Alarm: two ruptures of a glacier of Chilean Patagonia

SANTIAGO, Chile.- Two new ice landslides in recent days on the Gray Glacier, at the southern tip of

Chile

, warned of a possible increase in the frequency of these phenomena, warned scientists to Reuters.

The ruptures of this glacier located in the Torres del Paine National Park, occurring on February 20 and March 7, add to a larger recorded in November 2017, when a block of 380 meters wide and 350 meters long is detached to a phenomenon attributed to the temperature rise.

"There is a greater frequency of landslides in this language in the east of the glacier and more data is needed to badess its stability," said Ricardo Jaña, researcher and member of the Climate change zone of the scientific department of the Chilean Antarctic Institute (Inach). .

In previous days, "the temperature has exceeded the normal average and intense rainfall has been recorded, badociated with an increase in the level of water in the lake, factors that may explain the forcing," he added.

The first iceberg that fell on February 20th is equivalent to 8.8 hectares and the second to 7.5 hectares. "They represent the equivalent of 16.3 hectares of the eastern tongue, and on that occasion both icebergs come out of the ordinary," said Jara. In addition, he indicated that, in the study, they could notice that another piece of ice escaped through the central tongue of the glacier, but not to the same dimensions as the others. "There is an accelerated process of mbad loss that goes faster than normal," he added.

Researchers from German and Brazilian universities, as well as experts from Inach and other local organizations, have been working on the Gray Glacier as part of an international cooperation program since 2015.

In December this year, Chile will host COP25, a global conference on the debate on anti-corruption policies.

climate change

.

Reuters Agency