A dramatic block of ice, about 70 meters tall—the size of a 20-storey building—recently collapsed from Argentina’s famous Perito Moreno glacier, captivating visitors and alarming experts alike. This calving event, where large ice chunks break off the glacier, has become more frequent and larger over the past four to six years, according to local guides and glaciologists.
For decades, Perito Moreno had maintained a stable mass despite global warming trends, but recent years show signs of retreat. Argentine glaciologist Lucas Ruiz of CONICET notes the glacier has started losing between one and two meters of water equivalent per year since 2020, a shift from its previous balance. A 2024 state report reveals the fastest and most prolonged mass loss in nearly five decades, coinciding with rising air temperatures and decreasing precipitation in the region.
While the glacier remains a breathtaking tourist attraction, the increasing size of calving events and ongoing retreat highlight the growing impact of climate change on Patagonian glaciers. Visitors often describe witnessing these events as an awe-inspiring experience, underscoring the urgent need to monitor and address glacier health worldwide.
Source: Swifteradio.com
