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Physical Limnology and Sediment Dynamics of Lago Argentino, the World’s Largest Ice-Contact Lake
Ice-contact lakes record valuable information about past glacier change, and can drive rapid glacier retreat.We currently have very little data about large ice contact lakes. In our study we present a detailed analysis of sediment cores collected from Lago Argentino, the world’s largest ice-contact lake.
Local winds are dominantly westerlies,with 70% of measured wind directions in the range 230-320° (SW-NW). Glacier melt rates and flow velocities also vary seasonally, with a …
Lago Argentino’s sediment is dominate…occurring in distinct pulses separated by periods of quiescence. By compiling global glacial erosion rate data, the authors show that rates averaged over decadal timescales appear much higher then rates averaged over thousand-to-million-year timescales. These results emphasize the importance of accounting for time-averaging biases in erosion rate studies to better interpret landscape evolution and climate change over Earth’s history.
Citation: fedotova, A.,& Magnani,M. B. (2024). Glacial erosion rates since the last glacial maximum for the former Argentino glacier and present-day Upsala glacier, Patagonia. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 129, e2024JF007960. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JF007960
Text © 2025. The authors. CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
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Unveiling earth’s History: A Look at Lago Argentino, the World’s Largest Ice-Contact Lake
Table of Contents
Ice-contact lakes are enigmatic bodies of water, directly linked to glaciers and holding clues to past glacial activity. Lago Argentino, nestled in Patagonia, reigns supreme as the world’s largest of thes lakes. In a recent study, researchers delved into its secrets, analyzing sediment cores to reconstruct its history and its influence on glacial retreat. We spoke with Dr. Maria Rosa Diaz, an expert on glacial geomorphology, to gain further insight into this captivating research.
The Meaning of Ice-Contact lakes
Senior Editor: Dr. Diaz, thank you so much for joining us. Let’s begin with the basics: why are ice-contact lakes so critically important for understanding Earth’s history?
Dr. Diaz: It’s my pleasure to be here. Ice-contact lakes are like time capsules, preserving records of past glacial activity. They form when glaciers retreat, leaving behind meltwater trapped in depressions. These lakes, especially large ones like Lago Argentino, directly influence glacier melt rates and flow velocities, which, in turn, affect the region’s landscape evolution and contribute to sea-level rise. Studying them provides crucial insights into glacial fluctuations and climate change.
Unlocking Lago Argentino’s Secrets: Sediment Cores and Glacial Erosion Rates
Senior Editor: So, what did your team discover through the analysis of sediment cores retrieved from Lago Argentino?
dr. Diaz: Lago Argentino’s sediment history is a fascinating story of pulses and quiescence. We found distinct layers of sediment deposited in pulses, separated by periods of relative calm. This suggests dramatic changes in erosion rates linked to fluctuations in glacier activity. By comparing our data with global glacial erosion rates, we found that rates averaged over short periods, such as decadal timescales, are much higher than those averaged over longer timescales, like thousand-to-million-year periods.
Senior Editor: What implications does this have for our understanding of glacial erosion and landscape evolution?
Dr. Diaz: This highlights the importance of considering time-averaging biases when studying glacial erosion. Averaging erosion rates over very long periods can mask these short-term variations, potentially leading to an incomplete understanding of how landscapes change over time.
Senior Editor: What message do these findings convey about climate change and its impact on glaciers?
Dr. Diaz: the significant variability in erosion rates we observed,especially the high rates over shorter timescales,suggests that glaciers are very sensitive to climate change. Rapid warming can trigger increased melt rates and erosion,leading to dramatic changes in landscapes,even over short periods.
Conservation and Future Research
Senior Editor: Looking ahead, what future research directions do you envision for Lago Argentino and other ice-contact lakes?
Dr. Diaz: We need more comprehensive studies of ice-contact lakes worldwide. understanding their diversity, sediment characteristics, and how they respond to climate change is crucial for accurately predicting future glacier behavior and its implications for sea level rise and regional water resources.
Senior Editor: Thank you, Dr. Diaz,for shedding light on this fascinating research and the vital role of ice-contact lakes in understanding our planet’s past and future.
Dr. Diaz: My pleasure!
This research underscores the vital importance of studying ice-contact lakes like Lago Argentino. They serve as both records of past glacial activity and indicators of future change, providing crucial data for understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change on our planet.
