NASA: Argentina - Perito Moreno Glacier - August 2012
Posted by Ricardo Marcenaro | Posted in NASA: Argentina - Perito Moreno Glacier - August 2012 | Posted on 13:59
acquired February 21, 2012
download large image (429 KB, JPEG, 1440x960)
The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of
the largest in Patagonia at 30 kilometers long. The glacier descends
from the Southern Patagonian Icefield (image top)—2100 meters elevation
(6825 feet) in the Andes Mountains—down into the water and warmer
altitudes of Lago Argentino at 180 meters above sea level.
Note: In this photograph from astronauts on the International Space Station, the image is rotated so that north is to the right.
Perito Moreno is perhaps the region’s most famous glacier because it periodically cuts off the major southern arm (known as Brazo Rico) of Lake Argentino. The glacier advances right across the lake until it meets the opposite shoreline, and the ice tongue is “grounded” (not floating) so that it forms a natural dam. The ice dam prevents lake water from circulating from one side to the other, which in turn causes muddier and “milkier” water to concentrate in Brazo Rico. Water flows down under the glacier from the mountains, not only carrying the mud into the lake but also helping lubricate the glacier’s downhill movement.
Because of this natural ice dam, meltwater from the south raises water levels in Brazo Rico by as much as 30 meters above the level of the water in Lago Argentino. The great pressure of this water ultimately causes the ice tongue to rupture catastrophically in a great natural spectacle. The last rupture occurred in March 2012, after this image was taken. The process repeats every four to five years as the glacier grows back towards the opposite shoreline. The repeated ruptures have made the glacier and lake a major tourist attraction in the region.
A more detailed astronaut view of the glacier tongue can be viewed here.
Note: In this photograph from astronauts on the International Space Station, the image is rotated so that north is to the right.
Perito Moreno is perhaps the region’s most famous glacier because it periodically cuts off the major southern arm (known as Brazo Rico) of Lake Argentino. The glacier advances right across the lake until it meets the opposite shoreline, and the ice tongue is “grounded” (not floating) so that it forms a natural dam. The ice dam prevents lake water from circulating from one side to the other, which in turn causes muddier and “milkier” water to concentrate in Brazo Rico. Water flows down under the glacier from the mountains, not only carrying the mud into the lake but also helping lubricate the glacier’s downhill movement.
Because of this natural ice dam, meltwater from the south raises water levels in Brazo Rico by as much as 30 meters above the level of the water in Lago Argentino. The great pressure of this water ultimately causes the ice tongue to rupture catastrophically in a great natural spectacle. The last rupture occurred in March 2012, after this image was taken. The process repeats every four to five years as the glacier grows back towards the opposite shoreline. The repeated ruptures have made the glacier and lake a major tourist attraction in the region.
A more detailed astronaut view of the glacier tongue can be viewed here.
Astronaut photograph ISS030-E-91253
was acquired on February 21, 2012, with a Nikon D2Xs digital camera
using a 180 mm lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations
experiment and Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space
Center. The image was taken by the Expedition 30 crew. It has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab
to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest
value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely
available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and
cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Caption by M. Justin Wilkinson, Jacobs/ESCG at NASA-JSC
- Instrument:
- ISS - Digital Camera
NASA: Argentina - Perito Moreno Glacier - August 2012
Ricardo M Marcenaro - Facebook
Operative blogs of The Solitary Dog:
solitary dog sculptor:
http://byricardomarcenaro.blogspot.com
Solitary Dog Sculptor I:
http://byricardomarcenaroi.blogspot.com
Para:
comunicarse conmigo,
enviar materiales para publicar,
propuestas:
marcenaroescultor@gmail.com
For:
contact me,
submit materials for publication,
proposals:
marcenaroescultor@gmail.com
Diario La Nación
Argentina
Cuenta Comentarista en el Foro:
Capiscum
My blogs are an open house to all cultures, religions and countries. Be a follower if you like it, with this action you are building a new culture of tolerance, open mind and heart for peace, love and human respect.
Thanks :)
Mis blogs son una casa abierta a todas las culturas, religiones y países. Se un seguidor si quieres, con esta acción usted está construyendo una nueva cultura de la tolerancia, la mente y el corazón abiertos para la paz, el amor y el respeto humano.
Gracias :)
Comments (0)
Publicar un comentario