Learning About Glaciers

Educational Sites


The following educational web sites were developed by the project, Glaciers of the American West, at Portland State University. Some of the sites were developed for the National Park Service and the links below are our original version.

Topic Index

An index of specific modules that address specific questions you may have about glaciers. All these modules are parts of the sites listed above.

Glaciers

What is a glacier?	Glacier basics - MRNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change Glacier basics - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change The Basics - Glacier change in the Upper Skagit River Basin
What types exist?	Glacier basics - MRNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change Glacier basics - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change Glacers and Periglacial features - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change The Basics - Glacier change in the Upper Skagit River Basin
Where are the glaciers in the Western United States?	Glacier rephotography of the American West
How and why do glaciers move?	The Virtual Glacier - Glacier Simulations On-line Module 1 - Glacier Simulations On-line Glacers and Periglacial features - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change

How Glaciers Shape Landscapes

How do glaciers erode, transport, and deposit sediment	Glacier basics - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change Glaciers and Landscapes - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change The Virtual Glacier - Glacier Simulations On-line
What types of landforms do glaciers produce and how do they do so?	Glacier basics - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change Glaciers and Landscapes - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change

Ice Ages

What is an ice age?	Glacier basics - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change Timeline of recent ice ages - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change
What is the Pleistocene?	Glaciers of the Pleistocene - Glacier change in the Upper Skagit River Basin
What is the little ice age?	Glaciers of the Little Ice Age - Glacier change in the Upper Skagit River Basin
How have glaciers changed in North America since the Pleistocene?	Glacier timeline of RMNP - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change

Glacier and Climate Change

How have glaciers in the western United States changed since the end of the 19th century?	Glacier rephotography of the American West
What has caused these changes?	Modules 2 and 4 - Glacier Simulations On-line
Why do different glaciers change at different rates?	Module 3 - Glacier Simulations On-line

Glaciers and Streamflow

What role do glaciers have in watersheds?	The Basics - Glacier change in the Upper Skagit River Basin
How does glacier change impact stream flow?	The Basics - Glacier change in the Upper Skagit River Basin

Glacier Research

What type of research is taking place in national parks in the western United States?	At Mt. Rainier National Park At Rocky Mountain National Park In the upper Skagit River Basin
How is this research being conducted?	At Mt. Rainier National Park At Rocky Mountain National Park In the upper Skagit River Basin Field Techniques - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change Remote sensing, mapping, and GIS - RMNP: Glaciers and Glacier Change