Reid Glacier is an alpine glacier located on the west slope of Mount Hood in the U.S. state of Oregon.[2] It ranges in elevation from about 9,800 to 6,000 feet (3,000 to 1,800 m). The glacier is the source of the Sandy River. The upper extent of the glacier is known for extensive crevasses.

Reid Glacier
Map showing the location of Reid Glacier
Map showing the location of Reid Glacier
Reid Glacier
Location in Oregon
TypeMountain glacier
LocationClackamas County, Oregon, United States
Coordinates45°22′15″N 121°43′08″W / 45.37083°N 121.71889°W / 45.37083; -121.71889[1]
Area126 acres (51 ha) (2004 estimate)
Length.75 mi (1.21 km)
TerminusIce fall
StatusRetreating

The glacier is a remnant of the massive glaciers that formed during the last ice age. It is bounded on the north by Yokum Ridge which also defines the southern side of Sandy Glacier, and by a ridge on the south bounding the north side of Zigzag Glacier. The eastern and upper reaches of this ridge include Illumination Rock. The uppermost portion of the glacier is below Leuthold Couloir. The glacier lies entirely within Mount Hood Wilderness.

Between 1907 and 2004, Reid Glacier lost 35% of its surface area. The glacier terminus has retreated by 1,607 feet (490 m) over the same time period.[3]

Climate edit

Illumination Rock lies on the upper eastern side of Reid Glacier. There is no weather station, but this climate table contains interpolated data.

Climate data for Illumination Rock 45.3689 N, 121.7070 W, Elevation: 9,350 ft (2,850 m) (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 26.0
(−3.3)
25.3
(−3.7)
26.2
(−3.2)
29.8
(−1.2)
38.5
(3.6)
45.5
(7.5)
56.5
(13.6)
56.8
(13.8)
51.6
(10.9)
41.0
(5.0)
29.3
(−1.5)
24.7
(−4.1)
37.6
(3.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 20.5
(−6.4)
18.5
(−7.5)
18.4
(−7.6)
21.0
(−6.1)
28.6
(−1.9)
34.8
(1.6)
44.3
(6.8)
44.6
(7.0)
40.1
(4.5)
31.7
(−0.2)
23.3
(−4.8)
19.4
(−7.0)
28.8
(−1.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 15.0
(−9.4)
11.7
(−11.3)
10.7
(−11.8)
12.2
(−11.0)
18.6
(−7.4)
24.1
(−4.4)
32.0
(0.0)
32.4
(0.2)
28.6
(−1.9)
22.4
(−5.3)
17.3
(−8.2)
14.1
(−9.9)
19.9
(−6.7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 16.48
(419)
12.42
(315)
13.30
(338)
10.27
(261)
7.04
(179)
5.39
(137)
1.28
(33)
1.81
(46)
4.30
(109)
10.19
(259)
15.74
(400)
17.88
(454)
116.1
(2,950)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Reid Glacier". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  2. ^ Mount Hood South, OR (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  3. ^ Jackson, Keith; Andrew Fountain (2007). "Spatial and morphological change on Eliot Glacier, Mount Hood, Oregon, USA" (PDF). Annals of Glaciology. 46: 222–226. doi:10.3189/172756407782871152. S2CID 202915291. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  4. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved October 5, 2023. To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Interpolate grid cell values; click Retrieve Time Series button.