Glacier Bay National Park
Today we witnessed a most impressive display of glacial calving at the Margerie Glacier. Patient and persistent observation, the hallmark of all good naturalists, paid off when loud cracking sounds were heard from the glacier, followed shortly afterwards by an avalanche of ice and snow plummeting to the water.
The massive scale of the glacier’s face dwarfed the National Geographic Seabird making size comparisons difficult. But when a section nearly a quarter of the 250 foot height of the face let go, there was no doubt - it was big! The volume of ice smashing into the water below made an enormous splash. The resultant wave radiated outward from the glacier headed for the ship. We ‘squared up’, took the wave on the bow and marveled at the power of nature. Meanwhile, the glacier continued to calve, sending smaller ice chunks into the sea.
The day’s wildlife sightings did not disappoint, either. An early morning sighting of a solitary male orca (killer whale) with a nearly 6 foot tall dorsal fin set the stage. Steller’s sea lions were hauled out at Marble Island. A brown bear was sighted along the shore at Tidal Inlet and many mountain goats, several with kids, were seen along Gloomy Knob and Tlingit Point. Bird species abounded with puffins, bald eagles, cormorants, pigeon guillemots, and black oystercatchers in view; and huge flocks of migrating surf scoters dotted the bay.
Our LEX Forum discussion was prompted by the calving at Margerie Glacier. With the vast majority of Glacier Bay’s rivers of ice retreating, the possible impact of global warming could not be ignored. Our discussion centered around possible solutions and four rather chilling world-wide alternatives were noted: suffer the consequences; adaptation (build taller seawalls, etc.); mitigation (produce less CO2 emissions); or geo-engineering (like building sun reflecting rooftops, roads and parking lots).
A thought provoking day to be sure; and a learning experience none of us will soon forget.
Today we witnessed a most impressive display of glacial calving at the Margerie Glacier. Patient and persistent observation, the hallmark of all good naturalists, paid off when loud cracking sounds were heard from the glacier, followed shortly afterwards by an avalanche of ice and snow plummeting to the water.
The massive scale of the glacier’s face dwarfed the National Geographic Seabird making size comparisons difficult. But when a section nearly a quarter of the 250 foot height of the face let go, there was no doubt - it was big! The volume of ice smashing into the water below made an enormous splash. The resultant wave radiated outward from the glacier headed for the ship. We ‘squared up’, took the wave on the bow and marveled at the power of nature. Meanwhile, the glacier continued to calve, sending smaller ice chunks into the sea.
The day’s wildlife sightings did not disappoint, either. An early morning sighting of a solitary male orca (killer whale) with a nearly 6 foot tall dorsal fin set the stage. Steller’s sea lions were hauled out at Marble Island. A brown bear was sighted along the shore at Tidal Inlet and many mountain goats, several with kids, were seen along Gloomy Knob and Tlingit Point. Bird species abounded with puffins, bald eagles, cormorants, pigeon guillemots, and black oystercatchers in view; and huge flocks of migrating surf scoters dotted the bay.
Our LEX Forum discussion was prompted by the calving at Margerie Glacier. With the vast majority of Glacier Bay’s rivers of ice retreating, the possible impact of global warming could not be ignored. Our discussion centered around possible solutions and four rather chilling world-wide alternatives were noted: suffer the consequences; adaptation (build taller seawalls, etc.); mitigation (produce less CO2 emissions); or geo-engineering (like building sun reflecting rooftops, roads and parking lots).
A thought provoking day to be sure; and a learning experience none of us will soon forget.
