You are browsing the archive for Argentina Glacier Retreat Archives - From a Glacier's Perspective.
April 10, 2023
Glaciers Across the Central Andes Snowcover Free Summer 2023
Bajo del Plomo Glacier, Argentina in Sentinel image with no retained snowcover this summer, and rapid bedrock expansion at Point A-C. This is 2nd consecutive year without retained snowcover for this glacier at the head of the Rio Plomo. For an alpine glacier to thrive it must remain 50-60% snowcovered throughout the year, even at the end of the summer. To survive it must have consistent significant snowcover at the …
March 15, 2023
Volcan Peteroa Glaciers Argentina/Chile Fragment During Snow Cover Free Summers
Volcan Peteroa glaciers in Sentinel images from March 2016 (below) and March 2023 (above). This illustrates fragmentation, 50% area loss, and a new lake formation. All the result of repeated snowcover free glaciers. 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. …
February 16, 2023
Rio Atuel Glaciers, Argentina Stripped of Snowcover February 2023
Snowcover loss on Cofto, Fiero and Del Humo Glacier in Sentinel images from January 13 and February 9, 2023, snowpack diminished from 45% to less than 3%. Rio Atuel drains from the high Central Andes in Western Argentina and is a snow and glacier fed system In the headwaters region there are a series of glaciers that have been losing mass and retreating.The most negative mass balance rates from 2000–2018 …
January 17, 2023
Marconi Glacier, Chile Fragmentation and Retreat 1986-2022
Marconi Glacier in Landsat images from 1986 and 2022. Red arrows=1986 terminus locations, yellow arrow=2022 terminus location. Tributaries labelled 1-6, bedrock divides A-D and LE=Lago Electrico. In 1986 Lago del Marconi does not exist, by 2022 it is apparent at red arrow. Marconi Glacier, Argentina is one of the more common routes onto the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap (SPI) via Marconi Pass. The glacier is no longer fed by the …
April 1, 2022
Central Andean Glaciers Laid Bare for Last Half of Summer 2022
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 …
March 17, 2022
Cobre Glacier, Argentina Rapid Retreat and Area Loss in 2022
Cobre Glacier, Argentina in false color Sentinel 2 images from Jnauary 13, 2022 and March 16, 2022. Note the expansion of bedrock area amidst the glacier at Point A, glacier fragmenting at Point B and Point C. Cobre Glacier drains east from Cerro Orejas a 3949 m peak on the Chile-Argentina border and discharges into the Rio Tordillo. The summer of 2022 has been a difficult season for glaciers in …
March 4, 2022
Volcan San Jose, Central Andes Glacier Decline and Snowcover Loss in 2022.
Volcan San Jose, Chile/Argentina Glacier change in Landsat 5-7-9 images from 1991, 2001 and 2022. Red arrows indicate the 1991 terminus location of three glaciers draining from the summit region, including Nieves Negras Glacier (NN). Point A-D are locations of expanding bedrock amidst the glacier. Snowpack very limited in 2022. Volcan San Jose is a 5850 m glacier draped volcano that straddles the Argentina-Chile border. Here we focus on the …
February 25, 2022
Bajo del Plomo Glacier, Argentina is 100% Bare Ice in February 2022
Bajo del Plomo Glacier in 2018 and 2022 Sentinel images illustrating the lack of any retained snowpack in 2022 and the expansion and emergence of bare rock areas amidst the glacier at Point A-D. Bajo del Plomo Glacier at 7 km in length is one of two large glaciers at the headwaters of the Rio Plomo, Argentina, which is a tributary to Rio Tupungato and then Rio Mendoza. Glaciers in …
January 24, 2022
Volcan Overo, Argentina Glaciers No Retained Snowcover at Midsummer
Volcan Overo glaciers in Sentinel images from January-2017, 2021 and 2022 illustrating fragmentation and no retained snowcover in 2022 with half the summer to go. Volcan Overo is a 4619 m high Andean mountain in Argentina with a relatively low sloped broad summit region above 4000 m. This mountain has been the site of sulfur mining, with both an old tram and mining road leading to the summit region. The …
May 7, 2021
Upsala Glacier Separation from Bertacchi Glacier, Argentina
Upsala Glacier (U) in Landsat images from 1999, 2016 and 2021 illustrating both retreat and the separation from Bertacchi Glacier (B). Cono Glacier (C) is the next tributary to the north. Upsala Glacier is a major outlet glacier of the Southern Patagonia Icefield. The glacier terminates in Lago Argentina and retreated substantially, 7.2 km from 1986-2014 (NASA, 2014). The retreat accelerated after 2008 (Sakakibara et al 2013). From 2014-2019 the …
Dean of Academic Affairs at Nichols College and Professor of Environmental Science at Nichols College in Massachusetts since 1989. Glaciologist directing the North Cascade Glacier Climate Project since 1984. This project monitors the mass balance and behavior of more glaciers than any other in North America.