Author's Note:

Worldwide, many glaciers are shrinking and receding. (Not all are retreating - precious few are actually expanding.) Glacier recession and thermal expansion of the ocean together account for 75% of today's observed sea level rise. Whether it's climate change or the natural cycle of the glaciers, the important thing is to get people talking about what is happening to our precious environment. And then translate talk into action where it can help.

In USA, when Glacier National Park was created in 1910, it had about 150 glaciers. Since then the number has dwindled to fewer than 30 - most of these have shrunk two-thirds in area. Based on decades-long research it is predicted that most, if not all, of the park's glaciers will disappear in the not-too-distant future.

Here in New Zealand, since the late 1880s Franz Josef Glacier has had an overall retreat of around 3 kilometres (1.86 miles). The glacier has been in a period of retreat since 2008, losing around 800 metres of length (half a mile) in the past 10 years. Similar changes are occurring to the neighbouring Fox Glacier and others throughout NZ's Southern Alps.

(Photo is of Franz Josef Glacier, NZ, taken from an article on Glaciers and glaciation â?? Tasman, Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, written by Eileen McSaveney)

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