What is the South Patagonia Ice Cap?

The North and South Patagonian Icefields represent 62% of the glacial area in the southern hemisphere outside of Antarctica, with the South Patagonian Icefield (SPI) ranking as the third largest ice mass on Earth after Antarctica and Greenland. Although virtually unexplored, these glaciers are some of the most dynamic in the world with annual precipitation exceeding 7000 mm in the accumulation areas and ablation rates as high as 60 mm/day at sea level.  Consequently, the glaciers may rapidly respond to climatic variations. Monitoring the response of these glaciers is important for the study of the regional climate as well as research of present day climate change.

Map 2 Location of North and South Patagonian Icefields. Copyright 1998 by GeoCap.