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[Cover Photo: Ian D. Keating]
A scientific study completed by a group of glaciologists shows that the Alaska Range is undergoing a historic melting period the likes of which haven’t been seen in nearly a 200 years.
Related: April Snowpacks Are Now Dramatically Smaller Across The West
Citing new ice core data that chronicles 400 years of climate in the Mt Hunter region of Denali National Park, the scientists behind the research say that summer temperatures are 2°C higher than the historic average. They reason that the increase is thanks to a warming Pacific Ocean, which in turn pushes more high pressure systems over the Alaska Range.
“Our results show that rapid alpine warming has taken place in the Alaska Range for at least a century and that conditions in the tropical oceans contribute to this warming.”
All that equates to is higher temps, less precipitation, and retreating glaciers. Like other studies like it, this one supports the conclusion that industrialization and its subsequent carbon footprint have caused the glacial melt to increase “60‐fold” over the course of the past 150 years.
Find the entire study here: A 400‐year ice core melt layer record of summertime warming in the Alaska Range
*Video courtesy of USA Today