Kautz Glacier

Infobox_Glacier | glacier_name = Kautz Glacier


caption =
type = Mountain glacier
location = Mount Rainier, Washington, U.S.
coordinates = coord|46|49|41|N|121|46|14|W|type:glacier [Google Earth images.]
area = convert|1.8|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 =
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The Kautz Glacier is a narrow glacier on the southern flank of Mount Rainier in Washington. It covers convert|1.8|sqmi|km2|1 and contains 7.8 billion ft³ (221 million m³) of ice. Starting from a rocky face at about Convert|12500|ft|m|-2, the glacier flows generally south-southwest downhill in between the Kautz and the Wapowety Cleaver. Just before it meets the Success Glacier, the Kautz makes a right turn and heads west for a short distance. After the two glaciers meet up, the resultant glacier reaches down to about Convert|6000|ft|m|-2|abbr=on|abbr=on before terminating. [Cite web|title=USGS Mount Rainier West (WA) Topo Map|work=USGS Quad maps|url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=46.82434&lon=-121.77297&datum=nad27&zoom=4|publisher=TopoQuest.com|accessdate=2008-05-17] Meltwater from the glacier drains into the Nisqually River.

Debris flows

The glacier is one of four on Mount Rainier that are known to have released debris flows. Similar flows have stemmed from the Nisqually, Winthrop, and South Tahoma glaciers as well. The glacier released a particularly large mudflow on October 2-3, 1947, when heavy rains melted and eroded the lower part of the glacier. The meltwater transformed into a 14 billion ft³ (40 million m³) mudflow replete with large boulders up to 13 feet (4 m) in diameter. The flow buried Highway 706 in 28 feet (9 m) of sediment and watery debris. Deposits from the 1947 mudflow could still be seen today. Smaller flow occurred in the years 1961, 1985 and 1986. [Cite web|title=DESCRIPTION: Kautz Creek Mudflow, October 2-3, 1947, Mount Rainier, Washington|url=http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Rainier/Lahars/Historical/description_kautz_creek_1947.html|publisher=USGS|accessdate=2007-11-19]

ee also

*List of glaciers

References