Mount Shasta Glaciers Defy Global Warming, Grow (by 30%....incl. video)

CBS 13.com ^ | September 3, 2007 | John Iander

[Stoat]

Mount Shasta Glaciers Defy Global Warming, Grow

 

John Iander
Reporting

(CBS13) MOUNT SHASTA The debate over global warming has taken a pretty odd twist in Northern California. Up on Mount Shasta, the glaciers are not behaving like you'd expect.

Big mountains often produce their own weather patterns. Mount Shasta, at 14,162 feet seems to have a mind of its own these days. Shasta has seven glaciers. The biggest is the one on the middle, Whitney Glacier. What has surprised scientists about the glacier is that if the theories about global warming are true, the glacier ought to be shrinking, but it's not.

“Unlike most areas around the world, these glaciers are advancing, they are growing. Thirty percent in the last fifty years,” says scientist Erik White.

White and mountain climber Chris Carr are Shasta experts.

"Every year it's a little bit different. But the glacier changes dramatically, year to year," says Carr.

So why are the glaciers larger today than they were a century or more ago?

"Mount Shasta is right at the very northern end of areas influenced by El Nino and were at the southern end of areas affected by La Nina. So between the two we get to see the benefits of that which means more snow and rain in this area," says White.

Snow scientists have been tracking the glaciers' size by comparing photos from a century ago to those taken decades later, and then using satellite data and computer modeling to determine the rate of growth.

Those models predict Shasta will continue to receive more than normal snowfall, but if the temperature continues to rise, the glaciers will begin to recede.

For now, the growing glaciers are good news to the town of Mount Shasta which hosts the thousands of tourists who come to here to experience the thrill of ice climbing.

You can climb mountain Shasta all the way to the glaciers to see for yourself, but, you'd better have good hiking equipment and be in good shape too!

[Stoat]

((((snicker)))))

[Nervous Tick]

>>((((snicker)))))

Yeah, snicker all you want to, pal. It may not be “warming” but it’s still Climate Change. And, although we haven’t a clue as to just how any particular square mile will change, we know it will.

We are also sure it’s your fault.

You need to a) feel real guilty for being a productive American, and b) sacrifice your standard of living to offset Chinese pollution.

I suggest you start on b) right away. Send me your credit card information and I’ll email you some carbon credits.

[Red Badger]

Shasta gives the shafta Glowbull Warming..............

[Califreak]

Don't worry! Al will be along soon to fix it:

[Paperdoll]

And it looks as though we may be having an early autumn in Washington State, too. :)

[papasmurf]

When my Dad’s Irish immigrant family left Kansas, and went to California, half of them went to the Shasta area (Redding, etc.)

My Dad, out of work one time after an injury, went up and worked with his Brothers there. He came back and fascinated us all with tales of the mountains, wildlife, the lakes, and the glaciers.

He wanted to move up State, and I remember, vividly, he and Mom taking a whole day just to discuss it. They (Mom LOL) decided not to go, and I often wonder how my life would have evolved if we had gone.

I’ve gone up many times to visit, and as an excuse to fly my 172 into Redding Muni and Benton Airpark, and almost did move up, but it just wasn’t meant to be.

Two years ago my favorite Uncle, the oldest living male on Dad’s side of the family passed, and I can’t bare to go again.

Thanks for the nostalgia moment! :)

[OB1kNOb]

Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor. :-)

[Holicheese]

Should I make my check out to the AL Gore 08 Foundation?

[#1CTYankee]

"Those models predict Shasta will continue to receive more than normal snowfall, but if the temperature continues to rise, the glaciers will begin to recede."

I thought growing glaciers had a cooling effect, can't make up their mind can they?

[econjack]

Oh, come on...Al doesn’t need no stinkin’ flame thrower...just have him open his big fat mouth and let the hot air flow.

[Califreak]

I agree.

That picture never fails to slay me! LOL!

[avacado]

"So between the two we get to see the benefits of that which means more snow and rain in this area," says White."

So.... when glaciers grow, it's because of more snow and rain, but when glaciers shrink, it's not becuse of less snow and rain?

Calling Al Gore, I need help with some 3rd grade logic.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Should I make my check out to the AL Gore 08 Foundation?

No, I’d (er, make that We’d) prefer you make it out to Al Gore personally.

Please send it right away; there’s a payment due on the Excursion.

[dellbabe68]

North Carolina must be having an ice age this year.

[The_Republican]

I have climbed Shasta twice and it is one of the proudest things I have done.

The best part is during Sunrise from Eastern side.....

Mt. Shasta blocks the Sun and you can see the shadow in the sky behind you....same thing happens during Sunset on the Western side....

One thing about Shasta is 80mph+ winds that can hit the peak at any moment....

Weather seems to be getting worse every year.....much more colder much later in the year.....so maybe that’s why Glaciers are growing....Snow remains in tact.....combined with rain and wind.....recipe for Glacier growth....

Shasta is a Beauty.....

One thing I HATE is that they let the Snowmobile riders on the Eastern side.....that’s just wrong and all it does it make noise....harm the enviorment and disturb the Wildlife....

I would join the Enviorment groups on that particular fight....Snowmobiles have no business being on Shasta...

It deserves to be declared a National Monument. It RISES to the Heavens out of NOWHERE.

Usually when you have a 14,000ft peak, you have many just as high nearby..... But this Volcanic Beauty stands alone by itself! Nothing like it.....

Lets not let lefties hijack the Enviormental agenda....

We all love our National Parks and no one did more for preserving them than Teddy Roosevelt.....

SAVE SHASTA FOR YOUR FUTURE GENERATIONS!!!

[Steamburg]

California should get Carbon Credits for keeping their Congressional Delegation in D.C. and reducing the amount of hot air in Northern, CA.

[bubbacluck]

And it looks as though we may be having an early autumn in Washington State, too. :)

We're starting to drop leaves on our tree here in Northern California and the ants are going berserk looking for food. Hard winter coming? I may have to resort to that flame thrower of Al's for relief from the ants.

[JennysCool]

Hey! How are the academics supposed to collect their research grants, and Al Gore collect his “carbon credit” moolah, if you keep posting stuff like THIS???

[Holicheese]

OK, let me just get my pen....

[HardStarboard]

>>>Send me your credit card information and I’ll email you some carbon credits.<<<<

Carbon credits are passe. No one wants carbon credits - the new market is in methane credits.

Norway is evidently seriously considering starting a methane credit market to offset the methane production of their moose herds....the average moose evidently burps or farts 250 tons of methane gas a year.

Send me methane some credits for my pet moose and I'll e-mail you my credit card number.