Walsh Glacier surge

With Operation IceBridge we get to see a large number of glaciers, and every once in a while, some that show unusual behavior. This time around it was the Walsh Glacier: it is currently surging. During a glacier surge, the glacier can start moving faster by a factor of 10 or more. A normally smooth ice surface becomes severely crevassed, the glacier builds up impressive bulges. If the surge reaches the front it can sometimes advance several kilometers in just a few months. The Walsh Glacier has not yet reached the front, but this is only the first year of it. Many surges seem to come in two stages, so there is some hope.

The Walsh Glacier last surged in the 1960s in a really spectacular surge.