The decline
The most frightening news has come from our Franz Josef Glacier which has dramatically shrunk 500m in the past five years due to the rise in ocean temperatures. In the past 30 years, 200 glaciers in the Southern Alps have disappeared altogether.
The ongoing huge glacial decline is most visible in the Southern Alps glaciers in the Westland National Park with big consequences for tourism activities like glacier guiding in South Westland.
Heatwaves
So far the year 2016 was the hottest on record, but the last two years marine heatwaves have brought a big glacier change. Centuries ago the Westland glaciers were even reflecting in the surface of the sea. A traditional picture that is now gone for ever… When icebergs melt in Antarctica, the Southern Alps glaciers are following in their footsteps. Each year we loose in Antarctica four times the land mass of New Zealand due to climate change.
The good news
The Franz Jozef Glacier is very special in growth and recline. After declining for 40 years it suddenly began an extraordinary 25 year growth over 1.5km to reach its peak in 1998. Even more extraordinary is now the dramatic full speed retreat of even 70m in one year that started in 2017. Happy enough the glaciers in our Mt Cook National Park are still able to show off their beauty and invite you for a wonderful heli walk or scenic flight.
