March 8, 2007
New Zealand's South Island, Franz Josef Glacier
Photographer states :: Trekking to the Franz Joseph Glacier.
THE DIFFERENCE between the two pictures is the amount of recharge at the top of the glacier. The noted amount of exposed rock above the 'plateau' is greater in 2007 than in 2001. Why? Because the amount of snow the glacier is receiving at it's origins or peak is less and hence over time there is far less glacier.
Ice is frozen water. Ice flows just like water but over a longer period of time. Therefore, gravity has pulled and the weight of the ice has pushed the terminus to the same location, but, the entire mass of the glacier is less due to the lack of new snow (recharge) to the glacier.
To the average person, Franz Joseph Glacier doesn't really appear to be affected. But, in actuality when closely inspected, even without detailed scientific measurements over time, it is clear Franz Joseph Glacier is very different.
If there were pictures from decades ago, the difference would be remarkable.
