Each color bar represents the gain or loss of ice mass on the study glaciers. For example in 1998, South Cascade Glacier (pink bar) lost almost 2 meters of water equivalent* mass. While in 1996, South Cascade Glacier gained just a fraction of mass (0.1 m w.e.).

*Since snow comes in different densities—from fluffy snow to dense water-filled corn snow—researchers convert all snow measurements to water equivalent meters (m w.e) . How many meters do you think 10 meters of fluffy snow would be if melted into water?

(Close Window)