99% of all tropical glaciers occur in the Andes, where rising global temperatures have a stronger effect on glacial size than the small seasonal temperature fluctuations typical around the equator. Thus, tropical glaciers give a clearer picture of climate change’s impact. High-altitude Andes glaciers are steadily shrinking as warmer temperatures cause them to melt more quickly than falling snow can replenish them. It appears that high-altitude tropical ice fields are likely smaller than at any time since the last ice age ended 11,700 years ago. That would make the tropical Andes the world’s first region known to pass that climate threshold as a result of the steadily warming global climate and possible harbingers of what’s coming for glaciers globally.
Climate Crisis Blog
