How are the Athabasca Glacier and other Canadian Rockies glaciers changing?

The Athabasca Glacier and other glaciers throughout the Canadian Rockies have experienced significant volume fluctuations over the past several centuries, largely driven by climatic change.1

Historical records and tree-ring studies indicate that the Athabasca Glacier reached a major maximum around 1715, followed by a period of recession and a subsequent readvance that peaked about 1840. Since the mid-19th century, however, the glacier has been in a state of general retreat, with a total ice-front recession of approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) by the late 20th century. At the beginning of the 21st century, this recession has continued as a direct result of global warming.1

Scientific investigations of the Athabasca and Saskatchewan glaciers show that these patterns of downwasting and reduced snow accumulation are typical of most glaciers in the region. Generally, the majority of glaciers in these areas have experienced negative mass balances, leading to the thinning of ice margins and the retreat of glacier fronts.12