Ice Mass Loss in the Central Andes of Argentina Between 2000 and 2018 Derived From a New Glacier Inventory and Satellite Stereo-Imagery

FERRI HIDALGO, LIDIA; DUSSAILLANT, INÉS; ZALAZAR, LAURA; MASIOKAS, M.H.; RUIZ, L.; PITTE, P.; GARGANTINI, HERNÁN; CASTRO, MARIANO; BERTHIER, E.; VILLALBA, RICARDO.

Frontiers in Earth Science

Frontiers Media S.A.

Año: 2020 vol. 8

Based on the recently released National Glacier Inventory (NGI), we analyzed thecharacteristics and the mass balance rates of ice masses in the Argentinean CentralAndes (ca. 30°–37° S). The NGI provides unprecedented information on area, number anddistribution of different ice masses, including debris-covered glaciers and rock glaciers. Inthe Central Andes, a number of 8,076 ice masses were identified covering a total area of1767 km2. For the period 2000–2018, a general lowering of the ice surface was observedwith a region-wide mass balance rate of −0.18 ± 0.19m w.e. yr−1. Clear differencesdepending on the debris coverage of the different ice masses were identified, with massbalance rates ranging from −0.36 ± 0.19 m w.e. yr−1 for partly debris-covered glaciers to−0.02 ± 0.19m w.e. yr−1 for rock glaciers. Considering different sub-periods, the regionwidemass balance rate was slightly positive (+0.12 ± 0.23 m w. e. yr−1) from 2000 to 2009and negative (−0.21 ± 0.30m w.e. yr−1) from 2009 to 2018. A comparison with theRandolph Glacier Inventory (RGI version 6.0) indicates that the NGI provides more detailedinformation regarding different type of ice masses whereas region-wide mass balancerates show limited sensitivity to the choice of the inventory. The inclusion of rock glaciersand “debris-covered ice with rock glacier” in the NGI causes mass balance rates to beslightly less negative than when using the RGI. Since the Central Andes are experiencing anunprecedented decade-long drought, our study provides crucial information to estimatecurrent and future hydrological contribution of the different type of ice masses to riverdischarge in the arid subtropical Andes.