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March 20, 2023
Snowcover Free Glaciers in Antarctica in 2023
Eastern Ice Cap on Vega Ice Cap is snow free in Feb. 19, 2023 Sentinel images. Bedrock areas at Point A and B will expand with snow free conditions. In 2023 the near complete loss of snowcover is apparent on a number glacier and ice caps In Antarctica, on several islands along the Antarctic Peninsula. This yields a more extensive bare ice and firn surface area, that increses melt rate …
March 17, 2023
Eagle Island Ice Cap, Antarctica Loses its Snowcover in 2023
Eagle Island Ice Cap in Sentinel image from Feb. 19, 2023 illustrating only small patches of snowcover left, 5-10% of ice cap. On February 19, 2023 Eagle Island Ice Cap, Antarctica has less than 10% snowcover. This is less snowcover than observed even after the period of record warm weather over the Antarctic Peninsula in February 2020. Temperature when the all time Antaractica temperature record was set at Esperenza Base. …
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 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 …
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 …
February 2, 2023
Burroughs Glacier, Alaska Down to Last 1%
Burroughs Glacier in 1986 and 2022 Landsat images. The red arrow marks the west margin and the yellow arrow the east margin in 1986. Yellow dots mark the outline of the glacier in 2022. Glacier area declined from 12.5 km² to 1.5 km² during this 36 year period. Burroughs Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska has been retreating without pause since 1892 when it was part of the Muir …
January 20, 2023
Grasshopper Glacier, Wyoming Disintegration Underway
Grasshopper Glacier, Connie Glacier, J Glacier and Sourdough Glacier in 1966 map (black outline of glaciers) and in 2022 false color Sentinel image (green dots for glacier outline). The area of Grasshopper Glacier declined from 3.28 km² to 0.81 km². Closeup of area in 2021 and 2022 illustrates the many glacier fragments. Grasshopper Glacier in the Wind River Range of Wyoming has a southern terminus calving into a lake, and …
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 …
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.