USGS News Release: New USGS Website features repeat photography of Glacier National Park glaciers over time

[Heather Friesen <hfriesen@xxxxxxxx>]

News Release

U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey

March 22, 2006

Contacts:
Marilyn Blair, 406-888-7996, mrblair@xxxxxxxx
Lisa McKeon, 406-888-7924, lisa_mckeon@xxxxxxxx

New USGS Website features repeat
photography of Glacier National Park glaciers over time

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists
with the Global Change Research Project are unveiling a new website featuring
a collection of repeat photographs of glaciers in and around Glacier National
Park, Montana.  The striking images created by pairing historical
photographs with contemporary photographs reveal significant glacial recession.
 The website was created to showcase the photographs for scientific
as well as general purposes.  To view the photographs, go to http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/repeatphoto/.


Currently, 55 images are featured on
the website with more color versions and newly repeated photos added as
they become available.  Most of the photographs were taken in Glacier
National Park and many of the historical photos came from the Park’s archives.
  

USGS scientists began documenting glacial
decline through photography in 1997.  While less quantitative than
other high-tech methods of recording glacial mass, depth, and rate of retreat,
repeat photography provides an effective visual tool to better understand
how climate change contributes to the dynamic landscape of Glacier National
Park.

The website provides an easy method
to download the images.  It also includes an overview of the project,
instructions for downloading images, guidelines for using and crediting
the photographs, and links to other historical and repeat photograph collections.
 The images can be downloaded as repeated pairs or individually.  File
formats include high resolution TIF images (300 dpi), lower resolution
JPG (72 dpi) images, and Powerpoint ®.

The USGS serves the nation by providing
reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize
loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological,
energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.

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www.usgs.gov/public/list_server.html.  

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