Weasel Collar Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weasel Collar Glacier |
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 Weasel Collar Glacier
Location in Montana
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| Type | Mountain glacier |
| Location | Glacier National Park, Flathead County, Montana, United States |
| Coordinates | 48°53′40″N 114°03′52″W / 48.89444°N 114.06444°W |
| Area | Approximately 136 acres (0.55 km2) in 2005 |
| Terminus | Barren rock |
| Status | Retreating |
Weasel Collar Glacier is a natural ice formation found in Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. This glacier is special because it has lost less ice than many other glaciers in the park over recent decades. It sits high up in the mountains, offering a glimpse into the changing world around us.
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What is a Glacier?
A glacier is like a very slow-moving river of ice. It forms over many years as layers of snow pile up, get compressed, and turn into ice. Glaciers are found in places where it's cold enough for snow to stay on the ground all year round. They can be huge, covering vast areas, or smaller, like Weasel Collar Glacier.
How Glaciers Move
Glaciers move because of gravity. The heavy ice slowly slides downhill, carving out valleys and shaping the land as it goes. This movement is usually very slow, often just a few inches or feet per day.
Where is Weasel Collar Glacier Located?
Weasel Collar Glacier is located in the beautiful Glacier National Park. This park is famous for its stunning mountains, lakes, and, of course, its glaciers. The glacier is found just east of a mountain called Mount Carter.
High Up in the Mountains
This glacier sits at an average height of about 7,500 feet (2,300 m) above sea level. That's pretty high up! Being at such a high elevation helps the glacier stay cold enough to survive.
Features of Weasel Collar Glacier
Weasel Collar Glacier has some interesting features that are common to many mountain glaciers.
The Cirque
The glacier is nestled in a cirque. A cirque is a bowl-shaped hollow or basin that glaciers carve out of mountainsides. Imagine a giant scoop taken out of the mountain – that's a cirque! It helps to collect snow and protect the glacier.
The Terminus
The "terminus" is the very end of the glacier, where the ice stops. For Weasel Collar Glacier, its terminus faces north. This means the end of the glacier points towards the north. The area around its terminus is described as barren rock, meaning there's not much plant life there.
Changes Over Time
Like many glaciers around the world, Weasel Collar Glacier is "retreating." This means it is shrinking and getting smaller.
Losing Ice
Between 1966 and 2005, scientists studied the glaciers in Glacier National Park. They found that Weasel Collar Glacier lost the least amount of ice compared to other glaciers in the park. It lost only about 6.7 percent of its surface area. While any loss is a sign of change, this was a smaller amount than what other glaciers experienced.
Why Glaciers Retreat
Glaciers retreat when more ice melts away than is added by new snowfall. This can happen because of warmer temperatures or less snow falling. Studying how glaciers change helps scientists understand more about Earth's climate.
Why Glaciers are Important
Glaciers are more than just beautiful ice formations. They play a big role in our world.
Water Sources
Many communities around the world rely on glaciers for their water supply. As glaciers melt slowly during warmer months, they release water that fills rivers and lakes. This water is used for drinking, farming, and producing electricity.
Climate Indicators
Glaciers are also important indicators of climate change. When glaciers shrink rapidly, it often signals that the Earth's temperatures are getting warmer. Scientists study glaciers to learn more about past climates and to predict future climate changes.
