Latest news with #PabloQuinteros
Yomiuri Shimbun
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Huge Ice Falls at Argentina's Perito Moreno Glacier Stir Awe, Concern
Reuters TV via Reuters Ice breaks off Perito Moreno Glacier into Lake Argentina in Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina on April 21, in this combination of screengrabs from video. PERITO MORENO GLACIER, Argentina (Reuters) — The deep cracking sound bursting from within the ice signals the dramatic fall about to happen. Seconds later, a block of ice some 70 meters tall — the size of a 20-story building — collapses from the face of the Perito Moreno glacier into the aquamarine water below. The sight has attracted visitors to Argentina's most famous glacier for years. Standing on platforms facing the ice, they wait for the next crack to split the cool Patagonian air. But recently the size of the ice chunks breaking off — a process called 'calving' — has been starting to alarm local guides and glaciologists, already anxious at a prolonged retreat by Perito Moreno, which had bucked the trend in recent decades by maintaining its mass even as warmer climates spurred faster glacial melting worldwide. 'Ice calving events of this size haven't been very common at the Perito Moreno glacier over the past 20 years,' said Pablo Quinteros, an official tourist guide at Los Glaciares National Park in the southern province of Santa Cruz. 'It's only in the last four to six years that we've started to see icebergs this big,' he told Reuters during a visit in April. The face of the glacier, which flows down from Andean peaks to end in the waters of Lake Argentina, had for decades held more or less steady, some years advancing and others retreating. But in the last five years, there's been a firmer retreat. 'It had been in more or less the same position for the past 80 years. And that's unusual,' said Argentine glaciologist Lucas Ruiz with state science body CONICET, whose research focus is the future of Patagonian glaciers in the face of climate change. 'However, since 2020, signs of retreat have begun to be seen in some parts of Perito Moreno Glacier's face.' He said that the glacier could rebound as it has done before, but that for the moment it was losing between one and two meters of water equivalent per year, which if not reversed could lead to a situation where the loss accelerates. A state-backed 2024 report, coauthored by Ruiz and presented to Argentina's Congress, showed that while Perito Moreno's mass has been overall stable for half a century, the period since 2015 has seen the fastest and most prolonged loss of mass in 47 years, on average losing 0.85 meters per year. Glaciers around the globe are disappearing faster than ever, with the last three-year period seeing the largest glacial mass loss on record, according to a UNESCO report in March. 'You can't grasp immensity of it' Ruiz said instruments his research team used to monitor the glacier had shown an increase in air temperature in the area of around 0.06 C per decade and precipitation decreasing, meaning less accumulation of snow and ice. 'The thing with Perito Moreno is that it took a while, so to speak, to feel the effects of climate change,' Ruiz said. Now, however, the accumulation of ice at the top of the glacier was being outpaced by melting and calving at the bottom. 'The changes we are seeing today clearly show that this balance of forces … has been disrupted, and today the glacier is losing both in thickness and area.' For now, the glacier remains an awe-inspiring attraction for travelers, who board boats to see the calving and the huge icebergs floating around the lake up close. 'It's insane. The most incredible thing I've ever seen,' said Brazilian tourist Giovanna Machado on the deck of one of the boats, which have to be careful of sudden ice falls. 'Even in photos, you just can't grasp the immensity of it, and it's perfect. It's amazing. I think everyone should come here at least once in their lifetime.'
News18
19-05-2025
- Science
- News18
Why The Crumbling Of Argentina's Iconic Glacier Is A Cause Of Concern
Last Updated: Experts say Perito Moreno in Argentina has maintained its mass for decades. But accumulation of icebergs over the past few years has been a cause of concern for glaciologists Argentina's iconic Perito Moreno glacier became a sight of awe and concern when a block of ice some 70 meters (230 ft) tall, the size of a 20-story building, collapsed into the blue waters of Lake Argentina. Several tourists had gathered to witness the view of the glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park in the southern province of Santa Cruz, which is shrinking quickly due to global warming. Why The Breaking Off Of The Glacier Is Alarming The breaking off of the glacier, called 'calving", has been keeping glaciologists worried as Perito Moreno, for decades, has been maintaining its mass even as warmer climates spurred faster glacial melting worldwide. On the latest event, which took place on April 21, Pablo Quinteros, an official tourist guide at Los Glaciares National Park, told Reuters, 'Ice calving events of this size haven't been very common at the Perito Moreno glacier over the past 20 years… It's only in the last four to six years that we've started to see icebergs this big." Argentine glaciologist Lucas Ruiz with state science body CONICET, whose research focus is the future of Patagonian glaciers in the face of climate change, said, 'It had been in more or less the same position for the past 80 years. And that's unusual." 'However, since 2020, signs of retreat have begun to be seen in some parts of the Perito Moreno glacier's face," said Ruiz, as quoted by Reuters. He said the glacier could rebound as it has done before, but that for the moment it was losing between one and two meters of water equivalent per year, which if not reversed could lead to a situation where the loss accelerates. A 2024 state-supported report, co-authored by glaciologist Lucas Ruiz, revealed that although Perito Moreno maintained a stable mass for nearly 50 years, the most significant and long-lasting ice loss has occurred since 2015. On average, it has lost around 0.85 metres of mass per year over this recent period, the fastest rate in the past 47 years. Scientists monitoring Perito Moreno say they have detected a slight but steady increase in air temperatures in the area, approximately 0.06°C per decade. At the same time, precipitation has decreased, which means less snowfall and, therefore, less new ice forming at the glacier's top. Meanwhile, melting and calving have increased at the base. This imbalance, less accumulation above and more melting below has not only caused thinning of the glacier but has also led to its shrinking. What Do We Know About The Perito Moreno Glacier? The glacier was born in the Patagonian Continental Ice, which is the largest ice field in the world after Antarctica. It is located near the city of El Calafate in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The Perito Moreno originates at just 1,500 metres above sea level and the front is located at 200 metres above sea level, making it accessible to visit. It is 50 km long and descends to Lake Argentino. Its frontage is 5 km and about 60 m high above the water level. The surface of the glacier is 250 km2, a little more than the surface of the City of Buenos Aires. In 1881, the Boundary Treaty was signed between Argentina and Chile and it was determined that since it was located to the east of the Andes mountain range and its slope towards the Atlantic Ocean, the glacier remained under Argentine sovereignty. The 'White Giant' comes under the Los Glaciares National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What Is Glacial Melting? Glacial melting is the process in which lass masses of ice lose mass, turning into water due to rising temperature or changes in environmental conditions. Calving happens when ice break off from glacier's edge, forming icebergs or smaller ice fragments. The process erodes the glacier's base. Some of the causes of glacial melting include: Climate Change: Rising global temperatures, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, have increased air and water temperatures, accelerating surface and basal melting. Reduced Snowfall: Less snow accumulation in colder months fails to replenish ice lost during warmer periods. Black Carbon and Pollutants: Soot and other particles settle on glaciers, reducing their reflectivity and absorbing more heat, speeding up melting. Geographic Factors: Glaciers in warmer regions or those with unstable bedrock are more prone to rapid melting. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : glacier News18 Explains Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 19, 2025, 13:31 IST News explainers Why The Crumbling Of Argentina's Iconic Glacier Is A Cause Of Concern | Explained
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Indian Express
How Argentina's most famous glacier, once unusually stable, is now crumbling
Argentina's most famous glacier, the Perito Moreno glacier, which has a surface area of 250 sq km (the total area of Patna, Bihar), is crumbling. Just weeks ago, it lost a colossal block of ice, equivalent to a 20-story building, plunging 70 m into water below. Such incidents — known as ice calving events — are not new for the glacier. In fact, as these events are a visual spectacle, they are the primary reason for the fame of the Perito Moreno glacier, making it a major tourist destination. However, in recent years, the size of the ice chunks breaking off has raised concern among scientists and experts. The latest ice calving event has further heightened this concern. Note that for several decades the Perito Moreno glacier was unusually stable, unlike other glaciers across the world, amid soaring global temperatures. But this changed around 2020. Here is a look at the situation. An iconic site The Perito Moreno glacier, also called the 'White Giant', is located near the city of El Calafate in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz, and comes under the Los Glaciares National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was formed during the last Ice Age, which occurred approximately 18,000 years ago. Estimates suggest that the glacier is 30 km long, and has a towering height of 60 m above the water level. Due to its enormous size, it is a major source of freshwater for Argentina. Since at least 1917, the glacier has witnessed numerous large-scale ice calving events due to its forward movement. The event creates a thunderous sound as colossal blocks of ice break from the glacier and submerge into the water. The stunning visuals of calving have, over the years, attracted tourists from around the world. The retreat Although the calving events at the Perito Moreno glacier are a natural phenomenon, they have been growing in size in recent years. Speaking about the latest event, which took place on April 21, Pablo Quinteros, an official tourist guide at Los Glaciares National Park, told Reuters, 'Ice calving events of this size haven't been very common at the Perito Moreno glacier over the past 20 years… It's only in the last four to six years that we've started to see icebergs this big.' The glacier was mostly stable for decades, as in some years it advanced and others retreated. However, in the last five years, the glacier has retreated quite firmly. A 2024 report, backed by the Argentine government, found that while Perito Moreno's mass has been overall stable for half a century, the period since 2015 has seen the fastest and most prolonged loss of mass in 47 years, on average losing 0.85 metres per year, according to a report by Reuters. In 2023, scientists at the Argentine Institute of Glaciology and Environmental Sciences (IANIGLA) told the media that since 2020, the Perito Moreno glacier had seen a loss of mass consisting of more than 700 m, approximately seven blocks. The retreat has been triggered by an obvious culprit: global warming. Argentine glaciologist Lucas Ruiz with state science body CONICET told Reuters, 'The thing with Perito Moreno is that it took a while, so to speak, to feel the effects of climate change.' He said that the area around the glacier witnessed an increase in air temperature of around 0.06 degrees Celsius per decade and precipitation, meaning less accumulation of snow and ice. A global phenomenon The Perito Moreno glacier is now part of the long list of glaciers around the globe which are disappearing faster than ever due to rising temperatures. Glaciers have been losing 273 billion tonnes of ice each year — equivalent to how much water Earth's entire population would consume over a period of 30 years — for the last 25 years, according to a research paper published in the journal Nature in February this year. The paper, 'Community estimate of global glacier mass changes from 2000 to 2023', also said that the ice loss had led to the sea level rising by almost 2 cm this century alone. While the 2 cm sea level rise may seem insignificant, it can have disastrous consequences for the world. In March, a UNESCO report said that since 1975, glaciers, which do not include the Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets, had lost more than 9,000 billion tonnes of mass. 'This is equivalent to a huge ice block of the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 metres,' Michael Zemp, director of the Switzerland-based World Glacier Monitoring Service, had said during the release of the report.
Al Etihad
16-05-2025
- Science
- Al Etihad
Huge ice falls at Argentina's Perito Moreno glacier stir awe and concern
16 May 2025 23:34 PERITO MORENO GLACIER, Argentina (Reuters) The deep cracking sound bursting from within the ice signals the dramatic fall about to happen. Seconds later, a block of ice some 70 metres tall - the size of a 20-story building - collapses from the face of the Perito Moreno glacier into the aquamarine water sight has attracted visitors to Argentina's most famous glacier for years. Standing on platforms facing the ice, they wait for the next crack to split the cool Patagonian recently the size of the ice chunks breaking off - a process called "calving" - has been starting to alarm local guides and glaciologists, already anxious at a prolonged retreat by Perito Moreno, which had bucked the trend in recent decades by maintaining its mass even as warmer climates spurred faster glacial melting worldwide."Ice calving events of this size haven't been very common at the Perito Moreno glacier over the past 20 years," said Pablo Quinteros, an official tourist guide at Los Glaciares National Park in the southern province of Santa Cruz."It's only in the last four to six years that we've started to see icebergs this big," he told Reuters during a visit in face of the glacier, which flows down from Andean peaks to end in the waters of Lake Argentina, had for decades held more or less steady, some years advancing and others retreating. But in the last five years, there's been a firmer retreat."It had been in more or less the same position for the past 80 years. And that's unusual," said Argentine glaciologist Lucas Ruiz with the state science body CONICET, whose research focus is the future of Patagonian glaciers in the face of climate change."However, since 2020, signs of retreat have begun to be seen in some parts of the Perito Moreno glacier's face." He said that the glacier could rebound as it has done before, but that for the moment it was losing between one and two meters of water equivalent per year, which, if not reversed, could lead to a situation where the loss accelerates.
The Independent
16-05-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Why Argentina's surprise tourist attraction is falling apart
The deep crack echoes through the Patagonian air, a prelude to the dramatic spectacle about to unfold. Seconds later, a colossal block of ice, equivalent to a 20-story building, shears off the Perito Moreno glacier, plunging 70 meters into the turquoise water below. This breathtaking scene has drawn visitors to Argentina's iconic glacier for years, where they stand on viewing platforms, anticipating the next thunderous calving event. However, the sheer size of these recently breaking ice chunks is causing concern among local guides and glaciologists. Perito Moreno has long defied the global trend of glacial retreat, maintaining its mass despite rising global temperatures. Now, alarm bells are ringing. "Ice calving events of this size haven't been very common at the Perito Moreno glacier over the past 20 years," said Pablo Quinteros, an official tourist guide at Los Glaciares National Park in the southern province of Santa Cruz. "It's only in the last four to six years that we've started to see icebergs this big," he told Reuters during a visit in April. The face of the glacier, which flows down from Andean peaks to end in the waters of Lake Argentina, had for decades held more or less steady, some years advancing and others retreating. But in the last five years, there's been a firmer retreat. "It had been in more or less the same position for the past 80 years. And that's unusual," said Argentine glaciologist Lucas Ruiz with state science body CONICET, whose research focus is the future of Patagonian glaciers in the face of climate change. "However, since 2020, signs of retreat have begun to be seen in some parts of the Perito Moreno glacier's face." He said that the glacier could rebound as it has done before, but that for the moment it was losing between one and two meters of water equivalent per year. If not reversed, that could lead to a situation where the loss accelerates. A state-backed 2024 report, co-authored by Ruiz and presented to Argentina's Congress, showed that while Perito Moreno's mass has been overall stable for half a century, the period since 2015 has seen the fastest and most prolonged loss of mass in 47 years, on average losing 0.85 meters per year. Glaciers around the globe are disappearing faster than ever, with the last three-year period seeing the largest glacial mass loss on record, according to a UNESCO report in March. Ruiz said instruments his research team used to monitor the glacier had shown an increase in air temperature in the area of around 0.06 degrees Celsius per decade and precipitation decreasing, meaning less accumulation of snow and ice. "The thing with Perito Moreno is that it took a while, so to speak, to feel the effects of climate change," Ruiz said. Now, however, the accumulation of ice at the top of the glacier was being outpaced by melting and calving at the bottom. "The changes we are seeing today clearly show that this balance of forces... has been disrupted, and today the glacier is losing both in thickness and area." For now, the glacier remains an awe-inspiring attraction for travelers, who board boats to see the calving and the huge icebergs floating around the lake up close. "It's insane. The most incredible thing I've ever seen," said Brazilian tourist Giovanna Machado on the deck of one of the boats, which have to be careful of sudden ice falls. "Even in photos, you just can't grasp the immensity of it, and it's perfect. It's amazing. I think everyone should come here at least once in their lifetime."
