Blue Ice and Fossil Water: The Glacial History of Climate Change in the North Cascades

How are glaciers related to climate change and freshwater resources in the North Cascades? This course will assess what modern climate change means to glaciers and regional water supplies. We will explore the ice age records of past climate changes reconstructed by examining glacial deposits and ancient glacial lake sediments. We will then continue the story from the most recent ice age to current glacier monitoring in Washington. This will include a photographic comparison of glacier change from the early 20th Century until today. We will look at recent analyses of changes in glacial contribution to summer streamflow in the past 50 years and a projection of the future of glaciers in this region.

Registration ends March 16