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The Tempestades glacier has historically been one of the most emblematic glaciers in the Pyrenees. During the Little Ice Age it occupied 7th place in length and extension, exceeding 1.4 km in length and 68 ha in surface area. A well-preserved moraine complex has facilitated the monitoring of its retreat. Its tongue was 870 m long at the beginning of the 20th century and 500 m long in 1985.
Between 1985 and 2006, the glacial retreat of Tempestades was particularly notable in comparison with the rest of the large Pyrenean glaciers. Since 2006, the retreat of its front has cornered its main body at the base of the ridge that joins Pico Margalida with Tempestades, protecting it from the impact of solar radiation. Its deterioration has not been interrupted, but it is progressing at a considerably slower rate than the rest of the Pyrenean glaciers. In 2004 and in its eastern sector, it underwent a major break-up, while the fragment in the form of a icefiel became extinct in 2012.
At present, although it is still classified as a glacier, it shows signs of weak activity. Nevertheless, with a current extension of 4 ha, it is considered the 6th largest in the mountain range.
Comparison of 37 years (1986-2023).
From the summit of Mulleres in 1986, on the left the Tempestades Glacier (partially obscured by the Salenques Peak).
In the centre the Barrancs Glacier, on the right the Aneto Glacier (Jordi Camins). From the Coll de Barrancs in 2023 and with the same references as in the previous image, the lamentable image offered by the current glaciers, 37 years later (Jordi Camins).
Este aparato glaciar pertenece al siguiente macizo:
9) Tempestades
Comparativa de imágenes
Comparison of 37 years (1986-2023).
From the Mulleres summit in 1986, on the left the Tempestades Glacier (partially obscured by the Pico de Salenques).
In the centre, the Barrancs Glacier, on the right, the Aneto Glacier. (Jordi Camins). From the Collado de Barrancs in 2023 and with the same references as the previous image, the lamentable image offered by the current AGs, 37 years later. (Jordi Camins).
Comparison 37 years (1986-2023).
The Tempest Glacier in 1986, from the Collado de Barrancs sector. Compare with previous and next images. (Jordi Camins).
The Tempest Glacier in 2023 from the Collado de Barrancs sector. Compare with the two previous images. (Jordi Camins).
