Onset of rapid calving and retreat of Glaciar San Quintin, Hielo Patagónico Norte, southern chile¹

We thank NASA for permission to reproduce their satellite image and Joanne Beverley at Coventry University who prepared the diagrams.

Abstract

This note records the recent rapid retreat of the terminus of Glaciar San Quintin, which drains the western edge of the Hielo Patagónico Norte (HPN) in southern Chile. In 1993, the glacier terminus was advancing strongly into vegetated ground, while from 1996 to May 2000 the glacier underwent a transition between advance and retreat. A satellite image taken in 2000 showed that the ice front was undergoing substantial retreat and calving into proglacial lakes. Our research suggests that the glacier had lost an average of 1.89 km² a⁻¹ in ice surface between 1996 and 2000. The total surface loss is 7.55 km², by far the largest retreat documented for the glaciers of the HPN since 1945.

Notes

We thank NASA for permission to reproduce their satellite image and Joanne Beverley at Coventry University who prepared the diagrams.