Glacier Climate Project
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School
Elgin Community College *
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Course
102
Subject
Geography
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by JusticeWater64217
Year
Distance from the bridge to the end of the glacier (pink dot) in kilometers
Was the glacier
advancing, stable, or
retreating
away from the bridge,
compared to the last pink dot?
Did the glacier have a
postive, negative, or zero
glacier budget since the
last pink dot?
1892
0.24km
No data to compare
No data to compare
1896
0.30km
retreating
-
1905
0.46km
retreating
-
1910
0.50km
retreating/stable
-0
1918
0.62km
retreating
-
1921
0.70km
retreating
-
1926
0.80km
retreating
-
1931
0.90km
retreating
-
1936
1km
retreating
-
1941
1.12km
retreating
-
1946
1.23km
retreating
-
1951
1.37km
retreating
-
1956
1.43km
retreating
-
1961
1.81km
retreating
-
1963
1.86km
retreating
-
1966
1.75km
advancing
+
1968
1.60km
advancing
+
1971
1.79km
retreating
-
1974
1976
1994
1997
1.82km
1.75km
1.98km
2.10km
retreating
advancing
retreating
retreating -
+
-
-
B. Plot your data
1. Make a hypothesis to answer this question: Why does the data set not include the glacier’s position for every year since 1892? For example, why is there no data for 1893 and 1894? (1 point)
If there is no change in glacier mass balance, thickness, and length, there won’t be data sets for
the glacier’s position.
2. Summarize the changes in the position of the glacier in a paragraph, relative to specific years
of the data with at least 3 sentences. For example, if you had to explain to someone who could not see your data table or graph the overall pattern of movements shown. (3 points)
The position of the glacier in 1896 is retreating, meaning the glacier had a negative glacier budget, and ice was lost. However, in 1966 the position advanced with a positive glacier budget,
indicating it gained ice. The glacier position in 1976 also advanced with a positive glacier budget
and gained ice.
3. What is the overall long-term trend in this graph – how averaged global land surface temperature changed from 1880 to 2005? (1 point) Choose one and circle, underline, or highlight it:
The temperature (
increased
, decreased, stayed the same) as time advanced.
4. Focus on just one decade (10 year period) of the Global mean Temperature graph and describe how the temperature changes in that decade with at least 2 sentences. If you are working with a partner, then choose a different decade to describe than them. This question is about the details of the changes, not the overall trend. (2 points)
In the decade 1880, the temperature decreased, and by the end, it stabilized back to the starting
temperature. The temperature started at 8.3
went down to 8.0
in 1885, and at 1890 ℃
℃
temperature increased to 8.4
℃
D. Next, compare the two graphs, the position of the glacier and the global land surface tempertaures. 5. Look at the temperature data carefully. Identify if the temperature increased, decreased, or stayed the same during the time period indicated below. Then complete the rest of the table using the data from Part A. (3 points)
Time Period
Temperature increase,
decrease, or no change
Glacier movement from zone
of accumulation: advance,
retreat, or no change
Match or Not?
1892 to 1896
decreased
advance
match
1905 to 1910
decreased
advance
Not match
1918 to 1926
increased
retreat
match
1931 to 1936
increased
retreat
match
1951 to 1956
decreased
advance
Not match
1966 to 1968
decreased
advance
match
1971 to 1976
decreased
Retreat and advance
match
1994 to 1997
increased
retreat
Match
6. Over most of the data set, does the temperature pattern match or not match? What did you use to determine your answer? (2 point) The temperature pattern overall matches both of the graphs I used, considering high temperatures melt ice, and cold temperatures increase ice.
7. Based on all of your work above, do you think Nisqually Glacier can be used as a global thermometer for measuring climate change? Explain using at least 3 sentences. If you are working with a partner, you should have different opinons because the question is asking what
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you think. (3 points)
I believe that the Nisqually Glacier can be used as a global thermometer for measuring climate change. I think this because it is an active valley glacier and its terminus has overall retreated up the valley since the 1800’s given the data points. Additionally, the retreat thickness has been reduced, which influenced a large volume of water that made debris surround vegetation on the glacier.