One of the outlet glaciers of Mýrdalsjökull glacier in South Iceland is retreating at a rapid pace, causing scientists and tour guides to fear the glacier will disappear in the near future. The glacier has been retreating 65 m (213 ft) every year over the past couple of decades.
Read more: White House uses photo of Sólheimajökull glacier to highlight the need for action on climate change
Tómas Birigir Magnússon, a glacier guide who takes tours on the glacier, told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that conditions on the glacier this spring were good, but that its rapid retreat and melting frequently caused the glacier to be difficult to climb.
The glacier is in decent conditions now, except the fact that it's retreating extremely rapidly. There are times when it's extremely difficult to access the glacier, but then there are times it's easy, Tómas told Morgunblaðið.
Due to warmer temperatures, caused by changing weather patterns due to climate change the glacier retreated by 973 meters (0.6 miles) from 2000-2015. If the trend continues the glacier will disappear completely within only a few decades.
One of the outlet glaciers of Mýrdalsjökull glacier in South Iceland is retreating at a rapid pace, causing scientists and tour guides to fear the glacier will disappear in the near future. The glacier has been retreating 65 m (213 ft) every year over the past couple of decades.
Read more: White House uses photo of Sólheimajökull glacier to highlight the need for action on climate change
Tómas Birigir Magnússon, a glacier guide who takes tours on the glacier, told the local newspaper Morgunblaðið that conditions on the glacier this spring were good, but that its rapid retreat and melting frequently caused the glacier to be difficult to climb.
The glacier is in decent conditions now, except the fact that it's retreating extremely rapidly. There are times when it's extremely difficult to access the glacier, but then there are times it's easy, Tómas told Morgunblaðið.
Due to warmer temperatures, caused by changing weather patterns due to climate change the glacier retreated by 973 meters (0.6 miles) from 2000-2015. If the trend continues the glacier will disappear completely within only a few decades.
