Glacial Processes

As usual, each forum assignment is broken down into two basic parts:

InitialPost (worth 15 points)
A follow-up post to communicate with students and further the discussion (worth 5 points)
I. Complete the following for your initial post (part A only:

A. As you’ve learned this chapter and in the Yosemite documentary, glaciers have tremendous erosive potential. For your initial post, research and find a ‘before’ and ‘after’ image of a glaciated landscape (I provided an example below). Next, in the form of short paragraphs summarize where and when the photographs were taken and describe the post-glacial features/landforms seen in your image (these are described in detail in chapter 19 – “U” shaped valleys, cirques, moraines, etc.). Note that you will likely not be able to see every post-glacial feature in your image, but do your best to identify what you can. Some of you are well-versed in photoshop and image processing. You are welcome to draw arrows, circles, or otherwise highlight the features in the images to enhance your description but this is not a requirement. Be sure to upload a copy of your “before and after” images so I an review them and your descriptions for accuracy.

Glacial Landscape

Be sure to cite any outside resources using MLA citation format. Your initial post should be a minimum of 200 words. See the “Initial Post Rubric” below for further grading details.

II. For your follow-up post you must respond to at least one of your classmates initial post (worth 5 points). Introduce yourself to them. Provide comments/feedback on what they wrote in their initial post and/or ask questions. Some examples for this week would be – are their descriptions accurate?, did they miss any glacial features?, etc. Extra Credit Opportunity (optional; worth 2 points) – point out any glacial features they may have missed.

Your follow-up post should be thoughtful, through, and aim to generate discussion. You are encouraged to respond to multiple classmates, but the minimum requirement is one. Your follow-up post should be at least 100 words minimum. See the “Follow-Up Post Rubric” below for further grading details.

Links:

https://climate.nasa.gov/interactives/global-ice-viewer/#/

http://www.infocobuild.com/books-and-films/science/HowTheEarthWasMadeSe2/episode-05.html

Follow up post:

Screen Shot 2018-07-19 at 11.55.47 PM.png

The landscape I choose to do my research on was Shepard Glacier in Glacier National Park in Montana. The above photo on the left was taken in 1913 and the photo on the right was taken in 2005. It was taken in almost the same exact location because you can see the ridge of the mountaintop is in almost the same position in both photos. In this photo, you can see how Shepard Glacier is considered a cirque. It is a relatively protected deep bowl of ice and snow. In the photo on the right, you can see a tarn being made as the glacier melts into a tarn at the bottom. You can see that almost a hundred years later the glacier can almost not even be considered a glacier to this day. Its size has decreased dramatically and almost lost all of its size. The reason for the decline in the glacier is because of the climate change. According to the National Park Service, if the climate continues to keep this same pattern of increased temperatures then it is estimated to eliminated by 2030. This glacier is important because it feeds cold water into nearby streams that plants and animals rely on.