"Glaciers in the tropical Andes have shrunk by 30-50% since the 1970s, according to a study."

"The glaciers, which provide fresh water for tens of millions in South America, are retreating at their fastest rate in the past 300 years.

The study included data on about half of all Andean glaciers and blamed the melting on an average temperature rise of 0.7C from 1950-1994."

BBC News had the story January 23, 2013. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"A Closer Look at Melting Ice in the Andes, Greenland and Antarctica*" (Dot Earth/NYT) [3]