Reconstruction of glacier area on Citlaltépetl volcano, 1958 and implications for Mexico's deglaciation rates

Abstract

In this study, a detailed analysis of the measurements made on Glaciar Norte of Citlaltépetl volcano in 1958 by Lorenzo (1964) is conducted. A series of inconsistencies are evident when comparing the dimensions of Citlaltépetl volcano's glaciers and those of the glaciers on Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes. From these inconsistencies it was concluded that the delimitation of Citlaltépetl's glaciers was wrong and the values exaggerated the true conditions of these ice bodies for 1958. In this paper we explain the methodology applied for the reconstruction of Glaciar Norte in 1958. From this reconstruction, a new more realistic value for the glaciated area on Citlaltépetl was obtained. The reconstruction respects the glacier front boundaries reported by Lorenzo (1964), which are precisely detailed at the narrative of his fieldwork. Finally, this paper discusses the glacial shrinkage on Citlaltépetl volcano based on the new value obtained for the area of Glaciar Norte (2.04 km2). This value is of a magnitude comparable to the glacial areas of Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatepetl volcanoes that were also measured and reported by Lorenzo (1964) and confirmed in the literature.