warm weather. The heat led to a greater exposure of bare Continue reading 43rd Field Season of North Cascade Glacier…
Barnes Ice Cap located in the center of Baffin Island, Canada covers an area of ~5731 km2 in 2021 (Rippin et al 2026). The ice cap is approximately 150 km long, 60 km wide and has maximum ice thickness of ~730 m and a maximum ice elevation of 1124 m above sea level (asl) at Continue reading Barnes Ice Cap and Baffin Island Glaciers Lose Snow Cover in July 2026
Miles Glacier terminates in an embayment on the east side of the Copper River, Alaska. A secondary terminus on the north side of the main glacier has long impounded a glacial lake that periodically drains. As miles has retreated over the last 40 years the maximum size of the glacial dammed lake has diminished, prior Continue reading Miles Glacier, Alaska Retreat-Van Cleve Lake Outburst 2026
Hovgard Kystland Glacier is an outlet glacier in West Greenland between Alison and Hayes Glacier. Alison Glacier had the highest retreat rate from 1976-2021 losing 14.3 km in length and 59.4 km2 in terminus area (Black and Joughin, 2026). Hayes Glacier lost 2.7 km in length and 10.8 km2 in area (Black and Joughin, 2026).. Continue reading Hovgard Kystland Glacier Rapid Retreat, West Greenland
Each of the last 15 years I have summarized the annual mass balance of alpine glaciers globally for the Bulletin American Meterological Society-State of the Climate report,. Below is the 2024 section on alpine glaciers with a few added figures. In 2024, all 58 global reference glaciers reported a negative annual mass balance. This is Continue reading Alpine Glaciers-State of Climate 2024
In June of 2025 heat waves combined with limited winter snowpack set the stage for significant glacier loss, 3% of the volume of Swiss Glacier. This followed on the exceptional losses in 2022 and 2023. This same story in playing out through June of 2026, which will lead to this being the fourth year in Continue reading Grosser Aletsch Glacier Rapid Snow Loss June 2026
The French Alps have expereienced a significant June heat wave that has driven a rapid rise in glacier snow lines. Rabatel et al (2013) examined the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of glaciers in the region from 1984-2010. The ELA is the snowline at the end of the summer melt season. Rabatel et al (2013) found the average Continue reading Argentiere Glacier, France Rapid Snow Line Rise June 2026
Bear Glacier, Alaska on the Kenai Peninsual due to retreat developed an ice dammed proglacial that periodically drains. An August drainage in 2014 and 2018 were noted by Kurtz and Wolken (2019). Recent increases in kayaking and standup paddle boarding has led to this lakes drainage posing a recreational hazard. In 2024 the lake drained Continue reading Bear Glacier, Alaska October 2025 Lake…
Since 1984 we have measured glacier mass balance on North Cascade glaciers every year. Mass balance is the difference between accumulation (income) and melt (expenses). The accumulation season typicallys ends around May 1. In 2026 it ended on April 19. In early December snowpack was average above 1500 m (5000 feet) and limited below. The Continue reading North Cascade Glacier Accumulation Season…
Occidental Glacier is an outlet glacier draining west from the Southern Patagonia Icefield. In 2015 the glacier terminus rested on the western shore of a proglacial lake where it bends to the northwest. At Point B a glacier lake was dammed by the ice front. From 2015 to 2021 the northwestern margin of the terminus Continue reading Occidental Glacier, Chile Terminus Tongue Poised to Collapse
March 21, 2026 was World Day for Glaciers, telling this story is an ongoing four decades long project for us. The North Cascade Glacier Climate Project began in 1984 to identify the response of Washington s North Cascade glaciers to climate change. The 2026 field season will mark our 43rd year of observations. I co-direct the Continue reading North Cascade Glacier Climate Project Year of Glacier…