Argentina glacier loss – From a Glaciers Perspective

Bajo del Plomo Glacier, Argentina in Sentinel image with no retained snowcover this summer, and rapid bedrock expansion at Point A-C. This is 2nd consecutive year without retained snowcover for this glacier at the head of the Rio Plomo.

For an alpine glacier to thrive it must remain 50-60% snowcovered throughout the year, even at the end of the summer. To survive it must have consistent significant snowcover at the end of summer, indicative of a persistent accumulation zone. This year in the Central Andes of Argentina and Chile I have chronicled the near total loss of snowpack through February, leading to dirty/dark snowcover free glaciers. This is a same story we observed in 2022, though snowcover was lost in January last year (Pelto, 2022). The consecutive summers with glaciers laid bare results in significant losses. The darker bare surfaces of the glacier melt faster leading to more rapid area and volume loss. This includes fragmentation and rapid expansion of bedrock areas amidst the glacier. We saw in the Pacific Northwest two consecutive summers with limited snowcover retained. Hopefully the Central Andes region will experience a good winter much as the Mount Shasta, CA area has in winter 2023.

Here is an update at the end of the summer using false color Sentinel imagery to highlight a sample of these glaciers that have remained largely bare for two months. Individual posts during 2022 or 2023 include: Volcan Peteroa glaciers, Rio Atuel glaciers, Sollipulli Glacier, Palomo-Cipreses Glacier, Bajo del Plomo Glacier, Cortaderal Glacier, Volcan San Jose Glaciers , Cobre Glacier, Olivares Beta and Gamma Glaciers and Volcan Overo Glaciers,

Olivares Beta and Gamma Glacier, Chile in Sentinel image with no retained snowcover this summer, retreating away from proglacial lakes and bedrock expansion. This is 2nd consecutive year without retained snowcover for these glaciers.

Nevado Piquenes, Argentina has less than 5% snowcover retained in this Sentinel image, right near the 6000+ m summit.

Bello and Yeso Glacier, Chile have no trace of snowcover for 2nd consecutive summer. The dirtier surface is leading to faster melt.

El Morado Glacier, Chile has no trace of snowcover for 2nd consecutive summer. The dirtier surface is leading to faster melt, and fragmenting.

Volcan San Jose Glaciers in Sentinel image continues to fragment with a 2nd consecutive year without retained snowcove.

Cortaderal Glacier, Chile in Sentinel image with no retained snowcover this summer, leading to terminus tongue loss at Point A.

Corto, Fiero and Humo Glacier, Argentina with no retained snowcover in 2023, for 2nd consecutive summer. These glaciers feed the Rio Atuel, and their rapid retreat will lead to less summer glacier runoff.

Volcan Overo in Sentinel image continues to fragment with no retained snowcover this summer, and bedrock expansion causing fragementation at Point A, B and C.

Tinguiririca Glacier, Chile drains into the river of the same name. In 2023 this fragmenting glacier lost all its snowcover for 2nd consecutive summer.

Cobre Glacier, Argentina lost all its snowcover in 2023, just like 2022. Here it has separated at Point B and nearly so at Point A.

Volcan Peteroa Glacier, Chile/Argentina border in Sentinel image continues to fragment at Point A with no retained snowcover, this is also leading to lake expansion at Point B.

Map of Central Andes indicating glacier locations from 33-36° S that we focus on here.

Turbio Glacier retreat from 1986 to 2018 in Landsat images. Red arrow is 1986 terminus location, yellow arrow 2018 terminus location and pink arrow glacier across the border in Chile.

Turbio Glacier is at the headwaters of the Turbio River, Argentina and flows into Lago Puelo. The glacier descends east from Chile/Argentina border at 1500 m descending into a low slope valley at 1300-1000 m. From 1986-2018 this glacier like many others nearby has retreated substantially leading to development of a new lake. Wilson et al (2018) noted a substantial growth in the number of lakes in the central and Patagonian Andes due to the ongoing rapid retreat. Masiokas et al (2008) reported that significant warming and decreasing precipitation over the 1912–2002 interval in the region. Harrison et al (2018) observed the number of glacier lake outburst floods have declined despite the increase in lakes.

In 1986 the glacier terminated at the southeast end of a buttress at the junction with another valley, red arrow. The glacier was 4.3 km long and was connected to a headwall segment that extends to 1500 m. There is no evidence of a lake at the terminus of Turbio Glacier. Across the divide in Chile the glacier with a pink arrow has a length of 3 km. In 1998 the retreat from 1986 has been modest and no lake has formed at Turbio. Across the border in Chile the glacier has divided into two sections. By 2017 Turbio Glacier has retreated exposing a new lake. The glacier is essentially devoid of retained snowpack illustrating the lack of a significant accumulation zone that can sustain it. Across the border in Chile the glacier has nearly disappeared with the lower section revealing a new lake and little retained snowpack indicating it cannot survive. By 2018 Turbio Glacier has retreated 1.3 km, which is over 30% of its total length in 32 years. The glacier is separated from the headwall glacier, which can still shed avalanches onto the lower glacier. It is possible that with additional retreat another lake will be revealed in this valley. The substantial retreat here is comparable with that of nearby Argentina glaciers such as Pico Alto Glacier and Lago Cholila . The retreat is greater than on Tic Toc Glacier to the southwest in Chile.

Turbio Glacier retreat from 1998 to 2017 in Landsat images. Red arrow is 1986 terminus location, yellow arrow 2018 terminus location and pink arrow glacier across the border in Chile.

Turbio Glacier in a Digital Globe image from 2013. Red arrow is 1986 terminus location, yellow arrow 2018 terminus location, blue arrows show glacier flow and pink arrow glacier across the border in Chile. The border is also indicated.