Glaciers are retreating at alarming rates

In Torres del Paine and Bernardo O’Higgins National Parks we were able to get up close and personal with some major glaciers in Southern Chile. All of the glaciers we witnessed were part of the Southern Ice Field which is just one piece of the former Patagonia Ice Field. The Southern Ice Field is the largest Ice Field in the Southern Hemisphere that is not part of the Arctic, meaning that it is an incredibly important freshwater reserve. While glaciers are constantly moving and changing, recent studies have shown that 90% of the Patagonian output glaciers have shrunk since the last ice age in 1870 AD (1). Many different studies are working to determine what is causing a recent increase in melting speeds, with warming atmospheric conditions, more rain events, and interaction with marine environments listed as the main perpetrators (1).

Looking specifically at Glacier Grey in Torres del Paine National Park, information is posted showing how quickly the glacier has been retreating. The two images below show a diagram posted at a lookout point in the park, detailing the retreat of Glacier Grey over the years, as well as some other information. The third photo is one that I took, including the glacier and the island mentioned on the information board.