Images

Swiftcurrent Glacier: circa 1910, M. Elod, GNP Archives - 9/27/2016, L McKeon, USGS

During the timespan between these photos, it is evident that Swiftcurrent Glacier has retreated and wildfire has consumed a patch of trees at the base of Swiftcurrent Mountain, the broad, beige slope in the background. 

Logan and Red Eagle Glaciers: Aug. 1914, EC Stebinger, USGS Photo Library – 9/2/2009, L McKeon, USGS

These glaciers were once a continuous glacier, but became separate glaciers as retreat progressed.

Jackson Glacier: 1912, MJ Elrod, U of M Library – 9/3/2009, L McKeon, USGS

Trees and vegetation continue to establish themselves at the base of Jackson Glacier as the glacier retreats.

Avalanche debris covers a road in Glacier National Park at Red Rock point.

Researchers taking aquatic insect samples in a high-elevation Glacier National Park stream as part of ecohydrological monitoring efforts to study the effects of climate change on aquatic species and ecosystems. 

Three researchers on the summit of Dancing Lady Mountain set up tapes and grids to complete a Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments network (GLORIA) vegetation survey.

Aerial photo showing fracture line of avalanche along a snow ridge line.

Researchers evaluate vegetation during a Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine (GLORIA) alpine plant survey near the summit of Seward Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana.

USGS scientist Tabitha Graves collects western bumble bee samples in eastern Montana. 

Researcher evaluates vegetation during a GLORIA alpine plant survey near the summit of Dancing Lady Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana.

A botanist collects vegetation data near the summit Pitamakin Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana.

Scientists collect alpine plant species and distribution data to complete a GLORIA site inventory on the summit of Seward Mountain, Glacier National Park, Montana.

GLORIA sites within Glacier National Park

Alpine summits often support a great variety of vegetation species despite harsh environmental conditions. Bison Mountain GLORIA plot, Glacier National Park, Montana.

Global distribution of GLORIA sites.

Angler holding a brown trout caught from a Montana River                                                                        

USGS scientists visit Garden Wall Weather Station in Glacier National Park.  This high elevation weather station, just below the Continental Divide near Logan Pass, collects weather data that is used each spring to forecast avalanche hazard for the road crew plowing Going to the Sun Road.  The data is also used by USGS avalanche scientists to study the con

Scientists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team have seen the first female grizzly bear with cubs of the year for 2020 in Yellowstone National Park. The radio-collared female was seen with 3 cubs during a telemetry tracking flight on 4/10.  One of the 3 cubs is hard to see between the 2 obvious siblings, but you can just make out its

Environmental DNA sampler (located in metal housing)  in USGS stream gage along the Snake River

Grinnell Glacier 2019

Scientists use grids to collect alpine plant data according to GLORIA protocols on the summit of Bison Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana.