13 thoughts on “Update from Easton Glacier: Climate Crocks on Ice”
In 1998 I backpacked the entire width of Glacier National Park. On the first day, we were required to register at the Visitors Center. We got our backcountry permits and got a briefing on where the snow/glaciers crossed the trails. Two years ago, the friend I hiked with returned to Glacier. The snow and ice are gone from those trails. Wish I knew then what I know now. I’d have taken pictures.
Even though I work in a completely different field (nothing related to climate science), this video reminded me of some experiments I did during my Ph.D. I spent weeks performing them to get the noise down to a useful level and the end result was a couple of graphs with a dozen or so measely data points. And from each graph I would then extract a parameter to be used as a single data point an another graph. So, in the end I’d have this one graph with a couple of data points where each datapoint represented a week’s work! Of course, it was all worth it as it allowed me to push the boundary of knowledge in my field a tiny bit further out, and for a scientist that always feels good.
So when I see these climate scientists hiking for days over frozen glaciers, aiming to gather 200 or so measurements, which will probably get averaged down to a couple of data points on a single graph, I feel a small emotional connection with them. I also know that they love their job and wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m glad that you (Peter) are getting to see all this up close.
It’s one of the great travesties that laypeople don’t realise the amount of work that goes into any scientific study. I can relate to your story. Next month I will be doing some distance sampling to determine the population density of aferal specieshere in Australia. I will be walking over 200, 2km transects through all sorts of terrain to produce a single density estimate. It’s not all beer and skittles being a scientist.
Thanks Peter for these vids. I’d personally like to see more like this where you highlight the effects of climate change and debunk some myths, but also focus on the professionalism and hard work that scientists engage in to do their thing.
In 1998 I backpacked the entire width of Glacier National Park. On the first day, we were required to register at the Visitors Center. We got our backcountry permits and got a briefing on where the snow/glaciers crossed the trails. Two years ago, the friend I hiked with returned to Glacier. The snow and ice are gone from those trails. Wish I knew then what I know now. I’d have taken pictures.
In June of 2005,my wife and I took a trip to Glacier NP,and although it was beautiful,we kept asking “Where are all the glaciers?!”
Even though I work in a completely different field (nothing related to climate science), this video reminded me of some experiments I did during my Ph.D. I spent weeks performing them to get the noise down to a useful level and the end result was a couple of graphs with a dozen or so measely data points. And from each graph I would then extract a parameter to be used as a single data point an another graph. So, in the end I’d have this one graph with a couple of data points where each datapoint represented a week’s work! Of course, it was all worth it as it allowed me to push the boundary of knowledge in my field a tiny bit further out, and for a scientist that always feels good.
So when I see these climate scientists hiking for days over frozen glaciers, aiming to gather 200 or so measurements, which will probably get averaged down to a couple of data points on a single graph, I feel a small emotional connection with them. I also know that they love their job and wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m glad that you (Peter) are getting to see all this up close.
It’s one of the great travesties that laypeople don’t realise the amount of work that goes into any scientific study. I can relate to your story. Next month I will be doing some distance sampling to determine the population density of aferal specieshere in Australia. I will be walking over 200, 2km transects through all sorts of terrain to produce a single density estimate. It’s not all beer and skittles being a scientist.
Thanks Peter for these vids. I’d personally like to see more like this where you highlight the effects of climate change and debunk some myths, but also focus on the professionalism and hard work that scientists engage in to do their thing.
with luck will be doing more. stay tuned.
But sometimes,it is Diet Coke and Mentos… š
(I do hope there is SOME beer in their…seriously!)
I did say it’s not ALL beer and skittles lol.
{ Did I say “their”? I meant “there”…too MUCH beer and skittles for me obviously š }
At least I know I can take your work seriously now.And good luck .
Beautiful work Peter. Thank you.
Beer is too heavy to carry in and M&M’s are our skittles
That’s why I like to drink the beer before I start collecting the data…..just kidding.