Parkwise - Glaciers of Kenai Fjords: Overview

The overwhelming significance of Kenai Fjords National Park is as a living laboratory of change. Plants and wildlife subsist here amidst dynamic interactions of water, ice and a glacier-carved landscape relentlessly pulled down by Earth's crustal movements. Scientific teams and individuals find Exit Glacier an excellent "research laboratory" into the mysteries of glaciers.

The park's Exit Glacier is an active, retreating remnant of a larger glacier once extending to Resurrection Bay. Here are found newly exposed, scoured, and polished bedrock and a regime of plant succession - from the earliest pioneer plants to a mature forest of Sitka spruce and western hemlock. It provides the perfect setting to explore.

A dynamic river of ice, Exit Glacier's source is the park's dominant feature - the 250-square-mile Harding Icefield. Harding Icefield is also the source of 30 named glaciers and is one of only four remaining icefields in the United States. The glacier moves forward about two feet per day, carrying all sizes of rock material plucked from the underlying rock and side walls, as well as material falling from the valley sides and coming to rest on the glacier's surface.

This unit provides theoretical and historic information and real data to support student exploration into the phenomena of glaciers. The glaciers and icefields of Kenai Fjords National Park provide an excellent laboratory to test theories and ideas, and their study at Kenai Fjords National Park involves a variety of sciences and their interactions. Students will learn about the climatic influences on glacier retreat and advance, the effect of glaciation on the geography and ecology of a region, and the varied methods scientists use to study glaciers.

Lessons throughout address and integrate national standards in Science, Geography and Language Arts.

This unit is designed for grades 6-12. Activities and handouts usually are written to upper middle and lower high school levels with Extensions to adjust for the younger and older students.

Overview

Background

Unit Outline
The glaciers and icefields of Kenai Fjords National Park provide an excellent laboratory to test theories and ideas about the phenomenon of glaciers, including the effect of glaciation on the geography and ecology of a region.

Final Activity

You are a scientist studying the geological, biological, chemical and physical characteristics of Exit Glacier and its surroundings because of concern with the possibility of rapid global warming and because Park resource managers need data to manage the area effectively for future visitors.

Final Activity Assessment

Instructional Resources

National Standards

Science, English/Language Arts, Geography, Mathematics, Social Studies