2005_Glacier margins derived from 2005 NAIP imagery for the named glaciers of Glacier National Park, MT and environs

Publication Date

2017

Time Period

2005-07-31

Time Period

2005-08-26

Time Period

2005-08-27

Fagre, D.B., McKeon, L.A., Dick, K.A., and Fountain, A.G., 2017, Glacier margin time series (1966, 1998, 2005, 2015) of the named glaciers of Glacier National Park, MT, USA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7P26WB1.

The purpose of this dataset is to develop a time series and history of glacier recession in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. This dataset delineates the 2005 perimeters of the named glaciers of Glacier National Park and two additional glaciers on U.S. Forest Service’s Flathead National Forest land (the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex) which borders GNP to the south. Establishing the rates of glacier retreat, using the decreasing area of glacier ice, is key to understanding the Glacier National Park ecosystem and future state of resources. For instance, glacial meltwater provides critical habitat for endangered stream insects. More broadly, retreating glaciers are indicative of long term climate change and have hydrologic and ecologic importance to many park resources. Glaciers and their retreat are of great interest to park visitors and the American public and are part of Glacier National Park's appeal. This is important because Glacier National Park is a major driver of the regional economy. Appropriate use of these data include comparing Glacier National Park's glacier area from different periods, such as previous/subsequent years included in the data release, and from different parts of the world. The change in glacier area can be used to test models of glacier-climate interactions, and to estimate glacier contributions to streamflow.

ScienceBase WMS

ScienceBase WFS

• Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Data source

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