New Zealand's glaciers appear "smashed and shattered" due to enduring ice loss, according to an annual NIWA survey.
NIWA has been flying over mountain ranges since the 1970s to conduct the end of summer snowline survey.
This programme consists of observation of the state of our glaciers as well as the elevation of the snow line — the level on a mountain above which snow is found for most or all of the year.
Programme lead Andrew Lorrey said nearly the full set of monitored glaciers were covered this year and that the research paints a picture of how Aotearoa's stunning landscape is transforming.
"We flew to the southern-most glaciers, ones that we've not seen since 2018.
"Back then, they were incredibly small and functionally dead, and one is now two thirds of the size it was on our last visit."
The snowline has also continued to rise and in the most recent years that rise has accelerated, said Lorrey, who is NIWA's principal scientist for the climate and environmental applications.
The past decade has seen seven of the warmest 10 years New Zealand has experienced on record.
2022 was New Zealand's warmest year on record, followed closely by 2023 and 2021.
Even a few cooler seasons would not be enough to undo the damage done, said Lorrey.
"My colleague Dr Trevor Chinn, who started the survey nearly 50 years ago, put it perfectly — he said that the difference between today and five decades ago is like going to a ski field in the summer and then in the winter.
"That's how stark it is, and it's not just happening in New Zealand but all over the world."
Glaciers contribute a significant amount to New Zealand's environment, economy, and culture.
They are important sources of meltwater which sustain stream habitats and deliver nutrients to lakes, rivers, and oceans.
They also feed hydroelectric lakes, impacting renewable energy supply and contribute millions to the economy through tourism, around $100m in 2007.
Lorrey said New Zealand is one of the few mid-latitude places where people live near and can easily visit glaciers.
"But this is getting tougher. Tourism operators are having to penetrate further and further into the mountains to reach them."
He said he worries glaciers will not be around for future generations to enjoy as well as about the environmental and cultural impacts of their disappearance.
"A warming planet means fewer cold places and less ice. The message remains the same: we must tackle the issue of rising greenhouse gases if we are to save our glaciers from melting away."
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