Bering Glacier Verges on Gulf of Alaska

Bering Glacier, the continent's largest, has slid to within 1-1/2 miles of the Gulf of Alaska, raising concerns about ice-covered habitat and icebergs in oil-tanker shipping lanes.

Scientists say galloping glaciers, such as the Bering, are a result of ''bad plumbing,'' when a cushion of water builds beneath the ice and slicks the way for glaciers to flow faster. In glacial terms, that can mean 100 yards a day.

The Bering Glacier, which runs from the Bagley Ice Field in Canada through Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, advanced about six miles last year before stopping. This year, it has moved as much as four miles in some places since early May. The 30-mile-wide, 145-mile-long glacier has nearly reached the point of its farthest advance in history, the Bureau of Land Management says.

Bruce Molnia, who directs a US Geological Survey study of the Bering, says the glacier was moving two feet a day or less before it started surging last year. During its peak, 30 million tons of ice calved from the glacier each day.

Effects of the glacier's surge on wildlife aren't clear. Ice dams could cause flooding that could mar salmon streams. The region's flourishing bird populations may also be affected. About 10 percent of the world's trumpeter swans nest on the margins of the Bering Glacier.

You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to Bering Glacier Verges on Gulf of Alaska
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0711/11133.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us