Glacier changes in the semi-arid Huasco Valley, Chile, between 1986 and 2016

• Verfasst von: Heß, Katharina [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Schmidt, Susanne [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Nüsser, Marcus [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Zang, Carina [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Dame, Juliane [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Glacier changes in the semi-arid Huasco Valley, Chile, between 1986 and 2016
• Verf.angabe: Katharina Hess, Susanne Schmidt, Marcus Nüsser, Carina Zang and Juliane Dame
• E-Jahr: 2020
• Jahr: 29 October 2020
• Umfang: 19 S.
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 21.07.2022
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Geosciences
• Ort Quelle: Basel : MDPI, 2011
• Jahr Quelle: 2020
• Band/Heft Quelle: 10(2020), 11, Artikel-ID 429, Seite 1-19
• ISSN Quelle: 2076-3263
• DOI: doi:10.3390/geosciences10110429
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: Chilean Andes
• Sach-SW: glacier change
• Sach-SW: Norte Chico
• Sach-SW: Pascua Lama
• Sach-SW: water resources
• K10plus-PPN: 181120239X

Abstract

In the semi-arid and arid regions of the Chilean Andes, meltwater from the cryosphere is a key resource for the local economy and population. In this setting, climate change and economic activities foster water scarcity and resource conflicts. The study presents a detailed glacier and rock glacier inventory for the Huasco valley (28-29° S) in northern Chile based on a multi-temporal remote sensing approach. The results indicate a glacier-covered area of 16.35 ± 3.06 km2 (n = 167) and, additionally, 50 rock glaciers covering an area of about 8.6 km2 in 2016. About 81% of the ice-bodies are smaller than 0.1 km2, and only four glaciers are larger than 1 km2. The change analysis reveals a more or less stable period between 1986 and 2000 and a drastic decline in the glacier-covered area by about 35% between 2000 and 2016. The detailed assessment of six subregions indicates a more pronounced glacier decrease in the vicinity of the Pascua Lama mining project.