Shepard Glacier
Encyclopedia
Shepard Glacier is a glacier remnant (glacieret) located in the U.S. state
of Montana
in Glacier National Park (U.S.). The glacieret is immediately southeast of Cathedral Peak
. Shepard Glacier was one of a number of glaciers that have been documented by the United States Geological Service (USGS) to have retreated significantly in Glacier National Park. Shepard Glacier was measured in 2009 to have decreased to less than 25 acre (0.1011715 km²), considered to be a minimal size to qualify as being considered an active glacier. Between 1966 and 2005, Shepard Glacier lost 56 percent of its surface area.
Comparing the 2005 image at right to the one below taken in 1913, it is apparent that Shepard glacier had retreated significantly between these dates.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
in Glacier National Park (U.S.). The glacieret is immediately southeast of Cathedral Peak
Cathedral Peak (Montana)
Cathedral Peak is located in the Lewis Range, Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. Shepard Glacier is situated immediately southeast of the peak....
. Shepard Glacier was one of a number of glaciers that have been documented by the United States Geological Service (USGS) to have retreated significantly in Glacier National Park. Shepard Glacier was measured in 2009 to have decreased to less than 25 acre (0.1011715 km²), considered to be a minimal size to qualify as being considered an active glacier. Between 1966 and 2005, Shepard Glacier lost 56 percent of its surface area.
Comparing the 2005 image at right to the one below taken in 1913, it is apparent that Shepard glacier had retreated significantly between these dates.
See also
- List of glaciers in the United States
- Glaciers in Glacier National Park (U.S.)Glaciers in Glacier National Park (U.S.)There are at least 35 named glaciers in Glacier National Park . In 1850, Glacier had 150 glaciers. There are 25 active glaciers remaining in the park today. Since the ice ages stopped 10,000 years ago, there have been many slight climate shifts causing periods of glacier growth or melt-back...