Glacier of the Year 2026 – Glaciar Martial Este, AR
The WGMS activity ‘glacier of the year’ started on the first World Day for glaciers on March 21, 2025 to highlight the beauty of glaciers around the world and honor the dedication of glaciologists who have been observing them for decades as a contribution to an internationally coordinated monitoring effort.
In 2026, the glacier of the year is Glaciar Martial Este, see profile: https://wgms.ch/data/glacier-profiles/2000.html
Glaciar Martial Este (photo by R. Iturraspe, 2022)
The Martial Glacier is in the Martial Range, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, just 7 km from the center of Ushuaia city, facing the Beagle Channel. It comprises three main ice bodies: Martial West, Martial Central, and Martial East (the last one at the right in the image). A fourth body, Martial South, disappeared around the year 2018 (see more in the glacier casualty list). The Martial Glacier feeds the Buena Esperanza River, one of Ushuaia’s water sources. Furthermore, the glacier is appreciated by the local population as an iconic local landmark of the city, visible from anywhere in the city.
Research
Owing to its proximity and accessibility, this mountain area has been selected as a field laboratory for glaciological, geomorphological and hydrological research. The Martial Este was instrumented as a pilot glacier for glacier mass balance, and monitoring efforts began in March 1984, with an initial topographic survey and mass balance (MB) assessment for 1984–1985. Although glacier monitoring was subsequently paused, it resumed in 1999. Continuous MB measurements have been conducted since March 2000. These activities are carried out collaboratively by the Directorate of Water Resources of the Province of Tierra del Fuego and the National University of Tierra del Fuego
The average MB over the entire monitoring period is -0.31 meters per year. This value has been shaped by the glacier’s behavior during 2007–2016, when the average MB was slightly positive (+0.1 meters w.e. per year)—a phenomenon not observed during any previous decadal period since at least 1970. Previously, in 2000–2005, the MB was -0.49 m/y, while the most deficient cycle was in 2017–2025, in which, the average MB was -0.67 m/y. A correlation has been found between the Martial Este behavior and that of small glaciers located on islands adjacent to the Antarctic Peninsula (Iturraspe and Urciuolo, 2024).
Fieldwork at Glaciar Martial Este
References:
Buttstädt, Mareike (2008).. “Kalibrierung eines Gradtag-Modells für den Gletscher Martial Este, Feuerland, Argentinien, und Abschätzung der Massenbilanz 1960 bis 2100”. Aachen University, Alemania Dir: Christoph Schneider y Rodolfo Iturraspe. Master’s thesis
Buttstädt, M., M. Möller, R. Iturraspe and C. Schneider.(2009). Mass balance evolution of Martial Este Glacier, Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) for the period 1960-2099. Advances in Geosciences, Vol 22, p 117-124.
Iturraspe R. y Urciuolo A. 2024. The mass balance record of the Martial Este Glacier (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina) shows behavior connections with glaciers in the Antarctic Peninsula Region. Book of Abstract SCAR Open Science Conference, Pucón, Chile, 19-23 agosto de 2024, p 1382. https://scar.org/~documents/route%3A/download/6303
Iturraspe R, Urciuolo A y Ramos, D. 2024. Recesión de glaciares fueguinos y su incidencia en la disponibilidad de agua. Análisis de caso: glaciar Martial. Primeras Jornadas de
Investigación, Extensión y Vinculación Tecnológica del ICPA-UNTDF. Ushuaia, 6-7/3/2024
Leiva J., Espizùa L., Iturraspe R., Masiokas M., Norte F., Villalba R. (2008). La risposta dei ghiacciai argentini al clima dei secoli XX e XXI. Ghiacciai montani e cambiamenti climatici nell’ultimo secolo / TERRA GLACIALIS EDIZ. SPECIALE 2008, L. Bonardi. – Milano: Servizio Glaciologico Lombardo, 2008, pp 179-192.
Planas, X., Ponsa, À., Coronato, A., & Rabassa, J. (2002). Geomorphological evidence of different glacial stages in the Martial cirque, Fuegian Andes, southernmost South America. Quaternary International, 87(1), 19-27.
Rico Lozano Ibai. (2009). Little Ice Age” glacial development and evolution in the Martial, Vinciguerra Oriental and Alvear massifs (Fuegian Andes, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Geomorphologic reconstruction of the last historic glaciation.). UHI Millennium Institute, Centre for Mountain Studies, Perth College. Directores: Martin Price & Rodolfo Iturraspe. Master’s thesis
Strelin, J., Iturraspe, R., 2007. Recent evolution and mass balance of Cordón Martial glaciers, Cordillera Fueguina Oriental. Glob. Planet. Change. (59) pp 17-26