Quelccaya Ice Cap, Peru
Position:
13°56'S 70°50'W, elevation 5670 meters
Datemark:
July 2006
Mission:
Gather multimedia material on an expedition to Peru’s Quelccaya Ice Cap
Under Auspices of:
National Science Foundation; Whole Systems Foundation; National Geographic
Transport:
Commercial air to Cuzco, Peru; 4-wheel-drive vehicle to the end of the road; donkey and horse caravan to edge of ice cap; non-technical walk to summit
Results:
Radio documentary and features; web features
SYPNOPSIS
Almost all the world’s mountain glaciers are melting rapidly. Tropical glaciers, such as Peru’s Quelccaya Ice Cap in the Andes, are disappearing even faster than their temperate and polar counterparts. Ohio State University glaciologist Lonnie Thompson considers these glaciers sensitive indicators of the health of Earth’s climate. I joined Ohio glaciologist Thompson on an expedition to Quelcaaya’s summit, 18,500 feet above sea level.
- Listen to Meltdown, Dan’s radio documentary on the impact of global warming on the world’s ice, including that of tropical glaciers like Quelccaya
- Read More