Miche Wabun Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Miche Wabun Glacier |
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 Miche Wabun Glacier
Location in Montana
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| Type | Glacieret |
| Location | Glacier National Park, Glacier County, Montana, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 48°56′51″N 113°50′03″W / 48.94750°N 113.83417°W |
| Area | Less than 25 acres (0.10 km2) in 2010 |
| Terminus | Talus |
| Status | Retreating |
The Miche Wabun Glacier is a very small glacier, sometimes called a glacieret. It is located in the Glacier National Park in Montana, U.S.. This tiny ice patch sits in a bowl-shaped hollow called a cirque, east of Goat Haunt Mountain.
Scientists measured the Miche Wabun Glacier in 2010. They found it was less than 25 acres (0.10 km²) in size. This is considered very small for an active glacier. Between 1966 and 2005, the glacier lost more than half of its surface area. This means it is shrinking quickly.
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What is a Glacieret?
A glacier is a huge mass of ice that moves slowly over land. Glaciers form when snow piles up over many years and gets compressed into ice. They are often found in high mountains or polar regions.
A "glacieret" is like a mini-glacier. It is a very small patch of ice that might not be moving much, or it might be too small to be called a full glacier. The Miche Wabun Glacier is an example of a glacieret. It is a remnant, meaning it is what is left of a larger glacier.
Where is Miche Wabun Glacier?
The Miche Wabun Glacier is found in the northeastern part of Glacier National Park. This park is in the state of Montana, in the United States. The park is famous for its beautiful mountains, lakes, and, of course, its glaciers.
The glacieret sits in a special type of valley called a cirque. A cirque is a bowl-shaped hollow that glaciers carve out of mountainsides. The Miche Wabun Glacier is located just east of a mountain called Goat Haunt Mountain.
Why are Glaciers Shrinking?
Many glaciers around the world, including the Miche Wabun Glacier, are shrinking. This process is called "retreating." When a glacier retreats, it means the ice is melting faster than new snow can build up.
Scientists believe that the main reason for this melting is climate change. The Earth's average temperature is getting warmer. This causes ice to melt more quickly, especially in places like Glacier National Park.
The Impact of Retreating Glaciers
The shrinking of glaciers has several important effects:
- Water Supply: Glaciers store a lot of fresh water. When they melt, they provide water to rivers and streams. If they disappear, this water source could dry up.
- Ecosystems: Plants and animals that depend on cold, icy environments can be affected. Some species might lose their homes.
- Sea Level: While small glaciers like Miche Wabun don't have a big impact, the melting of large glaciers and ice sheets contributes to rising sea levels.
The Miche Wabun Glacier has lost over 55 percent of its surface area between 1966 and 2005. This shows how quickly these ice formations are disappearing. In 2010, it was considered barely large enough to be called an active glacier.
