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Repeat Photography of the Glacier-clad Volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest


I recently completed fieldwork for a project capturing glacier repeat photographs on the volcanoes in the Northwest. The fieldwork was challenging but the extended dry conditions in September were fantastic - only two days of being clouded or rained out. In all, I documented over 50 photo stations between Mount Shasta to Mount Baker. Most of these were existing photo stations, though I added some new stations based on historical photographs. Additional sites were documented in the Wallowas of Oregon and in the Front Range of Colorado. These repeat photographs will be added to the Glacier Repeat Photograph Database*.
The change in glacier area and volume are quite evident in the photographs. The Emmons Glacier on Mount Rainier is the largest glacier in the lower 48 states. In the comparison below, you can see the dirty glacier in the foreground of the 1938 photograph, with water flowing from an ice cave at the glacier terminus. In 2012, the glacier has receded and vegetation has filled in the areas where the glacier occupied. The loss in glacier area and volume dominate the photo pairs, but some stations with more photographs capture an advance that occurred in the 1960s, which has been followed by a return to glacier retreat.

The Emmons Glacier from Station MT, Rainier National Park
(left) 1938 photograph by Frank Brockman, National Park Service
(right) 2012 photograph by Hassan Basagic

Many stations were located trail side, while others were completely off trail requiring long periods of bushwhacking and slogging on unstable moraines. I still find it exciting to occupy the exact perspectives of historical photographs. Anticipation always precedes finding the photo stations... "what if I am on the wrong ridge?". Once the station is located, it is fascinating to learn how the scene has changed. One photo from Mount Shasta dated back to 1876, making it the oldest photograph that I have repeated. In the comparison photo pairs you can see how the forest has advanced upward in elevation.
This field season was a great experience and the Glacier Rephoto Database has been greatly improved. I look forward to expanding the database and will be seeking help. Please let me know if anyone is interested in assisting.

*This project is created by Hassan Basagic, with funding from a Mazamas Research Grant and an American Alpine Club Nikwax Alpine Bellwether Grant, and in collaboration with the Glaciers of the American West Project at Portland State University (//glaciers.us).

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