Taku Glacier
The mass balance of the Taku Glacier has increased while ALL the other glaciers of the Juneau Icefields have eroded. The Taku Glaicer before Human Induced Global Warming resulted in 'maximum' manifestations of the years 2000, had the least 'RECHARGE' (deposits of snow and ice) of any of the glaciers.
Why then when Earth is warming and there is a climate crisis and weather patterns are changing would a glacier 'increase' in its volume?
This blog has referred to 'the properties of water' on numerous occassions. Water vapor is a 'component' of global warming. The 'heat transfer systems' I frequently refer to in explaining the increased rapid deterioration of the ice caps and icefields are 'powered' by water vapor. If Earth did not have water, it would simply be a 'hot rock' regardless of being 'the third rock' from the sun.
Percipitation on Earth is compliments of the properties of water. So, when it rains or snows or there is drizzle or ice storms it is all due to formations of water as it appears in regard to 'CLIMATE.' The colder the climate the colder the water, the more snow or ice that is formed.
When a glacier 'recharges' it means it accumulates more snow or ice. As the deposits increase over years the top layers become compressed as 'water' is very heavy. The top layers then are compressed into dense layers of ice and a glacier 'advances' and 'extends its terminus (front edge of the glacier that advances DOWNHILL.)
When a glacier recharges it REQUIRES percipitation. Percipitation to the degree it occurs over a glacier determines whether it advances quickly or not at all and actually retreats. So why then would all the other glaciers of the Juneau Icefields NOT recharge when the Taku Glacier is recharging? Seems odd that one would have such an exception and actually 'challenge' the 'idea' of Human Induced Global Warming since a theory or scientific law applies to all cases.
And what the heck does the Taku Glacier have in common with the increase in tornadoes and changing of the occurrence and intensity of hurricanes?
The Taku Glacier in Alaska's Juneau Icefields changed in its advance to the terminus because the mass balance increased. The MASS of the glacier increased due to increased percipitation over its 'area.'
The reason? Elevation/altitude, BUT, not in the way the average layperson would think and put that into context. To understand the brevity of the increase in percipitation over the Taku Glacier and its increased mass one has to 'think vertically.' Literally, one has to realize 'where the increased heat' of Human Induced Global Warming IS BEING STORED. It is being stored in the surface waters of Earth when hurricanes deposit the heat there and it is being stored 'vertically.'
When the heat from the surface was moving vertically through the troposphere the glaciers were exposed to higher temperatures and any percipitation that resulted in recharge was 'countered' balanced with LOSS of ice from the glacier in all areas, the terminus, the moraines and the top and bottom of the ice formations. The loss was far greater than the recharge and continues to be.
What occurred at the Taku Glacier was an increase in percipitation at already higher altitudes where the ice formation remained stable. When the increase in percipitation occurred it added to the mass balance of the glacier and explained the increase in the terminus. The real question became "Why is there more percipitation?" We know there was by weather records, but, also by the fact that a 'stable' mass balance of a very cold, higher elevation glacier would indicate that it was simply STABLE, in the face of hotter temperatures at lower elevations. But, for the mass balance to increase with the Taku Glacier and to increase its terminus there was only one answer. That answer was the increase in the deposit of snow and ice. The increase in the deposit of snow and ice could only occur in one way with the Taku Glacier. It would have to occur through percipitation as it is the highest elevation glaicer of the Juneau Icefields. What does that mean?
That means the 'dew point' (click here) at the altitude of the Taku Glacier had increased. The water vapor content of the altitude had increased and with the arrival of increased water vapor was the encroaching 'heat stores' of the lower latitudes that the other glacier were already exposed to and causing deterioration, retreat, decrease in their mass balance.
The relationship between the Taku Glacier and what is occurring in the troposphere is completely evident. The 'heat stores' of Human Induced Global Warming have risen in the troposphere and there is less and less water vapor at lower altitudes to support 'rain' and snow and ice, hence, causing widespread disruption in Climate. With increased water vapor at higher altitudes, the turbulence of the troposphere moves upward while 'drying' the surface and creating less biotic content.
Hence, the 'negative feedback loop' of Human Induced Global Warming that destroyes NECESSARY biotic content (plants) through lack of rainfall. Less 'albedo' of retreating icefields and ice caps, while, the consumerism of the USA continues to escalate the amount of carbon dioxide in the troposphere.
With higher elevations of turbulence is increased 'wind shear' AND less 'water vapor' at lower latitudes (sea level) to support hurricanes, therefore, less hurricanes and the ones that do eventually form will be more violent simply because of the higher ocean and air temperatures at the surface of Earth.
