South Tahoma Glacier

Infobox_Glacier | glacier_name = South Tahoma Glacier


caption =
type = Mountain glacier
location = Mount Rainier, Washington, U.S.
coordinates = coord|46|49|27|N|121|48|17|W|type:glacier
area = convert|1.1|sqmi|km2|1, 1983Cite web|title= DESCRIPTION: Mount Rainier Glaciers and Glaciations - Mount Rainier Glacier Hazards and Glacial Outburst Floods|url=http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Rainier/Glaciers/description_rainier_glaciers.html|accessdate= 2007-11-19|publisher=USGS]
length =
thickness =
terminus =
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The South Tahoma Glacier is a glacier located on the southwest flank of Mount Rainier in State of Washington. It covers convert|1.1|sqmi|km2|1 and contains 4.6 billion ft³ (130 million m³) of ice.. Starting from an elevation of around Convert|10600|ft|m|-2 at the base of a steep cliff, the glacier flows down southwest with the larger, adjacent Tahoma Glacier lying to the north.Cite web|title=USGS Mount Rainier West (WA) Topo Map|work=USGS Quad maps|url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=46.82419&lon=-121.80461&datum=nad27&zoom=8|publisher=TopoQuest.com|accessdate=2008-05-15] The smaller South Tahoma is connected to the Tahoma at an ice patch located in midway down the South Tahoma. From then on, the glacier narrows and flows down southwest and accumulates rock debris before turning and ending at an elevation of around Convert|5100|ft|m|-2. The southern ice stream used to be connected to a northern ice stream coming down south from the Tahoma Glacier encompassing a jagged Convert|7690|ft|m|0 high sub-peak of Rainier called Glacier Island, but retreat has separated the glaciers at an elevation below Convert|8000|ft|m|-2|abbr=on|abbr=on|. Meltwater from the glacier drains into the Nisqually River.

Debris flows

The glacier is one of four on Mount Rainier that are known to have released debris flows. Similar flows have stemmed from the Nisqually, Kautz, and Winthrop glaciers as well. The glacier has at least 23 recorded debris flows since 1967, with 15 reported between the years 1986 and 1992. The floods have caused damage and disruption to the roads and picnic areas downstream.

History

The South Tahoma Glacier was the site of the worst accident to have occurred on the slopes of Mount Rainier. In 1946, 32 people were killed in a plane crash at the 10,500 foot (3,200 m) level in what was then the worst aviation accident in American history. The bodies were never recovered.cite web |title=HistoryLink: A Curtis Commando R5C transport plane crashes into Mount Rainier, killing 32 U.S. Marines, on December 10, 1946|url=http://historylink.org/essays/printer_friendly/index.cfm?file_id=7820| date=2007|publisher=HistoryLink.org]

ee also

*Tahoma Glacier
*List of glaciers

References