Glaciology
Trip Start
Jan 10, 2005
1
3
12
Trip End
May 21, 2005
El Calafate,
Argentina
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Just a quick Pod update. We´ve just been to the world´s most active glacier - Perito Moreno - near El Calafate, Argentina. The Glacier forms part of the huge Patagonian continental ice field which is half the size of Belgium.
Some glaciology:
- glaciers are formed after snow accumulates over centuries and becomes compressed into ice.
- The weight of the ice forces the glacier to move along like an ice river.
- As the glacier is pushed along it picks up debris which makes deeper channels and crevasses.
1. This baby´s 3 Ks wide!
- Glaciers are blue because the ice is compressed to such a degree that all the oxygen is squeezed out so light is absorbed making it appear blue rather than white.The Moreno Glacier is pushing forwards at 2 metres a day! Icebergs are constantly ripping off it and falling into the lake below ("calving")which makes an incredible roar. We were lucky to see a huge chunk fall off.
Anyway, check out the photos and the movie clip which plays in Microsoft mediaplayer - remember to turn the sound up!!
Ciao.
