ERMAFROST DISTRIBUTION AND ICE-CONTENT OF BLOCKSLOPES AND TALUSES: CONTRIBUTION TO THE HYDROLOGICAL SYSTEM OF THE AGUA NEGRA BASIN, DRY ANDES OF ARGENTINA

DIANA ORTIZ; TAMARA KOEHLER; MELANIE STAMMLER; CRISTIAN VILLAROEL; DARIO TROMBOTTO LIAUDAT; LOTHAR SCHROTT

San Juan

Congreso; VIII CongresoArgentino de Cuaternario y Geomorfología; 2022

Asociación Argentina de Cuaternario y Geomorfología

In high mountain regions, climatic conditions are a key factor in the development of permafrost. Next to altitudinal impact, topo-climatic and subsurface conditions further influence the occurrence of permafrost. As a result, mountain regions show extremely irregular periglacial distribution patterns which cannot be simply estimated by lapse rates of air temperature (Schrott, 1994). The Central Andes (30–35°S) are characterized by a high degree of mountain permafrost occurrence, manifested mainly through the presence of rock glaciers (Villarroel et al., 2021). However, other periglacial landforms such as block and talus slopes are usually not considered as periglacial landforms with potential capacity as a solid-state water reserve and seasonally runoff contributors. It is hypothesized that, in the Central Andes, specific climatic, topographic, and lithological conditions favor the abundance of block slopes and taluses, having a significant importance as valuable water reserves.