Alaska mountain glaciers retreating due to climate change

The video explores the work of University of Maine paleoclimatologist Carl Croitz and his team as they study the climate history of Alaska's Denali National Park. By drilling ice cores and using ground-penetrating radar, they aim to understand the relationship between temperature, precipitation, and glacier response over the past millennium. Their findings indicate an increase in melting rates, contributing to global sea level rise. The team also uses snow pits to validate radar data, enhancing confidence in their measurements.

What is the primary goal of Carl Croitz and his team at Ruth Glacier?

• To take photographs of the glacier

• To study the wildlife in Denali National Park

• To reconstruct the climate history of the area

• To promote tourism in Alaska

What significant change has been observed in the Alaska Range glaciers since 1932?

• A reduction in ice thickness

• An increase in the rate of melting

• A rise in glacier formation

• A decrease in snowfall

What is the estimated contribution of mountain and valley glaciers to global sea level rise?

• Roughly 5 meters

• Approximately 1 meter

• About 10 centimeters

• Nearly 2 meters

Which technology is used by the team to map the depth of the ice?

• Satellite imaging

• Sonar technology

• Thermal imaging

• Ground-penetrating radar

How do the researchers validate the radar data for snow accumulation?

• By digging snow pits and taking samples

• By measuring the temperature changes

• By using thermal sensors

• By comparing it with satellite images