Spatial distribution and characteristics of Andean ice masses in Argentina: results from the first National Glacier Inventory

Laura Zalazar,Mariano Castro,Melisa Gimenez,Mariano Masiokas,Gustavo Costa,Lucas Ruiz,Pierre Pitte,Lidia Ferri,Hernán Gargantini,Ricardo Villalba

doi:10.1017/jog.2020.55

Abstract

AbstractGlaciers and the periglacial environment in Argentina have been protected by the Law since 2010. This legislation required the development of the first National Glacier Inventory (NGI), which was officially presented in May 2018 and based on satellite images spanning between 2004 and 2016. Here, we present the methods and results of the NGI, summarize the glaciers’ morphological and spatial characteristics, and compare our results to previous regional and global inventories. The NGI reveals an impressive variety of ice masses including rock glaciers, permanent snowfields, mountain and valley glaciers with varying amounts of debris-cover and large outlet glaciers. The Argentinean Andes contain 16 078 ice masses covering an area of 5769 km2between 200 and 6900 m a.s.l. Comparison of the combined national inventories of Argentina and Chile (~30 000 glaciers and 28 400 km2) with the Randolph Glacier Inventory 6.0 for the Southern Andes (~16 000 glaciers and 29 400 km2), shows that there are large differences in extent and number of glaciers in some sub-regions. The NGI represents an improvement for a better understanding of Argentina's freshwater reservoirs and provides detailed information for the preservation and study of ice masses along 4000 km of the Southern Andes.

Highlights

In a context of generalized global glacier mass loss, the social and scientific interest about glaciers in mountain regions has increased substantially (Adler and others, 2019)
In 2010, the Argentinean Congress promulgated the National Law 26639 on ‘Minimum Standards Regime for Preservation of Glaciers and Periglacial Environment’. This law established the protection of glaciers and the periglacial environment as strategic reservoirs of water in the solid state, and led to the creation of the National Glacier Inventory (NGI) to identify and characterize glaciers and ice-rich periglacial landforms that act as water storages for protection, management and monitoring purposes
The region with the largest area covered by ice masses in Argentina is the Southern Patagonia Andes with 3421 km2 (59%), whereas the Central Andes contains the greatest number of ice masses with 8076 (50%) (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

In a context of generalized global glacier mass loss, the social and scientific interest about glaciers in mountain regions has increased substantially (Adler and others, 2019). Updated and better spatial resolution glacier inventories are critical to outline environmental policies for glacier protection and monitoring programs, as well as for developing mitigation and adaptation strategies in response to climate changes (Johansen and others, 2019). In 2010, the Argentinean Congress promulgated the National Law 26639 on ‘Minimum Standards Regime for Preservation of Glaciers and Periglacial Environment’. This law established the protection of glaciers and the periglacial environment as strategic reservoirs of water in the solid state, and led to the creation of the National Glacier Inventory (NGI) to identify and characterize glaciers and ice-rich periglacial landforms that act as water storages for protection, management and monitoring purposes.

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Discussion

Conclusion