Spatially variable surface elevation changes and estimated melt water contribution of Continental Glacier in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, USA: 1966–2011

Abstract

Seasonal snow melt in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, has been ending earlier over the last several decades leaving the region to rely more on supplemental melt water from mountain glaciers. This leads to the necessity of understanding recent glacial changes. This study uses elevation data from 1966, 2006 and 2011 to calculate surface elevation and volume changes that have occurred on Continental Glacier. Results indicate a mean volume change of −0.034 ± 0.02 km3 and surface elevation change of −0.36 ± 0.19 m y−1 between 1966 and 2006. Detailed spatial analysis shows that the glacier is divided into two sections which are thinning at different rates (lower section: −0.06±0.19 m y−1; upper section: −0.51 ± 0.19 m y−1). The upper section has experienced 97% of the thinning (or 742.5 × 103 m3 of melt water equivalent per year) and increased its rate since 2006 by 27.5%.