Surface Morphology, Internal Structure and Water Storage Capacity of Dos Lenguas Rock Glacier in the Dry Central Andes of Argentina (30°S)

CHRISTIAN HALLA; JAN HENRIK BLÖTHE; CHRISTIAN HAUCK; DARIO TROMBOTTO; LOTHAR SCHROTT

Ammersee

Workshop; 11th Intern. Young Geomorphologists? Workshop 2017; 2017

Deutscher Arbeitskreis fuer Geomorphologie

The surface morphology of intact rock glaciers with ridges and furrows indicates ice-rich material compositions that allow creep deformations. Due to their size and abundance, massive ground ice and ice-rich permafrost bodies in rock glaciers potentially constitute significant water reservoirs and sources for this part of the Andes ?and particularly the foreland. The seasonally thawing active layer is an important melt water aquifer contributing to runoff during summer time. The overall water storage capacities in these landforms and the amount of runoff contributions, however, are largely unknown.