Do you know which are the largest glaciers in the world?
Glaciers are massive sheets of ice that cover about 10% of Earth’s land surface. They store more than two-thirds of the world’s freshwater and play a vital role in regulating the climate.
However, they are also under threat from global warming, which causes them to melt and shrink at alarming rates.
In this blog post, we will explore the top 5 largest glaciers in the world, their location, history, and unique features. We will also look at the latest data and sources that show how these glaciers are changing over time and what impact they have on the environment and humanity.
What are glaciers and why are they important?
Glaciers are huge masses of ice that form when snow accumulates and compresses over many years. They can be found on every continent except Australia. There are different types of glaciers, such as continental glaciers, which cover large regions like Antarctica and Greenland, alpine glaciers, which flow down mountain valleys, and ice caps, which cover high plateaus or islands.
Glaciers are important for the ecosystem because they regulate the climate, provide fresh water, and support biodiversity. They reflect about 60-70% of the sunlight that hits them, helping to cool the Earth. This high reflectivity, known as albedo, plays a crucial role in regulating Earth’s temperature. They also store more than two-thirds of the world’s freshwater, essential for drinking, agriculture, and industry. Moreover, it creates unique habitats for many plants and animals, such as polar bears, penguins, seals, and mosses.
To understand how glaciers work, we need to know some terms and concepts related to them, such as accumulation, ablation, equilibrium line, and mass balance.
Accumulation is the process of adding snow and ice to a glacier, while ablation is the process of losing snow and ice from a glacier, such as by melting, evaporation, or calving.
The equilibrium line is the point where accumulation and ablation are equal, and it divides the glacier into two zones: the accumulation zone, where the glacier grows, and the ablation zone, where the glacier shrinks.
The mass balance is the difference between accumulation and ablation, and it indicates whether the glacier is gaining or losing mass.
How climate change is affecting glaciers and their melting rate
Climate change is one of the main causes of glacier melt, as it increases the global average temperature and alters precipitation patterns.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), glaciers outside of Greenland and Antarctica lost an average of 220 gigatonnes of ice per year between 2006 and 2015.
Recent data suggests this rate has increased, with the World Glacier Monitoring Service reporting a global mass loss of 335 gigatonnes per year from 2006-2016 This has resulted in a negative mass balance and reduced stability for most glaciers, meaning that they are losing more ice than they are gaining.
Some of the factors that contribute to glacier melt are:
- Rising temperatures: Higher temperatures cause more snow and ice to melt, especially in the summer months. For example, the average temperature in the Arctic has risen by about 3.4°C (1.9°F) since the late 1970s, and twice as fast as the global average since 2000.
- Precipitation changes: Changes in the amount and type of precipitation affect the accumulation and ablation of glaciers. For instance, more rain and less snow can reduce the snow cover and increase the melting rate of glaciers. Similarly, less precipitation can reduce the snowfall and the growth of glaciers.
- Human activities: Human activities, such as deforestation, mining, or tourism, can also have an impact on glaciers, either directly or indirectly. For example, cutting down trees can reduce the shading and cooling effect of forests on glaciers. Mining can expose the glaciers to more sunlight and dust, which can increase their absorption of heat. Tourism can generate waste and pollution, which can contaminate the glaciers and affect their quality.
The consequences of glacier melt for the environment and humanity are:
- Rising sea levels: Glacial melt adds water to the oceans, raising the sea level. As of 2023, the global average sea level is rising at an estimated rate of 3.3 millimeters (0.13 inches) per year. This threatens coastal, island, and low-lying areas with flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion.
- Flooding: It can also cause flooding, especially for regions that rely on glaciers for water. For example, the Himalayan glaciers feed the major Asian rivers, which sustain over a billion people. But melting glaciers can form glacial lakes, which can burst and cause glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
- Droughts: It can also lead to droughts, reducing freshwater availability in the long run. If we see it, the Andean glaciers supply water for millions of South Americans, especially in the dry season. But shrinking glaciers can lower the rivers’ and lakes’ water flow and storage, affecting agriculture, hydroelectricity, and drinking water.
- Landslides: Landslides can be another cause as they weaken the slopes and the soil. Like the Alps have thousands of glaciers, which stabilize the mountains. However retreating glaciers can create gaps and cracks in the rocks, increasing rockfalls and landslides.
- Loss of cultural heritage: Glacial melt can also affect the cultural heritage of the glacier communities, such as the Inuit, the Sherpa, or the Quechua. For instance, glaciers can contain historical and archaeological artifacts, which can be lost or damaged by the melting ice. Moreover, glaciers can have spiritual and symbolic meanings for some cultures, such as being the source of life, the abode of gods, or the ancestors of the people.
Top 5 largest glaciers in the world
1. Lambert Fisher Glacier
- Country: Antarctica
- Continent: Antarctica
- Size: 250 Miles
Lambert Fisher Glacier comes at the top of the list of the largest glaciers in the world. It contains 90% of Earth’s ice and flows from the Antarctic Plateau to the Amery Ice Shelf. It is the largest drainage system of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, draining around 8% of it. The glacier is roughly 80 km wide, over 400 km long, and 2.5 km deep.
The glacier formed millions of years ago when Antarctica cooled and isolated. Glaciologist and geographer John H. Roscoe named it after studying aerial photographs in 1946. It is vital to the climate system, influencing ocean circulation, sea level, and the carbon cycle.
Its trapezoidal shape ensures stability, while its blue-white color reflects ice purity. The glacier moves dynamically, responding to temperature and gravity changes.
However, the Lambert Fisher faces challenges, such as warmer ocean waters and air have reduced its mass in 50 years. Reduced snowfall and increased sublimation have thinned it in 20 years. Reduced friction and increased sliding have sped it up in a decade.
2. Hubbard Glacier
- Country: United States
- Continent: North America
- Size: 75 Miles
The Hubbard Glacier in Alaska is one of the largest glaciers in the world. It is the biggest tidewater glacier in North America and the second-longest in the world. It formed 2 million years ago during the Pleistocene epoch and was named after Gardiner G. Hubbard.
The glacier has a wedge shape and a blue-gray color that reflects its age and compression. It has advanced 3 miles in the last 48 years due to increased snowfall and reduced melting. It supports a rich and diverse ecosystem of wildlife, such as seals, otters, whales, and birds.
Periodically, it blocks the Russell Fiord, creating temporary lakes that flood the nearby areas when the ice breaks. It also produces huge icebergs as tall as 10-story buildings that pose a threat to navigation. Despite these challenges, the Hubbard Glacier remains a spectacular sight and a natural wonder.
3. Fedchenko Glacier
- Country: Tajikistan
- Continent: Asia
- Size: 48 miles
The Fedchenko Glacier ranks third in the list of the largest glaciers in the world. It lies in the Pamir Mountains and contains about 144 cubic km of ice. Explorer Alexey Fedchenko named it. For 1.8 million years, it has shaped the water cycle, feeding the Vakhsh River.
The glacier has a ribbon-like form and a dynamic nature. It moves at 66.8 cm per day. However, rising temperatures and less precipitation have reduced its mass by 10% in five decades. It has retreated by 1,400 meters and shrunk by 50 sq km since 1933. Studies show significant thickness loss since 1928.
This serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global action to mitigate climate change’s devastating impacts on our planet’s icy realms. The fate of the Fedchenko Glacier exemplifies both natural wonder and fragility, highlighting the imperative for immediate intervention.
4. Siachen Glacier
- Country: India
- Continent: Asia
- Size: 47 miles
The Siachen Glacier is the fourth largest glaciers in the world. It lies in the Himalayas and spans from the Karakoram Range to the Nubra River. It is the biggest glacier in the Karakoram, called the “Throne of the Gods.” It holds about 2/3rd of Himalayan glaciers. Lastly, it merges with others like Teram Shehr and Chong Kumdan.
The glacier has a fan-shaped structure and a brown-black color. It moves erratically due to seismic activity. Its Balti name, “Siachen,” means “the place of wild roses.” It dates back 1.6 million years. It has a maximum ice thickness of about 896 m and an average of 82 m.
Despite being on the top list of the largest glaciers in the world, it is seen that over 30 years, it lost 5% of its mass due to accelerated melting, exacerbated by reduced precipitation. In the last decade, retreat reached 800 meters, attributed to diminished accumulation and increased ablation. Moreover, militarization by India and Pakistan since 1984, driven by territorial disputes, has led to environmental degradation, casualties, and diplomatic tensions.
5. Biafo Glacier
- Country: Pakistan
- Continent: Asia
- Size: 42 miles
The Biafo Glacier ranks fifth on the list of the largest glaciers in the world. It is part of the Karakoram Range. Biafo Glacier joins the Hispar Glacier, forming a long non-polar glacial system. It has a volume of about 70 cubic km and a thickness of 500 m. Moreover, it covers 500 sq km and moves at 2 m daily.
It formed 1.6 million years ago in the Pleistocene epoch. “Biafo” means “ice” in the Balti language. It is important for local culture, economy, and tourism. It provides water, food, and adventure, especially for the Balti people.
The glacier has serpentine contours and a white-green hue. Algae and minerals give it this color. Gravity, slope, and ice viscosity affect its motion. It moves slowly and steadily.
However, it has lost 65% of its mass in the Himalayan region and it is one of the major threats. Higher temperatures and lower precipitation cause this. It has retreated by 500 m in the last decade. Waste from visitors pollutes the environment.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have explored the top 5 largest glaciers in the world, based on their length, as of 2024. However, we have also learned about their location, rank, history, significance, features, and challenges.
We hope that this blog post has increased your awareness and interest in the topic of glaciers and that you have gained some valuable insights and knowledge from it. We also hope that you will take action and learn more about how you can protect the glaciers and the environment, such as by reducing your carbon footprint, supporting conservation efforts, or educating others.
On that note, we would like to end this blog post with a quote from the famous explorer and environmentalist, Jacques Cousteau, who said:
“The sea, the great unifier, is man’s only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat.”
