Alarming Inter-Epochal Boundary: Andean Glaciers Have Become The Smallest In 11,700 Years
Glaciers in the Andes are rapidly shrinking, revealing surfaces that have not seen sunlight for at least 11,700 years, according to a new study.
According to researchers, the melting of Andean glaciers indicates the transition to a new epoch – the Anthropocene
In a new study published in the journal Science, scientists looked at four glaciers in the Andes – Pan de Azucar, Keschke, Zongo and Charquini-Norte. These glaciers are located in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.
Analysis has shown that these glaciers are now smaller than at any time in the last 11,700 years.
Study of retreating glaciers
Scientists came to these conclusions by taking samples from the mountains and examining them for two rare isotopes, beryllium-10 and carbon-14, which form on the surface of rocks when exposed to cosmic radiation. This could show when a glacier last retreated beyond a certain point.
An alarming inter-epoch boundary
Researchers say the disappearance of Andean glaciers shows a “disturbing inter-epochal boundary”. The Holocene is a geologic epoch on Earth that began about 11,700 years ago with the end of the Ice Age. As the glaciers retreated, the climate became warmer and more stable, leading to the development of diverse and productive ecosystems that fostered agriculture and complex societies.
Now that the glaciers of the Andes have changed from the state they were in throughout the Holocene, researchers believe this indicates the transition to a new epoch, the Anthropocene.
The consequence of glacier shrinkage
Andes glaciers play an important role in the region’s water supply and ecosystems. According to researchers, their retreat is already affecting agriculture, drinking water supply and sanitation.
Not all scientists agree that the Earth has already entered a new epoch, the Anthropocene, defined by the profound and lasting impact of human activity on the Earth’s geology and ecosystems. Nevertheless, as the study shows, it is clear that our planet is undergoing an alarming and rapid period of change.
Source: Alarming Inter-Epochal Boundary: Andean Glaciers Have Become The Smallest In 11,700 Years
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