1.20. Glaciers of the Andes

Lee, E; King, O; Ely, JC; Bravo, C; Drenkhan, F; Falaschi, D; Garcia, J-L; Ruiz, L; Davies, BJ

doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-85242-5.00063-4

1.20. Glaciers of the Andes

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Owen King, Professor Bethan Davies ORCiD

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Abstract

The Andean Mountain range is the longest in the world, running more than 8000 km along the western edge of South America, from 11°N to 55°S. There are over 25,000 glaciers that occupy the Andean mountains, with an area of ∼30,000 km². The latitudinal range produces unique glacial landscapes that are influence by unique climatological regimes. The northern Andes, or the tropical Andes, holds 99% of the worlds tropical glaciers. The most southern parts of the Andean ranges host some the largest ice bodies on Earth with the Patagonian Ice Fields. These glaciers play a critical role as natural water towers. They provide freshwater to mountain communities and large population center cross the Andean range while facilitating unique ecosystems and biodiversity. These glaciers have changed through time due to climate changes. The past saw advance and retreat phases, while we are currently seeing massive reductions in ice mass due to present climate change. This is change is of active study, with projections on future changes seeing substantive reductions. In this chapter, we will explore the contemporary state of the glaciers and ice caps seen across the Andes and how their local climate and topography dictates their configurations across different latitudinal ranges. We will assess the accelerated retreat and volume loss observed in recent decades due to climate change, while also providing an understanding of longer-term changes from the LIA using the geomorphological record. And lastly, we will look ahead to future projections of glacier ice loss, over the next century.