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October 2, 2023
Bernardo Glacier, Chile Lake Drainage as Retreat Continues
Bernardo Glacier in Landsat images from Oct. 16, 2022 and Sept. 17, 2023 illustrating the drainage of the southern end of the proglacial lake by the northern terminus (N). The lake was full in 2021, partially drained by Oct. 2022, further drained by March 2023 and has not signficantly refilled by Sept. 2023, still 8 km² of exposed lake bed. Bernardo Glacier in Landsat images from 1986 and 2021 illustrating …
April 18, 2023
Tyndall Glacier, Chile April 2023 Calving Retreat
Tyndall Glacier in Sentinel images from March 11, 2023 and April 12, 2023 indicating the calving event and three icebergs generated. Tyndall Glacier is a large outlet glacier of the Southern Patagonia Icefield (SPI). This glacier has an area of over 300 km². The main glacier terminus is in Lago Geikie, which began to form around 1940, and the east terminus previously terminated in Lago Tyndall. Laboratorie de Glaciologie reports …
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 27, 2023
Soler Glacier, Chile Terminus Tongue Breakup in 2023
Soler Glacier, Chile terminus tongues is 1.9 km long on 12-26-2022 and by 3-21-2023 it has broken up, with four larger bergs A-D. False color Sentinel images. In 2020 I noted that the Soler Glacier “terminus tongue in its lowest 1.5 km continue to thin and will collapse in the lake in the near future.” Here the breakup of this tongue in 2023 is reported. Soler Glacier is an outlet …
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. …
March 6, 2023
Snowcover Free Glaciers Generates Fragmenting in Central Andes, Chile
Snowcover free glaciers in the Central Andes in 2014 ad 2023 Landsat images. The ongoing fragmentation and retreat is evident at Point A-H, see closeup details below. The glacier as Point B has melted away, At Point G and H glacier tributaries have separated from the Norte Cipreses Glacier in the valley below. At Point D-F expanding bedrock areas amidst glacier driving further fragmentation. Glaciers at Point A and C …
February 26, 2023
Glacier O’Higgins, Chile Rapid Calving Retreat 2016-2023
Glacier O’Higgins in February 16, 2023 Sentinel image with the 2002, 2016 and 2019 terminus also indicated. Point D marks a detached lobe on of ice on the northern margin in 2023. Point F marks the southern margin terminus front. Glacier O’Higgins is a large outlet glacier of the Southern Patagonia Icefield (SPI) that terminates in Lago O’Higgins. Cassasa et al (1997) report that from 1896-1979 the glacier had retreated 13.8 …
February 10, 2023
Sollipulli Glacier, Chile Rapid Melt: Fire and Ice February 2023
Sollipulli Glacier, Chile snowcover loss during summer 2023 heat wave in false color Sentinel images from January 20-Feb. 9. Snowcover delcined from 94% to 12% in 20 days. Nevados de Sollipulli is a volcano, is in the central Andes of Chile near the border with Argentina in Parque Nacional Villarica, Chile. The 4 km wide summit caldera at ~2100 m is filled by a glacier. In 2022 the summer heat …
May 15, 2022
Sollipulli Volcano Glacier Recession Snow Cover Deficit
Landsat images of Sollipulli from 1986 and 2022. Point A-D are locations where the glacier spilled out of the caldera in 1986, but no longer does so in 2022. Nevados de Sollipulli is a volcano, is in the central Andes of Chile near the border with Argentina in Parque Nacional Villarica, Chile. The 4 km wide summit caldera at ~2100 m is filled by a glacier. The volcano is dormant …
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 …
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.