20th-Century Glacier Fluctuations in the Tropical Cordillera Blanca, Perú

Abstract

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Glacier recession and human vulnerability in the Yanamarey watershed of the Cordillera Blanca, Peru

“…1). Such strong and persistent recession is consistent with glaciers throughout the Cordillera Blanca that have been receding since the end of the Little Ice Age (Georges 2004). Accelerated recession rates have also been observed in other Andean locations, which imply a high degree of glacier sensitivity to interannual climate variability (Brecher and Thompson 1993;Casassa et al 1998;Juen et al 2007;Thompson 2000).…”

“…Regular observations of glacial extent and climate variables associated with hydropower production by the Huaraz-based Peruvian Office of Glaciology and Lake Security date back to the 1970s (Carey 2005). While observations prior to this period are rare or discontinuous for the region, compilations of historical glacier maps and photographs quantify glacier mass balance changes over time (Ames et al 1989;Georges 2004;Kaser et al 1990;Kinzl 1942;Kinzl et al 1964;Morales Arnao and Hastenrath 1998). A program of routine surveying was established in 1968, and four target glaciers, including Yanamarey, were selected to monitor the magnitude of changes to these frozen reservoirs, providing a particularly important geographic database (Ames 1998;Francou et al 1995).…”

“…Between 1970 and1997, glacial coverage across the country declined by 22% and average temperatures have increased significantly since 1939 (CONAM 2001;Georges 2004;Kaser and Osmaston 2002;Vuille and Bradley 2000;Vuille et al 2008b). Because over 80% of freshwater available for downstream populations and ecosystems of the semi-arid tropics and subtropics originates in mountains, the recession of glaciers in these areas is particularly significant for the social and ecological systems that depend on these vital components of the hydrological regime (Messerli 2001).…”

Resistance and Resilience of A Stream Salamander To Supraseasonal Drought

“…The ongoing shrinkage of the glacier during the 1990s has led to its near disappearance, and as a consequence Bolivia has lost its only ski resort (Figure 5.10). Francou and Vincent (2006) and Jordan (1991) (Georges, 2004). The area of glacier in the Cordillera Blanca in 1990 was 620 km 2 .…”

Pertinent spatio-temporal scale of observation to understand suspended sediment yield control factors in the Andean region: the case of the Santa River (Peru)

“…It represents approximately 35 % (600 km 2 ) of the total area of Peruvian glaciers and ∼ 10 % of the total catchment; also, it contains the Huascaran peak, which at 6768 m a.s.l. is the second highest point in the central Andes (Georges, 2004). It is the only example of an active, large-magnitude extension with a pronounced footwall topography (McNulty and Farber, 2002).…”