Hubbard Glacier -- Why You See It Now!

2/15/2012 1:13:53 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

Alaska, Alaskan fjords, Alaskan Vacation, cruise, USA, vacation

The Hubbard Glacier is the largest calving glacier on the North American continent.

Ice Calving - (of a glacier, an iceberg, etc.) to break off or detach (a piece): The glacier calved an iceberg.

Calving Glaciers are Unresponsive to Climate. Hubbard Glacier is the largest of eight calving glaciers in Alaska that are currently increasing in total mass and advancing. The glaciers that are currently growing and advancing in the face of global warming were retreating throughout the Little Ice Age when most glaciers were growing.

Calving of glaciers is often preceded by a loud cracking or booming sound. This sound can be heard very well in the peace of the Yukutat Bay and you will often hear large splashes.  Hubbard Glacier routinely calves off icebergs as high as 10-story buildings.

It takes about 400 years for ice to traverse the length of the glacier, meaning that the ice at the foot of the glacier is about 400 years old.

Before it reaches the sea, Hubbard is joined by the Valerie Glacier to the west.

Pretty cool for the longest river of ice in North America!

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