The Melting World: A Journey Across America's Vanishing Glaciers

by Christopher White

Global warming usually seems to happen far away, but one catastrophic effect of climate change is underway right now in the Rocky Mountains. In The Melting World, Chris White travels to Montana to chronicle the work of Dan Fagre, a climate scientist and ecologist, whose work shows that alpine glaciers are vanishing rapidly close to home. For years, Fagre has monitored the ice sheets in Glacier National Park proving that they—and by extension all Rocky Mountain ice—will melt far faster than previously imagined. How long will the ice fields survive? What are the consequences on our environment? The Melting World chronicles the first extinction of a mountain ecosystem in what is expected to be a series of such global calamities as humanity faces the prospect of a world without alpine ice.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Climate Change, Environment

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2013

Reviews

[Lorbmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book, ties together different aspects of climate change not usually covered in most books. I appreciated the inspiring tone of this book and reasoning behind why we should all be so passionate about our changing climate/melting glaciers. Really beautiful tribute to glacier national park as well. Only downside is it can be slow/overly descriptive in some parts but it was worthwhile to learn about things you may never be exposed to.

[Pat Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book detailing the complexity of ecology and how species are dependent on each other and on nature to thrive. But first this bit of information: This book was published in 2013 and deals with studies in 2008 and 2012. So, it's dated. However, what is learned about our glaciers is disturbing, sad, and almost tragic. And as you read, you have to wonder: What has happened since this book was published? White presents his information in clear and illustrative ways without being overdramatic. There are moments where the non-scientist may be a bit confused, but in general he does an excellent job showing how nature is interdependent among species and systems, and how one failing can lead to many more. I read it with great sadness, but I feel much better for having read it.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book primarily deals with the melting Glaciers in Glacier National Park. Glaciers are considered an indicator of Climate change. They are in serious decline and will more than likely disappear in the very near future all over the world. The book discusses the science and technology involved in measuring the decline of glaciers. Written in 2013, we are seeing many of the predictions and forecasts playing out today. The disappearance of glaciers throughout the world will have a serious impact on the rivers they feed and the people who rely on those rivers for sustenance and irrigation. This could be one of the first effects of climate change.

[TL Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 really. While a bit out of date, this is a nice overview of what glaciers are, how they've shaped the landscape, and what is happening now (climate change, etc.). The exploration of them by the author provides a nice throughline that connects the reader to what he is saying. A bit slow at times, but overall a good nature book.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sad, sobering read (especially being 3 weeks off a vacation to Glacier NP). Even more devastating to realize this was written over a decade ago and things have only deteriorated more. A book like this should be required reading for EVERYONE - like the author states, this is a moral problem.

[Kristen]

I learned a lot about glaciers, which was my main reason for reading this. It was a bit rough to get through, though. Sort of like reading a hike when I’d rather go on a hike. Also, of course, sad and terrifying.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book! And everyone should visit Glacier National Park, which this book writes about. You’ll be so thankful that you did!

[Ingrid · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is really mostly a memoir of the author’s mountaineering exploits. White espouses a sort of transcendentalist/spiritual perspective on nature which I personally am not interested in, and his discussions of climate science stand out as noticeably dry. This book was originally published in 2013 and hasn’t been updated since then, so much of the science and on-the-ground reporting is already out of date.

[Aditi · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I came across this book, I wondered how could one possibly write a book about receding glaciers that fills up so many pages? It was that curiosity that made me pick it up, and I'm glad that I did so.

He starts off addressing the importance of glaciers and glacial melt for the ecosystem. What constitutes stable glaciers, how they are measured, and what is likely to happen when they are gone. He then moves on to talk about rising temperatures in general - they cause glaciers to recede surely, but they also cause an increase in the frequency of fires, and according to the scientist he's talking to (Dan Fagre) for most part of the book, warming also might cause a temporary increase and then ultimately a decrease in the frequency and effectiveness of avalanches. "Effectiveness" might sound surprising, but I learned that avalanches play a crucial role in maintaining the health of a forest, much like fire. But both have to be in the right frequencies. He talks about the effects of all of these factors on the survival of several animals such as cutthroat trout, mountain goats, pikas, wolverines, stonefly and of course, trees.

Included with all this are also some very interesting anecdotes of the author's own mountaineering adventures.

And for all of this, I would give the book five starts.

But there are sections in the book which are incredibly dull. These mainly talk about the people measuring the glaciers (officials of the USGS) and list some of their conversations etc. While it is interesting to know who is working on these issues and what their backgrounds are like, I don't find it interesting to know what color their parkas or backpacks were and when they picked up the backpacks and when they put them down. Or how cluttered their desks are and how many cups of coffee they've had. These sections of the book also felt poorly/awkwardly written, which is surprising because he's quite good with the other sections.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was fascinating, and I was completely engrossed. There are many many books written today about the effects of global warming, melting glaciers and so forth. I have always been interested in glaciology and consider myself lucky enough to be able to experience many of the glaciers and landscapes first hand that are mentioned in detail in this book. Despite having worked in Glacier National Park for several years I was never as aware of the many studies that were being done involving global warming in the park. The details concerning the parks glaciers especially Grinnell and Sperry were of particular interest to me. For me these are not just glaciers in a book that are in decline, but very real. I simply was blown away by how little I knew about the true effects that Glacier as well as many other areas of the world are going through. As well as other impacts of melting glaciers such as the increase in forestland and the increase in fires, amongst many other correlations. Many times we read stories and we feel saddened by the effect, but we have no personal attachment/involvement to the area that is impacted. This book really helped me in reinforcing the severity of warming.

I believe that anyone who has any interest in, or has experienced some of the wonderful places that are suffering should read this book- if anything so that everyone can understand the impacts that are already in motion right before our eyes. It is a shame to think that future generations may never know some of the places as I know them, because people simply did not take seriously or could not envision how special these places, and need to be protected. We may not be able to reverse the damage that has been done, but we can all be part of the solution to stop the accelerated loss of our beautiful but ever so important glaciers.

[John Kaufmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focuses on how climate change is affecting and will affect North America's glaciers - most specifically the glaciers in Glacier National Park in Montana. As such, it is not so broad and sweeping as some other books on climate change, but it allows the author to be more specific. White an ecologist-turned-glaciologist Dan Fagre on several research trips to measure the shrinkage of the glaciers, which was very interesting. I found the discussions on how climate change will affect the flora and fauna of Glacier (i.e., pikas, wolverines, cutthroat trout, etc.) particularly interesting, especially as they have spin-off effects on other species. For example, cutthroat trout are abandoning lower lakes and streams as they are forced to higher elevation to find cooler water; lake trout, which then multiply to replace them, swim and feed deeper than the cutthroat, thereby making it harder for eagles to find adequate food. The author devoted almost half the book talking about measuring glaciers - from which I learned a lot, but which got to be too much. The second half of the book was more about the surrounding ecology and how it is affected - I wish he had spent more time on that. Probably 3.5 stars - what held me back from giving it 4-stars was that it wasn't quite at the same level as a few other books on climate change that I did give 4-stars.

[Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This up-to-date publication about global warming focuses primarily on Glacier National Park and its disappearing glaciers which will require the park to be renamed in a couple decades, since there will be no glaciers left. The book is interesting and does go off on a brief tangent to Europe, but is a good look at the problem in the Northern Rockies. Interesting and sobering.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upon my return from Alaska's Inside Passage, including Glacier Bay National Park, I saw this book on my library's shelf and had to bring it home. This book is part adventure story, part science and explores how alpine glaciers are shrinking and about to vanish altogether.

[Bill Lenoir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting deep dive on global climate change's impact on Glacier National Park. The writing was a little clunky and, given the number of measurements present, display in English and metric EVERY time was a little much.

[Science For The People]

Featured on Science for the People show #237 on November 1, 2013, during an interview with author Stephen Castles. http://www.scienceforthepeople.ca/epi...

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book and think the study of Glacier Park is a very good place to study this thanks to my friend for getting this book for me to read

[Andra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Climate change is real, people. Glaciers are melting and Montana's glaciers will probably be gone in 5 years. When the park was founded there were 150 glaciers. Now, 25 remain, 105 years later.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard from some of the researchers in the book that the science is spot on. However, the stories about certain scientists and researchers are embellished.