The Tres Glacier, one of the four reference glaciers of the National Glacier Inventory (IANIGLA-CONICET), has experienced a 21% reduction in its surface area over the last twenty years, according to the latest survey by the Argentine institute.
Since 2013, IANIGLA closely monitors this ice body in the Patagonian mountain range, analyzing its relationship with the climate, its contribution to the rivers’ water supply, and building predictive models for decision-making.
In 2014, a meteorological station was installed in its front, providing real-time data on high mountain weather.
In mid-June, mountain guides from El Chaltén —trained by IANIGLA— carried out a new follow-up that included ablation beacon measurements, coordinated by the Friends of Los Glaciares National Park Association – Northern Zone.
This collaboration with local knowledge and technical expertise strengthens the continuous monitoring program.
## Melting Ice Worldwide
This melting follows a global trend: according to the World Meteorological Organization, glaciers globally are losing the equivalent of three Olympic-sized swimming pools per second, with an acceleration of retreat in the last decade.
Between 2000 and 2020, this process has already shown losses of around 21% in surface area in various glacier regions.
The glacier’s reduction generates multiple impacts. Firstly, it compromises the contribution of freshwater to the region’s rivers. On the other hand, it increases geological risks, as the exposure of rocks behind the ice raises the possibility of landslides.
It also implies the loss of a valuable indicator of climate change: glaciers react quickly to temperature and precipitation variations, so their evolution serves as an early warning for ecosystem health.
Globally, this trend is alarming. Many of these icy masses could disappear before the end of the century if significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are not achieved.
