Study: Andean Glaciers Melting At Fastest Rates In More Than 300 Years

A study published Tuesday indicated that Andean glaciers have shrunk at their fastest rates in more than 300 years, The Guardian reported.

The study, published in the journal Cryosphere, found that the glaciers have shrunk between 30 and 50 percent since the 1970s with the accelerated meltage attributed to an average temperature rise of 0.7 degree Celsius seen over the past 70 years. The Andean glaciers serve as an important source of fresh water to much of South America.