INVESTIGADORES
MARTINEZ CARRETERO Eduardo Enrique
artículos
Título:
The true desert of the central-west Argentina. Bioclimatology, geomorphology and vegetation
Autor/es:
LE HOUÉROU, H., E. MARTÍNEZ CARRETERO, J. GUEVARA, A. BERRA, O. ESTEVÉZ Y C. STASI
Revista:
MULTEQUINA
Editorial:
INCA
Referencias:
Lugar: Argentina; Año: 2006 vol. 15 p. 1 - 15
ISSN:
0327-9375
Resumen:
In the NW sector of Argentina between
the latitudes of Mendoza (32°53S) and
Jachal (San Juan) (30°15 S) extends a NS
oriented tectonic valley located between
the Pre-Cordillera and the Front Cordillera
of the Andes. This valley is 2,000-5,000
m deep with respect to the Pre-Cordillera
and Cordillera summits that borders it on
the East and West; it is ca. 300 km long
and 40 km wide on the average. This is
actually a perfect case of rain shadow
desert comparable to the well known
Californian Death Valley, with an hyperarid
climate. At the lowest point
(Calingasta -San Juan-, 1,375 m) the
long-term mean annual rainfall is only 54
mm and up to 100-120 mm on the highest
points (Tambillos -Mendoza-, 2,164 m).
From the geomorphic, climatic, floristic
and vegetational viewpoints this posttectonic
graben is a true desert void of
perennial vegetation on the pediments,
while perennial species are contracted
along the hydraulic network and around
the topographic depressions. Vegetation
on the pediments is set up in a steppe-like
diffuse pattern in the highest parts above
1,800 m of elevation, and on a contracted
pattern in the lower (1,300-1,800 m asl).
oriented tectonic valley located between
the Pre-Cordillera and the Front Cordillera
of the Andes. This valley is 2,000-5,000
m deep with respect to the Pre-Cordillera
and Cordillera summits that borders it on
the East and West; it is ca. 300 km long
and 40 km wide on the average. This is
actually a perfect case of rain shadow
desert comparable to the well known
Californian Death Valley, with an hyperarid
climate. At the lowest point
(Calingasta -San Juan-, 1,375 m) the
long-term mean annual rainfall is only 54
mm and up to 100-120 mm on the highest
points (Tambillos -Mendoza-, 2,164 m).
From the geomorphic, climatic, floristic
and vegetational viewpoints this posttectonic
graben is a true desert void of
perennial vegetation on the pediments,
while perennial species are contracted
along the hydraulic network and around
the topographic depressions. Vegetation
on the pediments is set up in a steppe-like
diffuse pattern in the highest parts above
1,800 m of elevation, and on a contracted
pattern in the lower (1,300-1,800 m asl).
Jachal (San Juan) (30°15 S) extends a NS
oriented tectonic valley located between
the Pre-Cordillera and the Front Cordillera
of the Andes. This valley is 2,000-5,000
m deep with respect to the Pre-Cordillera
and Cordillera summits that borders it on
the East and West; it is ca. 300 km long
and 40 km wide on the average. This is
actually a perfect case of rain shadow
desert comparable to the well known
Californian Death Valley, with an hyperarid
climate. At the lowest point
(Calingasta -San Juan-, 1,375 m) the
long-term mean annual rainfall is only 54
mm and up to 100-120 mm on the highest
points (Tambillos -Mendoza-, 2,164 m).
From the geomorphic, climatic, floristic
and vegetational viewpoints this posttectonic
graben is a true desert void of
perennial vegetation on the pediments,
while perennial species are contracted
along the hydraulic network and around
the topographic depressions. Vegetation
on the pediments is set up in a steppe-like
diffuse pattern in the highest parts above
1,800 m of elevation, and on a contracted
pattern in the lower (1,300-1,800 m asl).
oriented tectonic valley located between
the Pre-Cordillera and the Front Cordillera
of the Andes. This valley is 2,000-5,000
m deep with respect to the Pre-Cordillera
and Cordillera summits that borders it on
the East and West; it is ca. 300 km long
and 40 km wide on the average. This is
actually a perfect case of rain shadow
desert comparable to the well known
Californian Death Valley, with an hyperarid
climate. At the lowest point
(Calingasta -San Juan-, 1,375 m) the
long-term mean annual rainfall is only 54
mm and up to 100-120 mm on the highest
points (Tambillos -Mendoza-, 2,164 m).
From the geomorphic, climatic, floristic
and vegetational viewpoints this posttectonic
graben is a true desert void of
perennial vegetation on the pediments,
while perennial species are contracted
along the hydraulic network and around
the topographic depressions. Vegetation
on the pediments is set up in a steppe-like
diffuse pattern in the highest parts above
1,800 m of elevation, and on a contracted
pattern in the lower (1,300-1,800 m asl).
°53S) and
Jachal (San Juan) (30°15 S) extends a NS
oriented tectonic valley located between
the Pre-Cordillera and the Front Cordillera
of the Andes. This valley is 2,000-5,000
m deep with respect to the Pre-Cordillera
and Cordillera summits that borders it on
the East and West; it is ca. 300 km long
and 40 km wide on the average. This is
actually a perfect case of rain shadow
desert comparable to the well known
Californian Death Valley, with an hyperarid
climate. At the lowest point
(Calingasta -San Juan-, 1,375 m) the
long-term mean annual rainfall is only 54
mm and up to 100-120 mm on the highest
points (Tambillos -Mendoza-, 2,164 m).
From the geomorphic, climatic, floristic
and vegetational viewpoints this posttectonic
graben is a true desert void of
perennial vegetation on the pediments,
while perennial species are contracted
along the hydraulic network and around
the topographic depressions. Vegetation
on the pediments is set up in a steppe-like
diffuse pattern in the highest parts above
1,800 m of elevation, and on a contracted
pattern in the lower (1,300-1,800 m asl).
oriented tectonic valley located between
the Pre-Cordillera and the Front Cordillera
of the Andes. This valley is 2,000-5,000
m deep with respect to the Pre-Cordillera
and Cordillera summits that borders it on
the East and West; it is ca. 300 km long
and 40 km wide on the average. This is
actually a perfect case of rain shadow
desert comparable to the well known
Californian Death Valley, with an hyperarid
climate. At the lowest point
(Calingasta -San Juan-, 1,375 m) the
long-term mean annual rainfall is only 54
mm and up to 100-120 mm on the highest
points (Tambillos -Mendoza-, 2,164 m).
From the geomorphic, climatic, floristic
and vegetational viewpoints this posttectonic
graben is a true desert void of
perennial vegetation on the pediments,
while perennial species are contracted
along the hydraulic network and around
the topographic depressions. Vegetation
on the pediments is set up in a steppe-like
diffuse pattern in the highest parts above
1,800 m of elevation, and on a contracted
pattern in the lower (1,300-1,800 m asl).
°15 S) extends a NS
oriented tectonic valley located between
the Pre-Cordillera and the Front Cordillera
of the Andes. This valley is 2,000-5,000
m deep with respect to the Pre-Cordillera
and Cordillera summits that borders it on
the East and West; it is ca. 300 km long
and 40 km wide on the average. This is
actually a perfect case of rain shadow
desert comparable to the well known
Californian Death Valley, with an hyperarid
climate. At the lowest point
(Calingasta -San Juan-, 1,375 m) the
long-term mean annual rainfall is only 54
mm and up to 100-120 mm on the highest
points (Tambillos -Mendoza-, 2,164 m).
From the geomorphic, climatic, floristic
and vegetational viewpoints this posttectonic
graben is a true desert void of
perennial vegetation on the pediments,
while perennial species are contracted
along the hydraulic network and around
the topographic depressions. Vegetation
on the pediments is set up in a steppe-like
diffuse pattern in the highest parts above
1,800 m of elevation, and on a contracted
pattern in the lower (1,300-1,800 m asl).