The shrinking glaciers phenomenon touches some of the planet’s most recognizable landmarks. A notable example is the Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina, a site that draws thousands of visitors from around the world each year. A team of scientists has now documented the ice loss this glacier has experienced over the last five years. While the data are not yet enough to declare an irreversible trend, alarms were sounded when the front retreated by 700 meters in just two years, a pace that challenges the glacier once considered among the most stable on the planet.
When the researchers began monitoring in 2021, they aligned their observations with the accounts of guides and with satellite imagery. They confirmed a slight regression starting in 2019, but the period between 2021 and 2022 showed a pronounced shift in the front along the northern edge of the Canal de Los Témpanos. This trend has continued to the present, indicating changes in the front position of more than 700 meters at parts of the northern boundary, according to Lucas Ruiz, a glaciologist with the Argentine National Institute of Glaciology and the Argentine Council for Scientific Research. The findings were shared with CNN and Conicet researchers for corroboration.
Satellite data and assessments from the University of Toulouse corroborate an approximate retreat rate of 350 meters per year, a pace that has astonished scientists and raised questions about the glacier’s future behavior.
During multiple expeditions, scientists observed that the northern edge of the Canal de los Témpanos has regressed by about 700 meters over the past two years, a movement opposite to the direction of the previously stable terminus. This significant retreat underscores a broader pattern of rapid change in the region’s ice cover.
Experts estimate that from 1998 to 2019 the glacier’s annual retreat averaged around one to two meters, with a simultaneous increase in calved icebergs. A similar pattern has been noted on the southern portion of the Rico Branch of Lake Argentino, suggesting a widespread response within the ice system rather than isolated pockets of loss.
Other notable cases
The front of the snowdrift remains in contact with the Magellan Peninsula, and measurements since 2018 show little change for this segment. This contrast means the Perito Moreno varies from glacial areas like Upsala or Viedma, where more pronounced retreat has occurred. The Magellanic contact keeps the front relatively stable for now, though researchers caution that future shifts cannot be entirely ruled out. These observations were reported by the Infobae portal as part of ongoing monitoring of Argentine glaciers.
Perito Moreno itself spans roughly 260 kilometers in length, illustrating the scale of this system within Los Glaciares National Park. The park sits in southwestern Santa Cruz Province near the Chilean border and was established in 1937. UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site in 1981, highlighting its significance within the South Patagonia Ice Field. The park hosts more than 45 glaciers ranging from 200 to 1,300 square kilometers each, contributing to the region’s dramatic landscape and ongoing scientific interest.
The scientists emphasize that the current level of retreat should not be equated with the dramatic pace seen in Upsala and Viedma glaciers. Those two examples show accelerated loss, with approximately two kilometers of ice disappearing within a single year in some cases. The Perito Moreno scenario is being scrutinized to determine whether a new retreat phase is underway or if the changes reflect a shift in mass balance rather than front dynamics alone.
Current research aims to clarify whether rising temperatures and reduced summertime precipitation are driving a net decrease in snow accumulation at the glacier’s summit. If so, the glacier could enter a phase of mass loss that would contribute to ongoing retreat independent of iceberg calving patterns. This climate signal aligns with broader patterns observed across the high southern latitudes, where warming trends are linked to glacial response and regional hydrology changes.
Perito Moreno lies within the Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts scientists and visitors alike. Its unique status within the South Patagonia Ice Field places it among the planet’s largest contiguous ice masses outside Antarctica and Greenland, underscoring the importance of sustained observation and knowledge sharing. The region remains a critical reference point for understanding how midlatitude glaciers respond to climate variability and long-term warming trends.
As the data accumulate, researchers continue to explore whether Perito Moreno is entering a new retreat phase driven by changes in mass balance at the glacier summit rather than solely by iceberg dynamics. The summer dry spells and shifts in precipitation patterns associated with climate change appear to play a role in shaping this trajectory, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring and dialogue among scientists, policymakers, and the public.
In the broader context, the Argentine environment sector maintains ongoing programs to monitor glacial change, with findings contributing to regional climate assessments and conservation planning. The evolving story of Perito Moreno serves as a reminder of the fragile balance within glacier systems and the potential implications for water resources, ecosystems, and regional landscape planning in Patagonia.