South Mowich Glacier

Infobox_Glacier | glacier_name = South Mowich Glacier


caption =
type = Mountain glacier
location = Mount Rainier, Washington, U.S.
coordinates = coord|46|51|21|N|121|48|51|W|type:glacier
area = convert|1.4|sqmi|km2|1, 1983Cite web|title= DESCRIPTION: Mount Rainier Glaciers and Glaciations - Mount Rainier Glacier Hazards and Glacial Outburst Floods|url=http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Rainier/Glaciers/description_rainier_glaciers.html|accessdate= 2007-11-19|publisher=USGS]
length =
thickness =
terminus =
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The South Mowich Glacier is a glacier located on the western flank of Mount Rainier in Washington. It covers convert|1.4|sqmi|km2|1 and contains 4.5 billion ft³ (127 million m³) of ice. Starting from the high-altitude cliffs above the Sunset Amphitheater at over Convert|12000|ft|m|-2, the glacier flows west down Mount Rainier. The glacier is connected to the large Tahoma Glacier to the south near St. Andrews Rock at Convert|11000|ft|m|-2.cite web|title=USGS Mount Rainier West (WA) Topo Map|work=USGS Quad maps|url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=46.85587&lon=-121.81414&datum=nad27&zoom=8|publisher=TopoQuest.com|accessdate=2008-05-15] After leaving the Amphitheater, there is an icefall on the glacier where it plunges down below Convert|10000|ft|m|-2. As the glacier descends, it gradually turns and by the time the South Mowich meets the Puyallup Glacier at Convert|8800|ft|m|-2, the glacier is flowing northwest. As the glacier nears Jeanette Heights, it pases 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 Convert|5500|ft|m|-2 and the longer, larger southern arm ending near a stand of conifers at Convert|5100|ft|m|-2|abbr=on|abbr=on|abbr=on|abbr=on|abbr=on|abbr=on. Meltwater from the glacier drains into the South Mowich River which eventually merges with the Puyallup River.

ee also

*North Mowich Glacier
*List of glaciers

References