About Glacier Bay, Alaska¶
Glacier Bay is a recently (300 years ago) deglaciated fjord located along the northern end of the Alaska panhandle (about 50 miles [80 km] west of Juneau) in southeast Alaska. The Y-shaped bay is approximately 65 miles [105 km] long and has several finger-like inlets extending from it. Two of the inlets, Muir and Tarr, extend to within miles of British Columbia, Canada. To the east and west of the bay are the steep mountain summits of the Chilkat and Fairweather ranges. Glacier Bay offers spectacular scenery and is one of the most popular destinations for cruise ships visiting Alaska.
Glacier Bay is an oceanographically and biologically complex area in a small package. Large amounts of freshwater runoff from calving glaciers and rain, combined with large tidal exchange in the estuary, can make Glacier Bay change dramatically over a few hours. The glaciers of this area produce large amounts of sediment, which can drastically change the water clarity. Much of the sediment collects within the bay; in some places, more than one centimeter [0.4 inches] is laid down each day.
Background¶
As a recently deglaciated fjord, tides and freshwater outflow dominate the currents in Glacier Bay. The seasonal cycle of freshwater outflow is accounted for in the tidal coefficients, although on any day the actual runoff could be quite different. Without real-time monitoring of freshwater flows from glaciers or rain, climatology was the only option to use in the Glacier Bay Location File.
Current Patterns¶
The tidal current pattern was simulated in the NOAA Circulation Analysis for Trajectory Simulations (CATS) hydrodynamic model using the WAC submodel with shallow water wave dynamics. The tidal time dependence is simulated using the tidal coefficients from the tidal station west of Beardslee Island (58° 28’ N, 136° 02’ W).
References¶
Oceanography
Coast and Geodetic Survey. 1962. Surface water temperature and salinity, Pacific coast, North America and South America and Pacific Ocean islands. Washington, DC: C&GS.
Carlson, P.R., R.D. Powell, and D.M. Rearic. 1989. Turbidity-current channels in Queen Inlet, Glacier Bay, Alaska. Canadian Journal of Earth Science. 26: 807-820.
Cowan, E.A. 1992. Meltwater and tidal currents: controls on circulation in a small glacial fjord. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 34: 381-392.
Hooge, P.N. and E.R. Hooge. 2002. Fjord oceanographic patterns in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Report to the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Gustavus, Alaska. 144 pp.
Martin, J.W. 1967. Sea Surface Current Studies in Southeastern Alaska, spring and summer, 1967. U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries.
Matthews, J.B. 1981. Seasonal circulation of the Glacier Bay, Alaska fjord system. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science. New York. 12(6): 679-700.
Matthews, J.B. and A.V. Quinlan. 1975. Seasonal characteristics of water masses in Muir Inlet, a fjord with tidewater glaciers. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. 32: 1693-1703.
McLain, D. 1969. Miscellaneous Observations of Surface Temperature, Salinity, and Currents in Lynn Canal, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Auke Bay, AK.
Muench, R.D. and J.D. Schumacher. 1980. Physical oceanographic and meteorological conditions in the Northwest Gulf of Alaska. NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL PMEL-22. Seattle: Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Powell, R.D. and A. Elverhoi. 1989. Introduction. Marine Geology. 85: III-IV.
Reyer, T.C. 1993. High-latitude oceanic variability associated with the 18.6-year nodal tide. Journal of Geophysical Research. 98: 4639-4644.
Sharman, L.C. 1982. Wachusett Inlet intertidal surveys, August, 1982, second minus tide series. U.S. National Park Service, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Sundberg, K.A. 1981. Marine Biology and Circulation Investigations in Sitka Sound, Alaska. Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Habitat Section. Anchorage, AK.
Tabata, S. 1982. The anticyclonic, baroclinic eddy off Sitka, Alaska, in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. Journal of Physical Oceanography. 12: 1260-1282.
Washburne, R. 1989. Southeast Alaska Current Atlas. Bellevue, WA: Weatherly Press (206-881-5212).
Hydrography
Bryant, M.D., P.E. Porter, and S.J. Paustian. 1990. Evaluation of a stream channel-type system for southeast Alaska. U.S. Forest Service, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Juneau.
Cebula, J.J. 1963. Glacier Bay National Monument stream survey. U.S. National Park Service, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Cowan, E.A., R.D. Powell, and N.D. Smith. 1986. Effects of meltwater stream discharges and fjord water masses on sedimentary deposits at temperate tidewater glaciers. Canberra, Australia.
Huneke, E. and M. Owens. 1966. Glacier Bay National Monument stream survey. U.S. National Park Service, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Johnston, D.P. 1965. Glacier Bay National Monument stream survey. U.S. National Park Service, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Letarte, J. and R. Stottlemyer. 1984. Baseline streamwater chemistry for watersheds of Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. Michigan Technical University, Department of Biological Science, Houghton.
Sidle, R.C. 1986. Transport of sediment and organic material in streams of coastal Alaska. In: Iceland Coastal and River Symposium. Sigbjarnarson, G. (ed). Reykjavik: University of Iceland. pp. 305-326.
Sidle, R.C. and A.M. Milner. 1990. Physical facts influencing stream development in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. In: Second Glacier Bay Science Symposium, 1988. Milner, A.M. and J.D. Wood, Jr. (eds). Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, AK, U.S. National Park Service. pp. 19-25.
Soiseth, C.R. 1995. Summary of stream surveys in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: 1952-1994. U.S. National Park Service, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve. Unpublished report.
Stottlemeyer, R. and D. Rutkowski. 1987. Baseline stream water chemistry for watersheds of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Great Lakes Area Resource Studies Unit (GLARSU) Technical Report 22. Final report submitted to the National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office, Anchorage, AK. 118 pp.
U.S. National Park Service. Undated. Glacier Bay National Park stream catalog. USNPS, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Wind and Weather
NOAA National Weather Service, Alaska Regional Headquarters
Current weather conditions and forecast for Glacier Bay.
Marine zone forecasts provided by the National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWSFO), Anchorage, AK. On the clickable imagemap, click “11” to obtain the marine forecast for Glacier Bay.
National Weather Service: Juneau, Alaska
To view the short-term weather forecast for Glacier Bay, click zone 20 on the clickable imagemap.
National Weather Service Telecommunication Operations Center
Current weather conditions for Gustavus, AK.
National Weather Service (NWS): Data from Alaska
Text version forecasts for Alaska:
To obtain a regional forecast, click “Zone Forecast”, then scroll down or search for AKZ020, the zone for Glacier Bay, including Gustavus.
To obtain current conditions, click “Short Term (NOWCASTS)”, then scroll down or search for AKZ020, the zone for Glacier Bay, including Gustavus.
General Information
Glacier Bay, Alaska, from the Ground, Air and Space
A website based on the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) video, “Glacier Bay, Alaska, from the Ground, Air and Space.” Provides a lively, historical perspective of glacier changes at Glacier Bay by bringing glaciers to life with spectacular “fly-bys” of scenic rides over 3-dimensional glaciers, live video footage of ice fronts calving into the sea, and dramatic picture sequences of historic and satellite data. The video was produced by GSFC’s Earth and Space Data Computing Division.
Alaska Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit
Part of a nation-wide cooperative program, the Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit promotes research and graduate student training in the ecology and management of fish, wildlife and their habitats.
Alaska State Geo-Spatial Data Clearinghouse
Provides electronic access to a wide variety of information in the form of maps, images, and descriptions about Alaska geo-spatial data.
USGS Alaska Water Resources Publications
USGS reports on water resources in Alaska.
Oil Spill Response
NOAA's Emergency Response Division (ERD)
Tools and information for emergency responders and planners, and others concerned about the effects of oil and hazardous chemicals in our waters and along our coasts.
Molnia, B.F. and M.C. Wheeler. 1978. Report on the beach dynamics, geology, and oil spill susceptibility of the Gulf of Alaska coastline in Glacier Bay National Monument, Sea Otter Creek to Icy Point. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, 78-0284.