Meares Glacier

The Meares Glacier is a large and only tidewater glacier at the head of Unakwik Inlet in Chugach National Forest, Alaska.[1] The front is a wall of white ice with blue shadows (see image, right).[2] It was first observed in 1905, and was named after an early explorer of the area, Captain John Meares. Writing in 1913, the U.S. Geographical Survey described the glacier as "one of the most beautiful ice streams of Prince William Sound."[3] It is currently advancing into old-growth forest, slowly pushing down trees.[4][5] Between 1996 and 2002, it advanced an average of 15 m per year. Its height at its front is estimated at about 200 ft, and its width at about 1.2 km. In the early 1990s, the glacier had an estimated area of 142 km2.[5]

Meares Glacier
Map showing the location of Meares Glacier
Map showing the location of Meares Glacier
Meares Glacier
TypeTidewater glacier
LocationValdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, U.S.
Coordinates61°14′23″N 147°25′03″W
Area142 km2 (1990s)
Length6 miles (10 km)
TerminusOcean (Unakwik Inlet)
StatusAdvancing

See also

References
  1. "Meares Glacier | Discover Valdez". www.valdezalaska.org. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  2. "Glaciers of Prince William Sound and the southern part of Kenai peninsula, Alaska", Bulletin of the American Geographical Society, American Geographical Society of New York, vol. 42, 1910
  3. Grant, U. S.; Higgins, D. F. (1913). "Coastal Glaciers of Prince William Sound and Kenai Peninsula, Alaska". Bulletin of the United States Geological Survey. p. 25(This source was published before 1 January 1928 and is thus in the public domain in the United States){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  4. Trabant, D. C.; March, R. S.; Molnia, B. F. (2002-12-01). "Growing and Advancing Calving Glaciers in Alaska". American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002. 2002: C62A–0913. Bibcode:2002AGUFM.C62A0913T.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1984.


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