You are browsing the archive for patagonia glacier retreat Archives - From a Glacier's Perspective.
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 …
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 …
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 …
March 12, 2021
Gorra de Nieve East Glacier, Chile Retreat-Lake Expansion
Gorra de Nieve East Glacier in 1986 and 2021 Landsat images. Red arrow is the 1986 terminus location, yellow arrow is the 2021 terminus location, orange arrows the three main tributaries. The Gorra de Nieve massif is 50 km southwest of Monte San Lorenzo, draining its eastern flank the largest glacier of this massif is unnamed and referred to here as Gorra de Nieve East Glacier. The glacier consists of …
February 17, 2021
Tres Puntas Glacier, Chile Loses 50% of its Length this Century
Tres Puntas Glacier, Chile in 1999 and 2021 Landsat imagery. Red arrow is 1999 terminus location, yellow arrow the 2021 location, Point A is where tributaries joined in 1999 and Point B is where an adjacent glacier drains west. Tres Puntas Glacier flow south from Cerro Tres Puntas draining south into Lago O’Higgins in Patagonia. The icefield is east of the Patagonia icefields where Davies and Glasser (2012) noted the …
February 8, 2019
Cachalote Glacier, Chile Retreats From Lake and Separates
Cachalote Glacier in a 1984 Landsat image and 2019 Sentinel Image. Red arrow is 1984 terminus location, yellow arrow the 2019 terminus location and the pink arrow a tributary to the glacier in 1984 that separates. Cachalote Glacier is on the western edge of the Southern Patagonia Icefield, Chile. The glacier is not fed by the main icefield, but is connected to glaciers that are. The glaciers of the SPI have …
December 28, 2018
Erasmo Glacier, Chile Terminus Collapse and Aquaculture
Erasmo Glacier retreat in Landsat image from 1987 and Sentinel image from 2018. Red arrow is 1987 terminus, orange arrow 2016 terminus and yellow arrow 2018 terminus. Points A-D mark areas of expanding bedrock exposure. Cerro Erasmo at 46 degrees South latitude is a short distance north of the Northern Patagonia Icefield and is host to a number of glaciers the largest of which flows northwest from the mountain. This …
March 6, 2018
Rio Engaño, Chile Headwater Glacier Retreat GLOF Threat Drops
Comparison of glaciers at the headwaters of Rio Engaño in 1984 and 2018 Landsat images. The 1984 terminus location with red arrows, yellow arrows the 2018 terminus location, purple arrows wind drift patterns. Rio Engaño drains into Lago General Carrera and its headwaters is a group of alpine glaciers. In March of 1977 one of the glaciers, generated a glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF) that reached a depth of 1.5 m at the …
April 7, 2017
Bernal Glacier, Retreating from Chilean Fjord
Bernal Glacier terminus looking towards Estero las Montañas from Eñaut Izagirre and Camilo Rada. Bernal Glacier drains east from the Sarmiento de Gamboa Range in Southern Patagonia terminating a short distance from the Estero las Montañas. The glacier is in the Alacalufes National Reserve and can be seen from boats traveling up the fjord. Davies and Glasser, (2012) indicate extensive recession of almost all glaciers in the range from 1870-2011. The …
April 3, 2017
Dama Blanca Glacier Retreat, Southern Chile
Dama Blanca Glacier in Landsat images from 1986 and 2017. Red arrow is the 1986 terminus, yellow arrow the 2017 terminus, purple dots the snowline and purple arrows a bedrock ridge. Dama Blanca Glacier drains west from Chile’s Sarmiento de Gamboa Range in Southern Patagonia. terminating in Lago Verde in the Alacalufes National Reserve. Alacalufes NR features kelp rich fjords, Northofagus coastal forests and glacier clad alpine zones. Davies and Glasser, …
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.