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Alaskan Glaciers

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Retreating and thinning terminus of Tazlina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Tazlina is the largest north-flowing glacier in the Chugach Mountains. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
Retreating and thinning terminus of Tazlina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Tazlina is the largest north-flowing glacier in the Chugach Mountains. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.		 Several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges east of the terminus of Tonsina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
Several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges east of the terminus of Tonsina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
The retreating terminus of Stephens Glacier with several of its retreating unnamed valley glacier tributaries. The easternmost former tributary lost contact with Stephens Glacier during the later part of the twentieth century. Northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the fresh moraine deposits on the valley floor. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
The retreating terminus of Stephens Glacier with several of its retreating unnamed valley glacier tributaries. The easternmost former tributary lost contact with Stephens Glacier during the later part of the twentieth century. Northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the fresh moraine deposits on the valley floor. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.		 Retreating and thinning terminus of Tazlina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the ice-marginal lakes developing in front of the glacier's retreating terminus. Tazlina is the largest north-flowing glacier in the Chugach Mountains. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
Retreating and thinning terminus of Tazlina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the ice-marginal lakes developing in front of the glacier's retreating terminus. Tazlina is the largest north-flowing glacier in the Chugach Mountains. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
Retreating and thinning terminus of Tazlina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the large vegetation-free trimline area on the west margin of the glacier. Tazlina is the largest north-flowing glacier in the Chugach Mountains. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
Retreating and thinning terminus of Tazlina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the large vegetation-free trimline area on the west margin of the glacier. Tazlina is the largest north-flowing glacier in the Chugach Mountains. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.		 Several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges north of the terminus of Tonsina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
Several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges north of the terminus of Tonsina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
North view of several small unnamed retreating valley and cirque glaciers and a few recently deglacierized cirques and ridges east of the Lowe River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
North view of several small unnamed retreating valley and cirque glaciers and a few recently deglacierized cirques and ridges east of the Lowe River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.		 South view of the terminius of the thinning and retreating Schwan Glaciers located south of the Tasnuna River and west of the Copper River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the ice-marginal lake that has developed in front of the retreating terminus.Much of the terminus is debris-covered. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
South view of the terminius of the thinning and retreating Schwan Glaciers located south of the Tasnuna River and west of the Copper River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the ice-marginal lake that has developed in front of the retreating terminus.Much of the terminus is debris-covered. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
Aerial view of Valdez Arm, Alaska. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
Aerial view of Valdez Arm, Alaska. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS		 View of a retreating unnamed, valley glacier and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges south of the Tiekel River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
View of a retreating unnamed, valley glacier and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges south of the Tiekel River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
View of a retreating unnamed, valley glacier and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges south of the Tiekel River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
View of a retreating unnamed, valley glacier and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges south of the Tiekel River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.		 Several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges north of the terminus of Tonsina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits and the tarn lakes. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
Several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges north of the terminus of Tonsina Glacier, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits and the tarn lakes. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
South view of the thinning and retreating terminus Wortmanns Glacier. Wortmanns and all of the glaciers shown display evidence of recent thinning and retreat. All are located west of the Tasnuna River and east of the Lowe River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
South view of the thinning and retreating terminus Wortmanns Glacier. Wortmanns and all of the glaciers shown display evidence of recent thinning and retreat. All are located west of the Tasnuna River and east of the Lowe River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.		 South view of several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges south of the Tiekel River, adjacent to Mount Billy Mitchell, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
South view of several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges south of the Tiekel River, adjacent to Mount Billy Mitchell, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
South view of the terminius of the thinning and retreating Schwan Glaciers located south of the Tasnuna River and west of the Copper River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the ice-marginal lake that has developed in front of the retreating terminus.Much of the terminus is debris-covered. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
South view of the terminius of the thinning and retreating Schwan Glaciers located south of the Tasnuna River and west of the Copper River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the ice-marginal lake that has developed in front of the retreating terminus.Much of the terminus is debris-covered. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.		 View of several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges south of the Tiekel River, adjacent to Mount Billy Mitchell, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
View of several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers and several recently deglacierized cirques and ridges south of the Tiekel River, adjacent to Mount Billy Mitchell, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Note the fresh moraine deposits. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
Southwest view of the accumulation area of Cleve Creek Glacier (background) and several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers near Thunder Creek, north of Cleve Creek, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
Southwest view of the accumulation area of Cleve Creek Glacier (background) and several retreating unnamed, small valley glaciers near Thunder Creek, north of Cleve Creek, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.		 North view of several small unnamed retreating valley and cirque glaciers and a few recently deglacierized cirques and ridges east of the Lowe River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
North view of several small unnamed retreating valley and cirque glaciers and a few recently deglacierized cirques and ridges east of the Lowe River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Much of the ice disappeared during the last few decades of the twentieth century. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
South view of the thinning and retreating terminus of an unnamed valley glacier, west of Wortmanns Glacier. The valley glacier and all of the glaciers shown display evidence of recent thinning and retreat. All are located west of the Tasnuna River and east of the Lowe River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
South view of the thinning and retreating terminus of an unnamed valley glacier, west of Wortmanns Glacier. The valley glacier and all of the glaciers shown display evidence of recent thinning and retreat. All are located west of the Tasnuna River and east of the Lowe River, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.		 North view of the terminus and lower reaches of Valdez Glacier, a rapidly thinning and retreating valley glacier located northeast of Valdez, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the trimlines and the enlarging ice-marginal lake exposed at the margin of the glaciers. During the twentieth century, Valdez Glacier thinned by more than 300 feet. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.
North view of the terminus and lower reaches of Valdez Glacier, a rapidly thinning and retreating valley glacier located northeast of Valdez, northcentral Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Note the trimlines and the enlarging ice-marginal lake exposed at the margin of the glaciers. During the twentieth century, Valdez Glacier thinned by more than 300 feet. Photograph by Bruce F. Molnia, USGS.

For more images of glaciers, see
Advancing Glacier Coming Close to Blocking Fiord Near Yakutat, Alaska
Glaciers and the Denali Fault earthquake of November 2002
Selected satellite images of glaciers

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