Little Ice Age advances of Glaciar Perito Moreno, Hielo Patagónico Sur, South America

Abstract

Glaciar Perito Moreno, with an area of 258km², is located on the eastern side of the Hielo Patagonico Sur (Southern Patagonia Icefield) at about 50°29′S and 73°04′W. Currently, it terminates in Lago Argentino, thereby dividing the lake into Canal de los Tmpanos to the north and Brazo Rico to the south. The glacier has repeatedly made small advances and retreats in the 20th century; however, it can be regarded as rather stable since the 1920. Based on 14C dating of 22 wood and one organic samples, we inferred that Glaciar Perito Moreno made two Little Ice Age (LIA) advances, one at ca. AD 1650 and the other about AD 1820-50. These two dates fit very well into the general framework of the LIA of the HPS.