Initially, there were six members. - Initial Andean nation experiences total loss of glaciers
Venezuela is the first Andean nation to see its glaciers vanish completely. It used to have six in South America, but they've all disappeared. These glaciers sat atop the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, which inspired local tales of mythical white eagles.
As per the United States Geological Survey (USGS), glaciers usually form where yearly temperatures hover around the freezing point and winter precipitation covers the ground in snow. However, the temperature shouldn't get too high throughout the year, or else the snow could melt before the next winter rolls by and glaciers can grow and endure. Unfortunately, even the legendary Humboldt Glacier wasn't spared.
Alejandra Melfo, an astrophysicist at the Universidad de los Andes in Mérida, spoke to "Noticias Telemundo" about the situation: "At Humboldt, we're seeing erosion occur without interruption for years."
"Venezuelan glaciers started disappearing in the 70s, and their absence is quite visible. It's such a shame. All we can do now is use the existence of these glaciers as an example to show children what the beautiful Sierra Nevada used to look like."
Geologist Maximiliano Bezada from the University of Minnesota points out, "Many glaciers have disappeared in inner tropical zones, which means below 5,000 meters. The disappearance of the Humboldt Glacier is noteworthy because it stood at an altitude of 4,800 meters and had been around for a long time, making this a climate anomaly."
Melfo, a scientist, affirms, "Venezuela's glaciers aren't the only ones to vanish. Some have also disappeared in Colombia and other countries. Venezuela was one of the few nations with these glaciers, all of which were in the Sierra Nevada. Therefore, Venezuela is the first country with no more glaciers."
She further states that the rapid speed at which the glaciers are melting is a clear indication of climate change, "But that's not new. Glaciers have been disappearing for a while, but the rate of disappearance has sped up due to the high temperatures. Besides the dwindling glaciers, we can also see changes in the species composition, plants, and animals, and this evidence is recorded." Lastly, she warns that denying climate change is a risky move for everyone involved.
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Source: symclub.org
