Lathrop Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lathrop Glacier |
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Lathrop Glacier is the small ice patch at center-right and below the summit of Mount Thielsen
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 Lathrop Glacier
Location in Oregon
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Cascade Range, Douglas County, Oregon, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 43°09′15″N 122°04′02″W / 43.15417°N 122.06722°W |
| Terminus | Talus |
| Status | Retreating |
Lathrop Glacier was a small patch of ice located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was found high up in the Cascade Range, on the steep side of Mount Thielsen. Mount Thielsen is an old, inactive shield volcano. Lathrop Glacier was special because it was the southernmost glacier ever discovered in Oregon. It was actually made up of two tiny pieces of ice, first seen in 1966.
Sadly, in August 2020, the Oregon Glaciers Institute announced that Lathrop Glacier had completely disappeared.
Contents
Understanding Glaciers
A glacier is a huge, slow-moving river of ice. Glaciers form when snow falls in one place and stays there for many years. Each year, more snow falls on top, pressing down on the snow below. This pressure turns the snow into ice. Over a very long time, this ice becomes so heavy that it starts to flow, even if it moves only a few inches a day.
Types of Glaciers
There are different kinds of glaciers. Some are huge sheets of ice that cover entire continents, like those in Antarctica. Others are smaller and form in mountains, often in valleys or on slopes. Lathrop Glacier was a mountain glacier, meaning it formed high up on a mountain.
Why Glaciers are Important
Glaciers are very important for our planet. They store a lot of the world's fresh water. When they melt slowly, they provide water for rivers and streams, which people and animals use. They also help scientists understand Earth's climate history. By studying glaciers, we can learn about past temperatures and how the climate has changed over thousands of years.
Where Lathrop Glacier Was Located
Lathrop Glacier was situated on the northeast side of Mount Thielsen. This mountain is part of the Cascade Range, a chain of mountains that runs through western North America. The glacier was found at a high elevation, generally above 8,500 feet (about 2,590 meters). This high altitude meant it was cold enough for ice to form and last for a long time.
Mount Thielsen's Role
Mount Thielsen is an extinct volcano. This means it is no longer active and won't erupt again. The steep slopes of the mountain provided a good place for snow to collect and turn into ice, forming Lathrop Glacier. The glacier was quite small, especially compared to some of the giant glaciers found in other parts of the world.
Why Lathrop Glacier Disappeared
Glaciers grow when more snow falls than melts. They shrink when more ice melts than new snow falls. Lathrop Glacier, like many glaciers around the world, was shrinking. This process is called "retreating."
Climate Change and Glaciers
The disappearance of Lathrop Glacier is a sign of a warming climate. As global temperatures rise, glaciers melt faster than they can grow. This leads to them getting smaller and eventually disappearing. Scientists study glaciers to see how much the Earth's climate is changing. The melting of glaciers can affect water supplies and sea levels around the world.
