< ISS010-E-5803 >
| NASA Photo ID | ISS010-E-5803 |
| Focal Length | 180mm |
| Date taken | 2004.11.04 |
| Time taken | 16:38:28 GMT |
1000 x 661 pixels 357 x 540 pixels 540 x 540 pixels 3032 x 2064 pixels 639 x 435 pixels
Photo center point: 50.5° S, 73.0° W
Photo center point by machine learning:
Country or Geographic Name: | ARGENTINA |
Features: | PERITO MORENO GL., L. ARGENTIN0 |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 10 (1-10)% |
Sun Elevation Angle: | 55° |
Sun Azimuth: | 359° |
Camera: | Kodak DCS760c Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 180mm |
Camera Tilt: | 8 degrees |
Format: | 3060E: 3060 x 2036 pixel CCD, RGBG array |
Film Exposure: | |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 pixels | 661 pixels | No | No | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 357 pixels | 540 pixels | Yes | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 540 pixels | 540 pixels | Yes | Yes | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 3032 pixels | 2064 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 639 pixels | 435 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
Perito Moreno (or Moreno Glacier) is located in the icefields of southern Patagonia and is the centerpiece of the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. The glacier is also noteworthy as a tourist attraction, due to periodic formation of an ice dam between the main portion of Lago (Lake) Argentino to the northeast and a southern extension of the lake (Brazo Rico). Meltwater runoff from the surrounding mountains fills Brazo Rico to a higher elevation than nearby Lago Argentino and exerts hydrostatic pressure on the ice dam. This pressure leads to formation of drainage tunnels and fractures in the ice dam, which eventually fails. Earlier this year (March 2004) the ice dam collapsed in a spectacular show.
A new ice dam across the Brazo Rico arm of Lago Argentino is visible in this astronaut photograph. The past extent of glaciation in the region is marked by several valleys formerly filled by flowing ice. A particularly striking example of this landscape feature is in the center of the image, where five glacial valleys converge to a central star-shaped outflow valley. Widespread recession of the glaciers in southern Patagonia has occurred over the last 30 years possibly due to warming of the regional climate. Contrary to this trend, Perito Moreno seems to be maintaining equilibrium between ice formation in the mountains and ice loss due to melting and calving into Lago Argentino.
