"Quelccaya Ice Cap: A Visual Journey Through Time"
The Quelccaya Ice Cap in Peru, like other tropical glaciers, is rapidly retreating due to climate change. Satellite images show a significant reduction in ice area from 1988 to 2023, with the ice cap now spanning just over 40 square kilometers. Meltwater lakes have formed along the ice cap's western side, some of which have lost contact with the ice that formed them. The ice cap is a crucial water source for nearby communities and feeds the Vilcanota River and Lake Sibinacocha. The retreat of tropical glaciers threatens the loss of temperature and climate records preserved in their ice, including a near-annual record dating back 1,800 years. Scientists warn that the Quelccaya Ice Cap could disappear by the end of the century.