Alaska's Mendenhall Glacier Is Melting Fast, Caution Scientists

The Mendenhall Glacier, a prized natural gem in Alaska's capital, Juneau, is melting due to climate change. It's shrinking so fast that in 2050 it might not even be seen from the nearby visitor centre where it used to stand prominently.

Numerous tourists disembark daily from towering cruise ships in Alaska's capital city. They gather on a boardwalk where vendors offer excursions, and buses are lined up to take visitors to witness the Mendenhall Glacier. Most people prefer to experience the glacier from trails around Mendenhall Lake, close to the visitor centre. However, the stunning blue caves that used to attract crowds have crumbled, and water areas now exist where one could once walk from the rocks onto the ice.

How Much Has The Mendenhall Glacier Receded?

According to experts, large pieces of the Mendenhall Glacier have fractured away, and the primary reason for ice reduction is the thinning caused by rising temperatures. The glacier has notably withdrawn from Mendenhall Lake, which shares its name.

Researchers from the University of Alaska Southeast have observed that the glacier flows from rocky land amidst mountains into a lake with scattered icebergs. From 2007 to 2021, its front has moved back the length of eight football fields. Trail markers now mark where the glacier used to be. Plants have flourished in the area left by the glacier.

The Way Ahead

Alexandra Pierce, the city's tourism manager, emphasised the importance of considering the glaciers and their visibility as they melt. She added that there also needs to be a focus on reducing environmental impacts. "People come to Alaska to see what they consider a pristine environment, and it's our responsibility to preserve that for residents and visitors," Pierce asserted.

Scientists are working to understand the potential impacts of these changes on the ecosystem, including the habitat for salmon (a type of fish). Uncertainties also exist regarding the effects of tourism.

Authorities from the Tongass National Forest, responsible for the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, are preparing for an increase in visitors over the next three decades, even as they contemplate a future where the glacier might become less visible. The agency suggests new trails, parking spaces, an extra visitor centre, and cabins for public use near the lakeside campground. Researchers believe the glacier won't completely vanish for at least a 100 years. Around 700,000 visitors are expected this year, and it's projected to reach about 1 million by 2050.

(With inputs from PTI)