Blackfoot Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackfoot Glacier |
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Blackfoot Glacier at left was once joined to Jackson Glacier on the right
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 Blackfoot Glacier
Location in Montana
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Glacier National Park, Glacier County, Montana, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 48°35′40″N 113°40′12″W / 48.59444°N 113.67000°W |
| Area | 441 acres (1.78 km2) in 2005 |
| Length | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Terminus | Moraine |
| Status | Retreating |
Blackfoot Glacier is a large ice mass found in Glacier National Park, Montana. It is the second biggest glacier remaining in the park. This glacier is located just north of Blackfoot Mountain and close to Jackson Glacier.
How Big Is Blackfoot Glacier?
Blackfoot Glacier has changed a lot over time. In 1850, when it was first studied, it was much larger. It even included what is now Jackson Glacier. Together, they covered about 1,875 acres (7.59 square kilometers). At that time, there were around 150 glaciers in the park.
By 2005, Blackfoot Glacier had shrunk significantly. It was measured at 441 acres (1.78 square kilometers). This shows how much it has melted over the years. Scientists are concerned that most glaciers in the park might disappear by the year 2030. However, if carbon dioxide levels only increase a little, some glaciers could last until the late 2200s.
Watching the Glacier Change
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) keeps a close eye on Blackfoot and Jackson Glaciers. They are part of a special program that studies how glaciers are changing. This program looks at the "mass balance" of glaciers. Mass balance means how much ice a glacier gains or loses.
Scientists use special tools to monitor the glacier from a distance. They also use "repeat photography." This means they take pictures of the glacier from the exact same spots over many years. This helps them see how the glacier is shrinking. Between 1966 and 2005, Blackfoot Glacier lost more than 23 percent of its surface area. In the summer of 2007, a piece of Blackfoot Glacier broke off. This caused an "ice avalanche," which is like a landslide made of ice.
- Images of Blackfoot Glacier
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Blackfoot Glacier, 1917
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The upper image shows how Blackfoot (on the left) and Jackson Glaciers (on the right) appeared in 1914. The lower image is taken from the same vantage point in 2001
Images for kids
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Blackfoot Glacier at left was once joined to Jackson Glacier on the right
