Category: Heat waves glacier melt

43rd Field Season of North Cascade Glacier Climate Project

On By mspeltoIn glacier climate change, glaciers salmon, Heat waves glacier melt, North Cascade GlaciersLeave a comment
Lower Curtis Glacier terminus in 2025 with overall results of our work 1984-2025.

2026 Field Season: For the 43rd consecutive summer we are heading into the field to measure and communicate the impact of climate change on North Cascade glaciers. This field season follows the 2021-2025 seasons that featured either historic heat waves and/or periods of extended warm weather. The heat led to a greater exposure of bare ice on glaciers with a higher albedo and greater density. The observed melt rates are 7-9 cm/day water equivalent during warm weather events vs 4-6 cm/day for snow surfaces. This led to substantial mass losses on North Cascade glacier for the five years of ~8m. This winter was poor and the summer will be hard on glaciers. This year we have provided support from Alpine Start, Marmot, Protect our Winters and Smartwool.

Science objectives: We will complete detailed measurements on 10 glaciers, three of which are part of the World Glacier Monitoring Service reference glacier network (48 glaciers globally), which have 30+ consecutive years of mass balance observations. This summer we will have an opportunity to assess the long-term ramifications of the 2021-2025 period of unprecedented mass balance losses and associated glacier changes, with detailed mass balance, crevasse depths and glacier surface elevation profiling.  We also focus on the impact of diminishing glacier size on downstream runoff.

Art Objectives: We will collaborate with several artists who will join us for a portion of the field season. They will be able to create their own work about the landscape and the science or may join us for fieldwork and make plans for future artwork. We hope to use this art to share our research with a broader audience and highlight the beauty and importance of these places. 

Communication Objectives: We will leverage the brands of our expedition sponsors and local organizations that we are building collaborations to focus on continued rapid glacier loss and the downstream effects.  We will utilize a combination of artists and scientists to tell the story.

Painting by Jill Pelto of the Nooksack watershed illustrating connections from glacier to the sea.

Bios

Jill Pelto (she/her) is an artist and scientist from New England who grew up loving winter sports and trips to the mountains. She incorporates scientific research and data into paintings and prints to communicate environmental changes. 2025 was Jill’s 17th field season. She has coordinated an art gallery exhibit “Shaped by Ice” in Seattle in 2025 and in Winthrop, WA in 2026. She is excited about continuing to document the change in North Cascade glaciers that she has witnessed each of the last ten years —through science and art.

Mauri Pelto (he/him) has directed the project since its founding in 1984, spending more than 800 nights camped out adjacent to these glaciers. He is the United States representative to the World Glacier Monitoring Service. For 16years he has been author of the blog “From a Glacier’s Perspective”, and associate editor for three science journals.  He is on the Science Advisory Board for NASA’s Earth Observatory. His primary position is Associate Provost at Nichols College, where he has been a professor since 1989. He either runs on trails or skis on alpine and cross country trails every day.

Ava Reynolds is a printmaker examining the relationship between environmental beauty and climate change in her work. Ava holds a B.A. in Global Sustainability and a B.A. in Studio Art from the University of Virginia (2020), and is in her first year at the Rhode Island School of Design, pursuing an MFA in Printmaking. She finds inspiration for her prints from organic forms, natural landscapes, and climate change data and seeks to use art as a medium to engage with a large audience about the impacts of climate change.

Shaina Dotson is a Seattle-based creative with a BFA in Metalsmithing whose hobbies include metal arts, fiber arts, and printmaking. She serves on the board of the Washington Alpine Club and instructs for their Basic Climbing Class, sharing her love of the mountains with new climbers. Shaina is an avid mountaineer who finds joy in exploring the forests, peaks, and wild places of Washington State. Her deep connection to the landscape, combined with a love of learning and giving back to her community, naturally drew her to this project. She looks forward to creating new work inspired by the glaciers of Washington and the research this project brings to light.

Rikki Held is an early-career scientist passionate about understanding Earth and climate systems and communicating science through film. Growing up on her family’s ranch in southeastern Montana and studying the adjacent river with USGS scientists sparked her interest in investigating the complex Earth systems in which we live. She earned her B.A. in Environmental Science at Colorado College and has conducted interdisciplinary research, taught high school biology and chemistry through the Peace Corps in Kenya, and communicated climate impacts through her climate advocacy work in Montana. In graduate school, Rikki aims to study glaciology and climate variability to better predict future change. She looks forward to learning from the scientists and artists involved in NCGCP and creating a short documentary on their inspiring work. 

Abby Conner (she/her) is a water resources professional with a passion for connecting people to their local watersheds. She earned her M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado and returned to the PNW, where she serves on the board of the Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project and volunteers with the Mountaineers. She looks forward to bringing her background in water resources to the NCGP and exploring the connections between North Cascade glaciers and the communities downstream.

Nina Adjanin (she/her) is an associate professor at Northwest Missouri State University. Her work integrates technology and immersive experiences to explore the intersection of education, extreme environments, and the impact of climate change on high mountains and polar regions. Beyond her academic work, Nina is an experienced high-altitude mountain guide and adventurer, with expeditions that have taken her to extreme environments around the world and shaped her interdisciplinary approach to research. Nina is thrilled to be joining this project documenting the changes in the North Cascade glaciers, bringing her background in extreme environments and climate change research. 

Danielle Schlunegger-Warner is a multi-disciplinary artist working in sculpture, installation, and experimental digital photography, to celebrate the wonder of the natural world. After graduating from California College of Art with a BFA in Sculpture, she has fabricated and designed museum exhibits for over ten years and maintained an independent art practice including science communication projects. For NCGCP, Danielle plans to continue combining her art, science, and museum exhibit background. She will investigate how the rapidly changing glacial landscape of the Cascades can be seen through the lens of a microscope, intertwining field microscopy, image projection, and artistic observations illustrating impact of smallest forms of life the greater environment.

Team on Rainbow Glacier in 2025 from left Katie Hovind, Caitlin Quirk, Claire Sianna Seaman, Jill Pelto and Margaret Kingston.

2026 Schedule 

  • July 28:   Hike In Lower Curtis Glacier
  • July 29:   Lower Curtis Glacier survey
  • July 30:   Hike Out Lower Curtis/Hike in Ptarmigan Ridge
  • July 31:   Sholes Glacier
  • Aug. 1:    Rainbow Glacier
  • Aug. 2:    Rainbow Glacier
  • Aug. 3:    Hike out. Hike in Easton Glacier (Resupply in Bellingham WA) 
  • Aug. 4:    Easton Glacier
  • Aug. 5:    Easton Glacier
  • Aug. 6:    Squak Glacier
  • Aug. 7:    Talum Glacier
  • Aug. 8:    Hike out Hike in Columbia Glacier (resupply in Monroe WA)
  • Aug. 9:    Columbia Glacier
  • Aug. 10:  Hike out Columbia-Hike in Daniels
  • Aug. 11:  Mount Daniels Survey
  • Aug. 12:  Ice Worm-Hike out

Argentiere Glacier, France Rapid Snow Line Rise June 2026

On By mspeltoIn france glacier retreat, Heat waves glacier melt1 Comment
On June 1, 2026 the snowline is near the terminus of Argentiere Glacier at 2300 m, by June 24, 2026 the snowline has rise upglacier 3.3 km to 2700 m.

The French Alps have expereienced a significant June heat wave that has driven a rapid rise in glacier snow lines. Rabatel et al (2013)  examined the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of glaciers in the region from 1984-2010.  The ELA is the snowline at the end of the summer melt season.   Rabatel et al (2013) found the average snow line of 3000 m on Trient Glacier, 2900 m on Tour Glacier, and 2800 m on Argentiere Glacier.  

On June 1st and 7th 2026 the snow line on Argentiere Glacier was near the terminus at 2300 m, by June 24th the snow line risen to 2700 m. This is 100 m shy of the average end of summer snow line, with 25% of the glacier losing its snowcover in this period. In 2015 and 2017 the snowline reached a record height of 2950 m in late August. This snow line rose to 3000 m again in August of 2022 and to 2900 m in August 2023. The snow lines from these years are in images below

The high snow lines result in a limited accumulation zone and an expanded ablation area leading to mass balance losses and terminus retreat. Argentiere Glacier is a World Glacier Monitoring Service reference glacier, with the data indicated in the images below. The glacier advanced from the early 1960s to early 1990s and since driven by negative mass balances in all but one year this century has retreated ~ 1 km. The mass balance loss has exceeded 1 m in most years this century and will again this year.

Annual mass balance reported to WGMS for Argentiere Glacier.
Terminus change reported to WGMS for Argentiere Glacier.
Argentiere Glacier snow line at end of 2015 melt season at 2950 m in Landsat image.
Argentiere Glacier snow line at end of 2017 melt season at 2950 m in Landsat image.
Argentiere Glacier snow line at end of 2022 melt season at 3000 m in Sentinel image.
Argentiere Glacier snow line at end of 2023 melt season at 2900 m in Sentinel image.

Svalbard Ice Cap Fragmentation and RecessionAccelerates with Snow Free Conditions Again in 2025

On By mspeltoIn climate change glacier retreat, glacier climate change, Heat waves glacier melt, svalbard glacier retreat
Kvitkapa in Landsat images from 2014 and 2025 indicating the fragmentation from 3 to 8 different glacier parts.

In 2022, 2023 and 2024 a number of ice caps and glaciers across Svalbard lost all snow cover, ie. Edgeøya 2022. The result by 2024 was that all firn cover had been lost as well on many of the ice caps of Edgeoya, such as on Digerfonna. This largely removes the ability of meltwater to refreeze. In 2025 we again see this playing out on the ice caps of Edgeøya. This all too familiar story indicates these glaciers lack a consistent accumulation zone that is essential for their survival

Map of Kvitkapa from TopoSvalbard indicating one interconnected ice cap in 2000.

Kvitkapa is an ice cap on a peninsula on the south coast of Edgeøya Island. In a map of this region from TopoSvalbard this is a single interconnected system of glaciers. By 2014 Landsat imagery indicates the ice cap has separated into three sections. By 2025 the ice cap has fragmented into eight different parts.

On the next peninsula to the east Kvalpyntfonna has also lost all snow cover again 2025.

Kvalpyntfonna in Landsat image from 2025 having lost all its snow cover and has no residual firn from previous winters either.

Further north and east on Edgeøya the Stonebreen ice cap has also losts its snow cover and firn cover driving thinning and retreat. The consistes loss of snow cover and resultant loss of firn cover, indicates that most ice caps Edgeøya cannot be sustained.

Stonebreen in false color Sentinel image illustrating retreat from 2020-2025. The lack of retained snow cover and residual firn will lead to continued rapid thinning and retreat.

Volcan Peteroa Glaciers Argentina/Chile Fragment During Snow Cover Free Summers

On By mspeltoIn argentina glacier retreat, chile glacier melt, Heat waves glacier melt, Uncategorized

Volcan Peteroa glaciers in Sentinel images from March 2016 (below) and March 2023 (above). This illustrates fragmentation, 50% area loss, and a new lake formation. All the result of repeated snowcover free glaciers. 

For an alpine glacier to survive it must remain mostly snowcovered throughout the year, even at the end of the summer. This is one reason for the majesty of glaciated mountains, they shine brightly even in summer.  This summer in the Central Andes of Argentina and Chile, just as in 2022, I have chronicled the near total loss of snowpack due to summer heat waves, leading to dirty/dark glaciers (Pelto, 2022).  The heat wave this summer led to maximum temperature anomalies 3-5 C during the first half of March in the Central Andes of Argentina (SMN Argentina, 2023). An ice surface melts faster than a snow surface and the darker surface of the glacier also enhances melt rate leading to more rapid area and volume loss. This includes fragmentation and rapid expansion of bedrock areas amidst the glacier, other regional glacier obsrvations include: Sollipulli Glacier, Rio Atuel Glaciers, Palomo-Cipreses Glacier and Volcan Overo Glaciers,Here we examine Volcan Peteroa glaciers on its north flanks, which straddles the Chlile-Argentina border during the 2016-2023 period using Sentinel images. Reinthaler et al 2019 observed a ~2% annual area loss of Volcan Peteroa glaciers.

Here we examine the impact of several years of snow cover loss on the Volcan Peteroa glaciers. In 2016 it is evident there are six key ice masses on the north flank of the glacier A-F, with a combined area of 4.5 km².  In 2022 early snowcover loss led to rapid glacier thinning and lake formation, see below.  In 2023 the glacier at Point A has contracted by 50% to 0.22 km². At Point B and C the glacier has separated and is now two fragments with area of 0.36 km²  and 0.12 km² respectively. At Point D a new lake has expanded rapidly in 2022 and 2023, the lake has an area of 0.12 km² and the glacier a area of  1.21 km².  At Point E the glacier fragmented and pulled away from D and its two fragments have an of 0.36 km². At Point F the glacier has melted away. The combined area of 2.27 km² is ~50% of the glacier area just seven years prior. This is much faster than the 2% loss of the 1986-2015 period. The significant darkening of the snowfree surface will speed the loss of this glacier that no longer has a consistent accumulation zone.

Volcan Peteroa Glacier in false color Sentinel image continues to fragment with ~2% retained snowcover in 2022.  New lake at Point D. A small fragment of ice is apparent at Point F. and bedrock expansion at Point A. New lake has also formed.

Rio Atuel Glaciers, Argentina Stripped of Snowcover February 2023

On By mspeltoIn argentina glacier retreat, Heat waves glacier melt1 Comment

Snowcover loss on Cofto, Fiero and Del Humo Glacier in Sentinel images from January 13 and February 9, 2023, snowpack diminished from 45% to less than 3%.

Rio Atuel drains from the high Central Andes in Western Argentina and is a snow and glacier fed system In the headwaters region there are a series of glaciers that have been losing mass and retreating.The most negative mass balance rates from 2000–2018 in this region of Argentina were in the  Atuel basin at −0.70  m/year (Ferri et al 2020). Both minimum and annual discharge in the Rio Mendoza has diminished from 1980-2010 (Lauro et al 2019).

Here we examine the snowcover loss between January 13 and February 9, 2023 on four of these glaciers from south to north Fiero, Corto, Del Humo and La Laguna. In mid-January snowcovered 40-50% of these glaciers. After a significant heat wave from January 28-Feb. 9. the snowcover had declined to less than 3% with six weeks left in the melt season.  This is the second year in a row these glaciers have lost all snowcover. This has further concentrated light absorbing particles at the surface, decreasing albedo, and increasing glacier melt. The glaciers simply put look quite dirty.  This is a cumulative process that is enhanced by consecutive high melt years and causes rapid volume loss.  Shaw et al (2020) found a significant ongoing decline in ice albedo in these region of the Andes that is impacting their overall mass loss.  The increased frequency of heat events continues to enhance melting of Central Andean glaciers. This process is playing out this year on Sollipulli Glacier and in 2022 on many Central Andean glaciers.

Snowcover loss on La Laguna Glacier in Sentinel images from January 13 and February 9, 2023, snowpack diminished from 40% to less than 3%.

Volcan Overo is a 4619 m high Andean mountain in Argentina with a relatively low sloped broad summit region above 4000 m. The summit region is host to a glacier complex that is shrinking and fragmenting. In mid-January, 2022 the glacier has lost all of its snow cover. Volcan Overo in February 2023 the glacier complext has again lost all snowcover, which is leading to furtherfragmentation at the yellow arrows, even since 2022.

Volcan Overo in 2022 and 2023 having lost all of its snowcover. Expanding lakes at blue arrows.