Before-And-After Pictures Of Melting Glaciers Are Warnings We Cannot Ignore

The world is changing, and not always for the better. The Repeat Photography project tracks the rate of glacier decline in Glacier National Park, Montana and Alaska. It's one of the projects that US Ground Survey is carrying out to determine the rate of climate change. Repeat Photography is the most basic of tools, taking pictures the glaciers from the same position previous photos had been taken. They used to do five or ten years gaps between the shoots, but the rapid retreat of the glaciers made an increase in the frequency of photos.

The Glacier National Park in Montana had been covered by about 150 glaciers in the 19th century. Now, only 25 remain. The vanishing glaciers are also affecting the local wildlife, which is not suited to the warmer climates. Water bugs are already disappearing, and it's unknown how the birds and mammals will be impacted.

More info: usgs.gov (h/t: petapixel)

Muir Glacier and Inlet 1880s - 2005

Pedersen Glacier, ~1930s - 2005

Boulder Glacier, 1913-2012

Muir Inlet, 1941-2004

Muir Glacier and Inlet, 1890s - 2005

Iceberg Glacier ~1940 - 2008

Carroll Glacier 1906 - 2004

Grinnell Glacier from Overlook 1940 - 2006