Glaciers in the Pacific Northwest and many other places have receded dramatically during the twentieth century in response to warming climate. In addition to their value as climate indicators, the size changes of small glaciers have measurable consequences. For example, melting of the earth's mountain and arctic glaciers, excluding those in Greenland and Antarctica, accounts for one-third of the rise in sea level during the first half of this century. Consequently, water produced by melting glaciers has important economic benefits and is critical for hydroelectric generation, irrigation, and fisheries. Monitoring of Blue Glacier is part of a long-term ecological monitoring program currently being developed for Olympic National Park.
National parks are responsible for preserving park resources unimpaired for future generations.
Through long-term resource monitoring efforts such as this, park managers and visitors can learn about the health of these special places. Canon USA is contributing to this important effort. In 1998, Expedition is funding projects in 17 parks with a donation of more than one million dollars in cash and equipment. Expedition Into The Parks is funded through Canon U.S.A.'s Clean Earth Campaign, which guides the company's environmental initiatives. The National Park Foundation is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service.