Lyell Glacier

E48619

Lyell Glacier is a rapidly retreating mountain glacier in Yosemite National Park, historically the largest glacier in the park and situated on the slopes of Mount Lyell in the Sierra Nevada of California.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf glacier
mountain glacier
accessedFrom John Muir Trail
Lyell Canyon
climateSensitivity high
comparedWith Maclure Glacier for retreat rates
country United States
drainsInto Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River
elevation approximately 11,800–12,800 feet above sea level
approximately 3,600–3,900 meters above sea level
evidenceFor climate change in the Sierra Nevada
firstAscentRegion Mount Lyell climbing route
geologicalPeriodOfFormation Late Holocene
glacierType cirque glacier
hasChanged lost most of its surface area since the late 19th century
retreated upslope from former terminal moraine
thinned substantially since early 20th century
hasFeature bergschrund at its head
crevassed ice surface
icefall sections
hasPhotographicRecordSince late 1800s
historicalStatus largest glacier in Yosemite National Park
hydrologicalRole seasonal meltwater source
iceVolumeTrend decreasing
locatedIn Sierra Nevada
Tuolumne County, California NERFINISHED
Yosemite National Park
locatedOn Mount Lyell
managementAuthority U.S. National Park Service
monitoredBy National Park Service
glaciologists
namedAfter Charles Lyell
near Maclure Glacier
notableFor being Yosemite’s historically largest glacier
rapid 20th and 21st century retreat
orientation northeast-facing
parkUnit Yosemite Wilderness
partOf Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River watershed
protectedAreaStatus within a U.S. national park
region central Sierra Nevada
state California
status disappearing glacier
rapidly retreating
shrinking
surfaceAreaTrend decreasing
usedFor mountaineering access to Mount Lyell
scientific study of glacier retreat

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Mount Lyell
hasGlacier

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