Volcan Overo in Sentinel image continues to fragment with no retained snowcover this summer, and bedrock expansion at Point A.

For an alpine glacier to survive it must remain mostly snowcovered throughout the year, even at the end of the summer. This is one reason for the majesty of glaciated mountains, they shine brightly even in summer.  This year in the Central Andes of Argentina and Chile I have chronicled the near total loss of snowpack in January due to early summer warmth, leading to dirty/dark glaciers.  This is a similar story to what we saw in the Pacific Northwest last summer. Here is an update at the end of the summer using Sentinel imagery to highlight that these glaciers have remained largely bare for two months. The darker surfaces of the glacier melt faster leading to more rapid area and volume loss.  This includes fragmentation and rapid expansion of bedrock areas amidst the glacier. Earlier observations indicate this is a regional issue this summer with snowpack lost from Bajo del Plomo Glacier,  Cortaderal Glacier, Palomo Glacier, Volcan Overo Glaciers, Volcan San Jose Glaciers , Cobre Glacier and Olivares Beta and Gamma Glaciers across the Central Andes of Chile and Argentina

Cortaderal Glacier in Sentinel image with no retained snowcover this summer, and bedrock expansion at Point A.

Volcan San Jose Glaciers in Sentinel image continues to fragment with ~5% retained snowcover this summer, and bedrock expansion at Point A.

Las Vacas Glaciers in Sentinel image continues to fragment with no retained snowcover this summer, and bedrock expansion at Point A.

Olivares Beta and Gamma Glacier  in Sentinel image with no retained snowcover this summer, retreating away from proglacial lakes and bedrock expansion at Point A.

Bajo del Plomo Glacier in Sentinel image with no retained snowcover this summer, and rapid bedrock expansion at Point A.

Palomo Glacier in Sentinel image with no retained snowcover this summer, and bedrock expansion at Point A.

Volcan Peteroa Glacier in Sentinel image continues to fragment with ~2% retained snowcover this summer, and bedrock expansion at Point A.