Satellite images reveal the dramatic disappearance of Iceland's Okjökull, the first glacier in the country to be officially declared dead due to human-caused climate change. Situated 44 miles northwest of Reykjavík, Okjökull was once a prominent dome-shaped glacier crowning the summit crater on the 3,940-foot-tall shield volcano, Ok. In 1901, this glacier spanned approximately 15 square miles. However, by 1986, its ice had diminished to less than one square mile, signaling a drastic reduction over the years.
The profound transformation of Okjökull was marked by its declaration as dead in 2014 by Icelandic glaciologists. This declaration came as the ice thinned to such an extent that it ceased to be pulled down the mountain by gravity, halting its movement for the first time in tens of thousands of years. In August 2019, a poignant funeral was held near the summit of Ok for the glacier, attended by around 100 individuals, including researchers and politicians.
"Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it."
The quote above highlights the significance of Okjökull's loss as a forewarning of potential future changes affecting Iceland's other glaciers. The mournful event not only served as a tribute to Okjökull but also as an alarming reminder of the impacts of climate change.
Okjökull's demise is a part of a broader narrative documented by the Global Glacier Casualty List, which identifies 15 major glaciers that are either dead or critically endangered. Okjökull was among these glaciers, with its passing underscoring a critical call to action in addressing climate change.
In 2023, Iceland took a symbolic step by establishing the world's first iceberg graveyard. This site features ice-like headstones dedicated to the glaciers listed on the Global Glacier Casualty List, serving as a somber testament to their existence and decline.
