The Perito Moreno Glacier: A natural wonder in its final stages!

The Perito Moreno Glacier: A natural wonder in its final stages!

The Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina is showing signs of dramatic change, threatening both the fascinating natural spectacle and the regional economy. According to a study by the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg The glacier loses its stability and will probably no longer be able to offer the well-known natural spectacle. Between 1940 and 2011, the glacier regularly cut Lake Argentino and formed impressive ice tunnels, an experience for tourists from all over the world. But now the picture has changed: the glacier has been retreating rapidly since 2019.

Radar systems have shown that the glacier lost about 34 cm in thickness annually from 2000 to 2019. Since 2019, this loss has accelerated to an impressive 5.5 to 6.5 meters per year. In some places the glacier tongue retreats over 800 meters. This worrying development is directly linked to the loss of a stabilizing anchor point in the glacier's subsurface.

Causes of withdrawal

Global warming is also having noticeable consequences in Patagonia. Air temperatures there have risen by an average of 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade since the 1990s. As a result of this warming, the Perito Moreno glacier tongue is now fully exposed to warm lake water, accelerating melting. Topographical fixed points under the glacier used to stabilize the ice. If this ridge is lost, the glacier could float at its base and break off more quickly, which could lead to increased calving.

The effects of Perito Moreno's withdrawal are not only relevant locally. Loud Deutschlandfunk More than 275,000 glaciers worldwide are at risk from climate change. Ice, which is important as a water supply for over 3 billion people, is disappearing every day. The loss of glaciers affects water supplies, the ecosystem and sea levels, which rise by around 18 mm due to melting.

Consequences for tourism and the region

The retreat of the Perito-Moreno also has a significant impact on tourism in the region. The impressive ice masses attracted millions of visitors every year. Melting glaciers threaten not only this natural beauty, but also the economy that depends on ecotourism. While in the past the glaciers regularly broke up like rice fields, the chances of this happening are now in question. Model calculations show that the glacier could potentially lose another 15 square kilometers.

The challenges surrounding glacier retreat emphasize the need for decisive action to protect glaciers. The year 2025 has been declared the International Year of Glacier Conservation, with the aim of promoting investment in glacier monitoring. Given the complex nature of the problem, current evidence shows that without immediate action, glacier loss will continue, while consistent climate action could help slow loss.

The fragility of the glacier ecosystem requires the global community to act responsibly and take protective measures. The Perito Moreno Glacier is an impressive example of the challenges involved in preserving these natural treasures.