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Perito Moreno Glacier Faces Accelerating Retreat and Record Ice Calving

The once-stable glacier in Argentina is now losing mass at unprecedented rates, with towering ice collapses drawing both tourists and scientific concern.

The Perito Moreno glacier is seen reflected in the window of a tourist boat, near the city of El Calafate in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, Argentina April 22, 2025. REUTERS/Bernat Parera/File Photo
Climbers trek on the Perito Moreno glacier, near the city of El Calafate in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, Argentina January 14, 2020. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
Image
Ice calves off from the Perito Moreno glacier into the Lago Argentino (Argentine Lake), in the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, near the city of El Calafate in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, Argentina on April 21, in this screengrab from a video.

Overview

  • The Perito Moreno glacier, known for its stability over the past 80 years, has been retreating steadily since 2020, with mass loss accelerating in recent years.
  • Recent measurements show the glacier is losing between 1–2 meters of water equivalent annually, raising concerns about potential further acceleration.
  • Unusually large ice calving events, with blocks as tall as 70 meters breaking off, have become more frequent over the last four to six years.
  • Regional warming of 0.06°C per decade and declining precipitation have disrupted the glacier’s mass balance, reducing snow and ice accumulation.
  • Despite its decline, the glacier remains a major tourist attraction, with visitors flocking to witness its dramatic ice collapses up close.