Glacial Melt, Fresh Water Runoff Into Gulf Of Alaska = Four Yukon Rivers, Or 1.5 Mississippi Rivers

The collective freshwater discharge of this region is more than four times greater than the mighty Yukon River of Alaska and Canada, and half again as much as the Mississippi River. While scientists had indeed noticed this runoff, until now they had no idea the magnitude of its impact. If all this mountain rain, snow and glacial ice melt empties into the Gulf of Alaska, it would create the sixth largest coastal river in the world if it emerged as a single stream, researchers say.

"Freshwater runoff of this magnitude can influence marine biology, nearshore oceanographic studies of temperature and salinity, ocean currents, sea level and other issues," lead author David Hill, from Oregon State University, said in a statement. "This is an area of considerable interest, with its many retreating glaciers," Hill added, "and with this data as a baseline we'll now be able to better monitor how it changes in the future."

The research team used satellite technology as well as on-the-ground hydraulic measurements and modeling to produce the most precise measurements of freshwater runoff in this region to date. Between 2003 and 2009, when this research took place, they found that from melting glaciers alone, about 57 cubic kilometers of water a year pours into the Gulf of Alaska. And that's on top of the estimated 792 cubic kilometers produced by annual precipitation in this region.

At this rate, the Gulf of Alaska accumulates more water than is seen in some of the world's great rivers, including the Ganges, Nile, Volga, Niger, Columbia, Danube or Yellow River.

EDIT

http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/13616/20150321/massive-glacier-melt-pouring-into-gulf-of-alaska.htm