South Mowich Glacier
Encyclopedia
The South Mowich Glacier is a glacier
located on the western flank of Mount Rainier
in Washington. It covers 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) and contains 4.5 billion ft3 (127 million m3) of ice. Starting from the high-altitude cliffs above the Sunset Amphitheater at over 12000 feet (3,657.6 m), the glacier flows west down Mount Rainier. The glacier is connected to the large Tahoma Glacier
to the south near St. Andrews Rock at 11000 feet (3,352.8 m). After leaving the Amphitheater, there is an icefall
on the glacier where it plunges down below 10000 feet (3,048 m). As the glacier descends, it gradually turns and by the time the South Mowich meets the Puyallup Glacier
at 8800 feet (2,682.2 m), the glacier is flowing northwest. As the glacier nears Jeanette Heights, it passes by several turns and becomes very rocky in comparison to the upper sections of the glacier. The glacier splits into two arms before their termini, with a shorter, northern arm ending at 5500 feet (1,676.4 m) and the longer, larger southern arm ending near a stand of conifers at 5100 ft (1,554.5 m). Meltwater from the glacier drains into the South Mowich River
which eventually merges with the Puyallup River
.
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
located on the western flank of Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
in Washington. It covers 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) and contains 4.5 billion ft3 (127 million m3) of ice. Starting from the high-altitude cliffs above the Sunset Amphitheater at over 12000 feet (3,657.6 m), the glacier flows west down Mount Rainier. The glacier is connected to the large Tahoma Glacier
Tahoma Glacier
The Tahoma Glacier is a long glacier mostly on the western flank of Mount Rainier in Washington. It covers and contains 4.3 billion ft3 of ice. The glacier starts out near the summit of the volcano at over...
to the south near St. Andrews Rock at 11000 feet (3,352.8 m). After leaving the Amphitheater, there is an icefall
Icefall
An icefall is a portion of some glaciers characterized by rapid flow and a chaotic crevassed surface. Perhaps the most conspicuous consequence of glacier flow, icefalls occur where the glacier bed steepens and/or narrows...
on the glacier where it plunges down below 10000 feet (3,048 m). As the glacier descends, it gradually turns and by the time the South Mowich meets the Puyallup Glacier
Puyallup Glacier
The Puyallup Glacier is a glacier on the west flank of Mount Rainier in Washington. It covers and contains 10.2 billion ft3 of ice. Sharing the same source of ice as the northern South Mowich Glacier, the Puyallup Glacier begins as a branch off the ice stream that flow out of the Sunset...
at 8800 feet (2,682.2 m), the glacier is flowing northwest. As the glacier nears Jeanette Heights, it passes by several turns and becomes very rocky in comparison to the upper sections of the glacier. The glacier splits into two arms before their termini, with a shorter, northern arm ending at 5500 feet (1,676.4 m) and the longer, larger southern arm ending near a stand of conifers at 5100 ft (1,554.5 m). Meltwater from the glacier drains into the South Mowich River
Mowich River
The Mowich River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. Its watershed drains a portion of the western side of Mount Rainier, part of the Cascade Range. The river has two main headwater branches, the South Mowich River and the North Mowich River. The South Mowich is significantly larger and...
which eventually merges with the Puyallup River
Puyallup River
The Puyallup River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. About long, it is formed by glaciers on the west side of Mount Rainier. It flows generally northwest, emptying into Commencement Bay, part of Puget Sound...
.