Authors: Rivera, Andrés; Bown, Francisca; Mella, Ronald; Wendt, Jens; Casassa, Gino; Acuña, César; Rignot, Eric; Clavero, Jorge; Brock, Benjamin

Source: Annals of Glaciology, Volume 43, Number 1, September 2006 , pp. 111-122(12)

Publisher: International Glaciological Society

Abstract:

Most of the glaciers in southern Chile have been retreating and shrinking during recent decades in response to atmospheric warming and decrease in precipitation. However, some glacier fluctuations are directly associated with the effusive and geothermal activity of ice-covered active volcanoes widely distributed in the region. The aim of this paper is to study the ice volumetric changes by comparing several topographic datasets. A maximum mean ice thinning rate of 0.81 ± 0.45 m a⁻¹ was observed on the ash/debris-covered ablation area of Volcán Villarrica between 1961 and 2004, whilst on Volcán Mocho the signal-to-noise ratio was too small to yield any conclusion. An area reduction of 0.036 ± 0.019 km² a⁻¹ since 1976 was obtained on Glaciar Mocho, while on Volcán Villarrica the area change was −0.090 ± 0.034 km² a⁻¹ between 1976 and 2005. Glaciers on active volcanoes are therefore shrinking, mainly in response to climatic driving factors. However, volcanic activity is affecting glaciers in two opposite ways: ash/debris advection is helping to reduce surface ablation at lower reaches by insulating the ice from solar radiation, while geothermal activity is probably enhancing melting and water production at the bedrock, resulting in negative ice-elevation changes.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756406781811970

Publication date: 2006-09-01

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• The Annals of Glaciology is a peer-reviewed, thematic journal published 2 to 4 times a year by the International Glaciological Society (IGS). Publication frequency is determined and volume/issue numbers assigned by the IGS Council on a year-to-year basis and with a lead time of 3 to 4 years. The Annals of Glaciology is included in the ISI Science Citation Index from volume 50, number 50 onwards.

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