Iconic glacier on the brink as Perito Moreno shows signs of rapid retreat. Image: Yahoo
(The Post News)– A thunderous crack echoes through the air as a 70-meter chunk of ice breaks off the Perito Moreno glacier, crashing into the lake below. This breathtaking spectacle has drawn visitors to Argentina for years, but locals and scientists are growing concerned.
The glacier’s recent calving events, where large ice chunks break off, have been unusually frequent and massive. According to guide Pablo Quinteros, such large icebergs haven’t been common in the past 20 years, but over the last 4-6 years, they’ve become more frequent.
The glacier’s face, which flows into Lake Argentina, had previously remained relatively stable, but over the past five years, it’s been retreating more rapidly.
According to a 2024 report co-authored by Ruiz, the glacier’s mass has been stable for 50 years, but since 2015, it’s been losing mass at an alarming rate. Ruiz attributes this to rising air temperatures and decreased precipitation, leading to more melting and calving than ice accumulation.
As a result, the glacier’s balance has been disrupted, causing it to lose thickness and area. Despite this, the glacier remains a breathtaking attraction, with visitors marveling at its sheer size and power.
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