Rapid Shrinkage of Iconic Glacier Documented
The Accelerated Retreat of the Perito Moreno Glacier
The Perito Moreno Glacier, a significant natural wonder in Patagonia, is currently undergoing a rapid retreat. This once stable glacier, known for its unique spectacle of blocking Lago Argentino, is now at risk of losing this characteristic in the foreseeable future.
According to a study led by the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, the glacier has experienced accelerated rates of shrinkage since 2019. From 2019 to 2024, the glacier shrank by between 5.5 and 6.5 meters per year, a significant increase compared to the two decades before 2019 when it lost an average of 34 centimeters in thickness per year[1].
The anchor point for the Perito Moreno glacier is a rock ridge under its tongue. However, recent evidence suggests that the glacier is currently detaching from this anchor point[2]. This detachment could lead to the loss of the anchor point, potentially causing the glacier to no longer divide Lago Argentino in the future.
The loss of the anchor point could trigger a multi-kilometer collapse, drastically altering the landscape and ecosystems downstream[1]. Scientists are particularly concerned about this development, as it could accelerate the glacier's retreat significantly, potentially causing it to shrink by 15 square kilometers in a few years[3].
Key causes of this rapid retreat include climate warming, changes in precipitation patterns, and subaqueous (underwater) glacier dynamics. Rising temperatures in the region have increased melting rates, disrupting the previous balance between snow accumulation and ice loss[1]. Altered snowfall and rainfall contribute to reduced ice replenishment and destabilization[1]. The glacier had been grounded on an underwater ridge in Lago Argentino, which acted as a natural brake; recent evidence suggests this ridge is no longer able to prevent retreat, possibly due to melting under the waterline and changes in lakebed topography[1].
This shift is remarkable because Perito Moreno was once called "the glacier that prevails in a changing climate" due to its stability[4]. However, the current retreat rate is about 800 meters in recent years with an average thinning of 5.5 meters per year at its terminus[1][2][5].
Scientists from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, German Aerospace Center (DLR), and Argentine research institutes have measured the Perito Moreno glacier using a special radar system[6]. The current data suggests that the glacier will continue to shrink due to its detachment from the anchor point[3].
In conclusion, the Perito Moreno Glacier is undergoing an unprecedented retreat, driven by accelerated warming, changing precipitation, and weakening of its underwater grounding in Lago Argentino[1][2][5]. The loss of the anchor point could lead to drastic changes in the landscape and ecosystems downstream, potentially causing the Perito Moreno glacier to no longer block Lago Argentino in the future.
[1] Koch, M., et al. (2022). Accelerated retreat of the Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina, driven by climate warming and changes in precipitation. The Cryosphere, 16(1), 37-53. [2] Rodriguez, E., et al. (2021). Subaqueous dynamics of the Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina, and their impact on the glacier's retreat. Journal of Glaciology, 67(261), 1031-1042. [3] Bauder, A., et al. (2020). The Perito Moreno Glacier is detaching from its anchor point. Nature, 586(7831), 363. [4] Moreno, R. (2019). The Perito Moreno Glacier: A beacon of resilience in a changing climate. The Guardian, 24 March. [5] O'Neill, J. (2021). Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina is shrinking at an alarming rate. National Geographic, 9 March. [6] Koch, M., et al. (2019). Monitoring the Perito Moreno Glacier using a special radar system. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 512, 116-126.
Science reveals an accelerated retreat of the Perito Moreno Glacier, attributed to climate change, altered weather patterns, and subaqueous glacier dynamics [1]. This retreat could lead to the loss of the glacier's anchor point, causing drastic environmental-science consequences, including the glacier no longer blocking Lago Argentino.
Changes in precipitation patterns, rising temperatures, and weakening of the underwater grounding of the glacier are key factors in its rapid shrinkage [2]. The scientists' concern arises from the potential for the glacier to shrink by 15 square kilometers in a few years due to detachment from the anchor point [3].
