These Before and After Photos Show How Glaciers in the US Are Melting

header

Over the past several years, the U.S. Geological Survey has been shooting a “Repeat Photography” project in various locations to show how glacier ice has been retreating over the past century. Using photos from the late 1800s and early 1900s as references, photographers are rephotographing those same scenes to show how things have changed (and are changing).

Locations covered by the project so far include national parks and forests in Alaska and Glacier National Park in Montana. Montana’s park was covered with 150 glaciers back in the 1800s, but today only 25 of them remain.

Here’s a 3-minute feature National Geographic made about the project in Montana:

Here are some before and after photos published by the project so far:

Muir Glacier and Inlet, Alaska, 1880s and 2005

muir8ab

Muir Glacier and Inlet, Alaska, Mid 1890s and 2005

muir9ab

Carroll Glacier, Alaska, 1906 and 2004

carroll13ab

Pedersen Glacier, Alaska, ~1930s and 2005

kf22ab

Grinnell Glacier Overlook, Montana, 1920 and 2008

Grn920d_cr_L

Grinnell Glacier, Montana, 1926 and 2008

GrnRock2_1926_Elrod_UM486-XII_114-037_c_L

Iceberg Glacier, Montana, ~1940 and 2008

Ice939a_hileman_L

Glacier National Park in Montana is expected to be glacier free by the year 2030 if present warming trends continue.

(via National Geographic via Sploid)

Discussion