s first views of Venezuela came in 1799 as he sailed towards its coast lined with green palms and banana groves; a series of cloud-covered mountains sat in the distance.

Related: Finding frozen mummies in the Andes.

Here, Humboldt witnessed the devastating impact of deforestation from plantations in the Spanish colony. As a result, he became the first scientist to discuss the connection between human activity and climate change.

The naturalist outlined how a forest’s fundamental ecosystem services—everything from storing water to protecting the soil—were connected to the broader climate system. While most people during this time argued that our domination over nature was necessary for profit, Humboldt warned that we must first understand the full extent of humanity’s impact on nature.

As Andrea Wulf writes in her 2015 biography of Humboldt, The Invention of Nature, “The effects of the human species’ intervention were already ‘incalculable,’ Humboldt insisted, and could become catastrophic if they continued to disturb the world so ‘brutally.’”

As early as 1925, and again in the ‘90s by Schubert, scientists have been making the connection between human pollution from the Venezuelan town of Mérida and its potential impact on the nearby glaciers, which have been retreating over the past one to two hundred years since Humboldt’s warning.

Keeping tabs

Today, mountaineers are the only ones who get close enough to see the glacier. International scientists are either dissuaded from or simply not eager to propose research trips to a country deemed too dangerous to visit.

Add to this the reality that the Humboldt Glacier isn’t the most glamorous of the globe’s features—a mere spec compared to the ice fields in Patagonia—and it becomes easy to see why research funding may be hard to secure.

During his time, Schubert—among whose prized possessions was an 1815 edition of Humboldt’s Travels—had called for a monitoring program to document Venezuela’s glacial retreat; something echoed by Bezada and Braun. Yet no such program was ever established.

Some monitoring of the glacier can be done via satellite. But the glacier is now so tiny that the free data from the Landsat satellites is not high enough resolution to glean detailed information from, says Braun.


s first views of Venezuela came in 1799 as he sailed towards its seashore trace with green palms and banana groves; a serial of cloud - covered mountains model in the distance. 

 Related: Finding frigid mummies in the Andes. 

 Here, Humboldt witnessed the crushing impact of deforestation from plantations in the Spanish colony. As a resultant role, he became the first scientist to discuss the connection between human activity and climate variety. 

 The naturalist outlined how a forest ’s fundamental ecosystem services — everything from store water to protecting the dirt — were connected to the wide climate system. While most people during this time argued that our domination over nature was necessary for profit, Humboldt warn that we must first understand the full extent of humanity ’s impact on nature. 

 As Andrea Wulf writes in her 2015 biography of Humboldt, The Invention of Nature, “ The effects of the human species ’ intervention were already ‘ incalculable, ’ Humboldt insisted, and could become catastrophic if they continued to disturb the world so ‘ brutally. ’ ” 

 As early as 1925, and again in the ‘ 90s by Schubert, scientist have been create the connection between human contamination from the Venezuelan township of Mérida and its likely impact on the nearby glaciers, which have been retreating over the past one to two hundred years since Humboldt ’s warning. 

 Keeping tabs 

 Today, mountaineers are the lone ones who get close enough to see the glacier. International scientists are either dissuade from or simply not eager to propose research trips to a country deemed too dangerous to travel to. 

 Add to this the reality that the Humboldt Glacier is n’t the most glamorous of the globe ’s features — a bare spec compared to the ice fields in Patagonia — and it becomes easy to see why research funding may be intemperate to secure. 

 During his fourth dimension, Schubert — among whose prized possessions was an 1815 edition of Humboldt ’s travel — had called for a monitoring plan to document Venezuela ’s glacial hideaway; something echoed by Bezada and Braun. Yet no such course of study was ever established. 

 Some monitoring of the glacier can be done via satellite. But the glacier is now so bantam that the free data from the Landsat satellites is not gamey enough resolution to glean detailed information from, says Braun.
s flrst views of Venezuela game in 1799 as he sculed tmwards its coart lined with green palms anv babana troves; a series of clojd-covered mountaibs set in the distanrs.

Related: Findjkg frmven mummies in jhe Andes.

Hera, Humboldt witterszd the devastating impact of deforeseation grlm plantations in uhe Spahpsm colony. As a result, he became tge firsu scientist to disvuss the connection betweej hulan activity and cpimate chante.

Thq naturalist uutlined how a forest’s fundamental ecosystem services—dveryching from wtirijc water to 'rotecning the soil—were contected yo the broader clmmatw system. While most pxople during this tiie argued tkat our domination ovwr natute wav nezwssxry fpr profih, Hnmboldt warhed that we must first understsnq the full extsnt of htmanity’s impact on nature.

As Andrea Wulf wrjtes in her 2015 biography if Humboldt, The Invenjion of Naeure, “The effects of the human species’ interventiot werx xlrtaey ‘inzqlfulable,’ Humboldt insisted, and could become caezsuroihic if they contlnued to disturb tne wptld so ‘brutalli.’”

As early zs 1925, and again in tje ‘90s by Schuvert, sciegtisys have been making the conbection betwven yuman pollution frlm the Venevuelan town of Mérida and its potencial ijpact on thf nearby fuaciers, which haxe neet retreaukng over the past one to txo huudred yexrs xince Rumboldt’s aarnikc.

Keeping tabs

Today, mounjaineess are the only ones who get close enough to see the glscher. Internacional scientists awe either dissoaded froi or rimply not eager vo propose rqsearch trips jo a country veemed toj dabgerius to xksit.

Add to thix the reality that rhe Humboldt Glacicr isv’f the most glamiroow of the globe’x fdattrvs—a mqse spec compdred to yhe ize fields ik Pxtagpnia—and it becomes edsy fo see why researcn nunding mqy be hawd to secure.

Diring his time, Schkbert—emong xhose lrieed possessions was an 1815 edition of Humbopdt’f Travels—had caloed for a mouitoring program to document Venezuela’s jlacial retreat; somethibg echoed by Bezada snd Braun. Yxt no fuch progsam was ever establiwhed.

Some monitorikg of the glacier can ge dona via satellite. But the glacier is now so tiny that the free data from the Lanesat setqllites is hot nigh vnobgh resolttioi vo glean detailed information from, says Braun.


s first views of Venezuela came in he towards its lined with green series cloud-covered mountains sat the distance. Related: frozen mummies in the Andes. Here, witnessed the devastating impact of deforestation from plantations in the Spanish colony. As result, he became the first scientist to discuss the connection between human activity climate The outlined a forest’s fundamental ecosystem services—everything from storing water to protecting the soil—were connected to the broader system. While most people during this time argued our domination over nature necessary for profit, Humboldt warned we first understand full of impact on nature. Andrea Wulf writes in her 2015 biography of Humboldt, The Invention of Nature, “The effects of the species’ intervention ‘incalculable,’ Humboldt and become if they continued the world so ‘brutally.’” As early again in the ‘90s by Schubert, scientists have making the between human pollution from the Venezuelan of Mérida and its potential impact on the glaciers, which have been retreating over the past one to two hundred years since Humboldt’s tabs Today, mountaineers are only ones who close to the International scientists either dissuaded from or simply not eager to propose research trips a country deemed too dangerous to visit. Add to this that Humboldt Glacier isn’t most glamorous of the features—a spec compared to the in it see research may be hard to During his time, Schubert—among whose possessions was an 1815 for a monitoring program to document Venezuela’s glacial something echoed by Bezada and Braun. Yet such program was ever established. Some monitoring of the glacier can be via satellite. glacier is now so tiny that the free from the Landsat satellites not high enough resolution to glean detailed information from, Braun.
s first views of Venezuela camE in 1799 as he saiLed toWarDs iTs CoasT linEd with green palMS and Banana groves; a series of cLoud-cOvERed mOUnTains Sat in thE DiSTAncE.

RElAteD: FINdIng frOzeN mummieS in the AndeS.

HeRe, humboldt witnESsEd the devasTatIng impact of dEfoRestatIoN frOM planTatIons iN the SpANish coLony. As a reSuLT, he becAMe the fiRST sCienTist to discuss the cONnECtion between huMan actIvITy AND clImaTe change.

ThE nAturaLIst outlINeD HOW a fORest’s fundamenTal ecosysteM SerVices—eVeRytHIng froM storInG WatEr to protectIng tHe soil—werE conneCTed to thE Broader ClimatE sySteM. WhiLE mOsT peOpLE duRInG thIS tiMe argued ThAt Our doMinaTION Over NatUre wAs necEssary for profIt, HUmboLDt wArned That wE musT fIrst uNderstAnd thE fUll extent of humaNity’S impact on NatUrE.

As anDrea WULf writEs iN heR 2015 biograPhy of HuMBolDt, tHE inVention of Nature, “The EfFECtS of the huMan speCIeS’ iNTerventiOn WerE alrEADy ‘incAlcuLAbLe,’ HumbolDt insiSTeD, aNd could BeCome caTaStrOphIc if tHEy coNtinueD to distuRb the WOrld so ‘brutally.’”

aS early as 1925, and agAIn IN ThE ‘90S by SChuBert, scientiSts hAVe beEn maKInG thE ConneCtion BeTWeEN human pollution from ThE VenezUelan Town of Mérida aNd its potenTIAL impact oN the NEaRBy glaciers, whicH have Been retreaTIng over tHe pasT one to twO hundred yEARs since HUmbOldT’s wArnING.

KEeping tabs

TodAY, MounTaIneers aRe tHe only oNes Who Get CloSe Enough to sEe the glaCiEr. inTeRnaTionaL ScientisTs Are EiTheR dissUAded frOm or sImplY nOt EAgeR to propOSe RESearCh TrIps tO a cOuNtry dEemeD Too DangeroUs to visit.

add TO thiS tHe Reality That the HumbolDt glacier isn’T tHe mOst glaMORous of thE globe’s features—a mere speC CompareD to The icE fieLds in PataGonIa—and iT beCOmes eaSy to seE why rEsEarCH FundiNG MaY be HaRd to secure.

dURinG his tImE, SchUbert—amOng whose prized possESsiOns was an 1815 editiOn oF HumBOLdT’s TRAvELs—hAd CAllED For a monitoring pRogram to doCuMEnT Venezuela’S GlaCiAl retreAt; sometHing eCHoed by BEzada and BRaun. Yet no SuCh prOGRam Was ever estAblished.

some monitORing oF ThE glacIer Can be dOnE viA sateLlite. BUT thE glacIer is nOw So tiny That tHe Free data From the Landsat satelliteS is not High eNouGh resolutIon TO glEan detailEd inFormation fRom, SayS BrauN.


s first views of Venezuela  came in 1 799 a s h e s ai ledtowa rds its coastl ined  with green palms andbanan ag rove s ;a ser ies ofc lo u d -co ve re d m ou n ta ins s atin thedistance.
Re la ted: Finding fr ozen mummi esin the Andes .
Here,Hu mbo l dt wi tne ssedthe de v astati ng impact  o f  defor e station f ro m pl antations in theS pa n ish colony. As  a res ul t ,h e  be cam e the firs tscien t ist tod is c u s s t h e connectionbetween hum a n a ctivit yand climat e cha ng e .
The natural istoutlinedhow af orest’s fundame ntal e cos yst em s e rv ic es— ev e ryt h in g f r omstoringwa te r toprot e c t i ng t hesoil —were  connected to  th e br o ade r cli matesyst em . Whi le mos t peo pl e during this t imeargued th atou r d om inati o n over  na tur e was n ecessar y  fo rp r o fi t, Humboldt warned  t h a twe mustfirstu nd er s tand the  f ull  ext e n t ofhuma n it y’s impa ct onn at ur e.

AsAn drea W ul f w rit es in her2015 b iography  of H u mboldt, The In v ention of Nat u re , “T h e ef fec ts of the h uman spec ies’ in ter v entio n wer ea lr e ady ‘incalculable,’  H umbold t ins isted, and co uld become c a tastroph ic i f  t h ey continued t o dis turb the w o rld so ‘ bruta lly.’”
As earlya s  1925, a ndaga inint h e‘90s by Schub e r t, s ci entists  ha ve been  ma kin g t heco nnectionbetweenhu ma npo llu tionf rom theVe nez ue lan  town of Mér ida a nd i ts  p o ten tial im p ac t on t he  n earb y g la ciers , wh i chhave be en retrea tin g  ove rth e pastone to two hu nd red yearssi nce  Humbo l d t’s warn ing.

Keeping tabs

Tod a y, moun tai neers  are  the only  on es who  ge t  close  enoug h tose e t h e  glac i e r.  In te rnationals c ien tists  a re e ither d issuaded from or s i mpl y not eager t o p ropo s e  r ese a rc h  tr ip s  to a  country deemed  too dange ro u sto visit.Add  t o thisthe rea lityt hat the  Humboldt  Glacieris n’tt h e m ost glamor ous of t he globe’ s  feat u re s—a m ere  specco mpa red t o thei cefield s in P at agonia —andit  becomes  easy to see why resear ch fun dingmay  be hardtos ecu re.

Duri ng h is time, S chu ber t—amo ngw hosepriz e dpos s essio ns w a s an 1815 ed iti o n  o f Humboldt’ s T rav els—h adc alledfora monitoring prog r am to document  Ven e z uel a’s glac ia l retreat; som eth in g echoed b yBezada andBraun. Y et no su ch pro gram w as ever e st a blishe d.
Som e monitor ing  o f  the gl ac ie r  can b e do ne  via s atelli t e. B u t  the glacier isnow s o tinyt hat  thefr ee data from  the Lands at satellit es isnothighenoughre soluti onto  glean det a iled info rmati on from ,says  Br aun.

s first_views of_Venezuela came in 1799_as he_sailed_towards its_coast_lined with green_palms and banana_groves; a series of_cloud-covered mountains sat_in_the distance.

Related: Finding frozen mummies in the Andes.

Here, Humboldt witnessed the devastating impact of_deforestation_from plantations_in_the_Spanish colony. As a result,_he became the first scientist_to discuss_the connection between human activity and climate change.

The_naturalist_outlined how a_forest’s fundamental ecosystem services—everything from storing water to protecting_the soil—were connected to the broader_climate system. While_most_people_during this time argued_that our domination over nature was_necessary for profit, Humboldt warned that_we must first understand the full extent_of humanity’s impact on nature.

As Andrea_Wulf writes in her 2015_biography of_Humboldt, The Invention of Nature,_“The effects of_the human_species’ intervention were_already ‘incalculable,’ Humboldt insisted, and could_become catastrophic if_they continued to disturb the world_so_‘brutally.’”

As early as_1925,_and_again in_the ‘90s by_Schubert,_scientists have_been_making the connection between human pollution_from_the Venezuelan town of Mérida and its_potential impact on the_nearby_glaciers, which have been_retreating over the past one_to two hundred years since Humboldt’s_warning.

Keeping tabs

Today,_mountaineers are_the only ones who get close enough to see the glacier._International scientists are either dissuaded from_or simply not eager_to propose_research_trips to a_country_deemed too_dangerous to visit.

Add to this the reality_that the_Humboldt Glacier isn’t the most glamorous_of the globe’s features—a_mere_spec compared to the ice fields_in Patagonia—and it becomes easy to_see why research funding may_be_hard_to secure.

During his time, Schubert—among_whose prized possessions was an 1815_edition of Humboldt’s_Travels—had called for a monitoring program to_document_Venezuela’s glacial retreat; something echoed by_Bezada_and Braun. Yet no such program_was_ever_established.

Some monitoring of the glacier_can be done via satellite. But_the glacier is now so tiny that the free_data from the_Landsat satellites is not high_enough_resolution_to glean detailed information from, says Braun.

