New Zealand

1990

2007

These striking images show the recession of four debris-mantled glaciers (purple) around Aoraki/Mount Cook into proglacial lakes (bright blue). Tasman Glacier (centre) shows the most dramatic changes over the 17-year period, but in relation to their size, Mueller Glacier (lower left), Hooker Glacier (middle left) and Murchison Glacier (far right) reveal equally significant recession. The light brown areas represent braided river plains, of which Murchison River is most prominent, illustrating how the lateral moraine of Tasman Glacier has constrained the river against the valley side. The green areas represent vegetation which in this area is mainly of shrubs, grass and pockets of beech woodland. Aoraki/Mount Cook lies at the top of the image, and can be located by following the prominent ridge between the Hooker and Tasman glaciers.