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How long can the transformation from firn to glacier ice take in Washington state?
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glacier
Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina.
In the warm and wet environment of Washington state, the transformation from firn to glacier ice can take as little as three to four years, involving less than 10 meters of burial. This process is significantly faster than in polar regions, such as the plateau of Antarctica, where the same transition can take several thousand years and require burial to depths of approximately 150 meters.1