According to glaciologist Mauri Pelto, three of Mount Rainier’s glaciers have melted away in recent years. The vanished glaciers are Pyramid, Stevens, and Van Trump.
Pyramid Glacier, the smallest of the three, had been shrinking for decades. Stevens Glacier, although larger, had also been shrinking for many years. Van Trump Glacier, the largest of the three, had been shrinking rapidly in recent years.
The melting glaciers indicate climate change as Earth’s temperature rises. This poses a serious problem globally, affecting water supply, irrigation, and hydroelectric power. Additionally, glaciers play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate.
The melting of Mount Rainier’s glaciers is a reminder of the need to take action on climate change. We need to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases in order to slow the pace of climate change.
The glaciers on Mount Rainier have lost 25% of their ice since the 1960s. The rate of melting is accelerating. This melting is impacting the local ecosystem. The glaciers provide vital water and their loss may lead to serious consequences.
