'Mega-drought' in Andes from climate change leaves some peaks without snow
August 5, 2021
4:07 PM CDT
Last Updated 6 hours ago
Europe
Juan Bustamante
2 minute read
A combination of images, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites, shows the snow deficit affecting the Andes mountain range in South America. Pictures taken July 27, 2020 and July 29, 2021. European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-3 Imagery, Processed By DG DEFIS/Handout via REUTERS
BUENOS AIRES, Aug 5 (Reuters) - The Andes Mountain range, which draws skiers to South America, is facing historically low snowfall this year during a decade-long drought that scientists link to global warming.
Scant rain and snowfall are leaving many of the majestic mountains between Ecuador and Argentina with patchy snow cover or no snow at all as dry brown earth lies exposed.
As precipitation declines and glaciers retreat across the region, communities that depend on the mountains for water supply are likely to suffer shortages, said Ricardo Villalba, principal investigator for the Argentine Institute of Snow, Glacier and Environment Science Studies (IANIGLA).
"Here we are seeing a process of long-term decrease in precipitation, a mega-drought," Villalba said.
"If you look at the precipitation levels right now for the entire Cordillera (Andes range), they show that it has either not snowed at all or has snowed very little," he said.
The Southern Hemisphere is experiencing winter, when snowfall should peak.
More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/mega-drought-andes-leaves-some-peaks-without-snow-2021-08-05/