Record year for annual retreat rate of Whittier Glacier from South Alaska in 2014

Abstract

An unexpectedly retreat of 0.655 km² yr^-1 was calculated for Whittier Glacier, South Alaska only for 2014 year. Under recent global warming the Arctic regions presents various fluctuations in the ice mass retreat. Here we bring forward the maximum retreat rate of Whittier Glacier in the last 42 years. Starting to 1973, the glaciers from Passage Canal melt continuously, but no more than 0.105 km² yr^-1. From September 2013 to September 2014 Whittier Glacier registered a huge area retreat of 0.655 km² yr^-1 and beat the record measured up present