A 17-year Record of Meteorological Observations Across the Gran Campo Nevado Ice Cap in Southern Patagonia, Chile, Related to Synoptic Weather Types and Climate Modes

Weidemann, Stephanie Suzanne; Sauter, Tobias; Kilian, Rolf; Steger, David N.; Butorovic, Nicolás; Schneider, Christoph

doi:10.3389/feart.2018.00053

Cited by 29 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Climatically, the region of Patagonia is situated between the subpolar low pressure trough (~60 • S) and the subtropical high-pressure system (~35 • S), leading to prevailing westerly winds by this synoptic constellation [1,2]. The mountain range of the Southern Andes forms an obstacle perpendicular to the zonal band of persistent westerlies, resulting in large amounts of precipitation caused by the orographic uplift of humid air masses on the windward side [1,[3][4][5]. The amount of precipitation exceeds several thousand millimeter per year [mma −1 ] on the western side, but decreases rapidly towards the east due to the foehn effect, forming one of the world´s sharpest moisture gradients [6,7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Holocene Glacial Fluctuations of Schiaparelli Glacier at Monte Sarmiento Massif, Tierra del Fuego (54°24′ S)

et al. 2019

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The Magallanes–Tierra del Fuego region, Southern Patagonia (53–56°S) features a plethora of fjords and remote and isolated islands, and hosts several thousand glaciers. The number of investigated glaciers with respect to the multiple Neoglacial advances is based on a few individual studies and is still fragmentary, which complicates the interpretation of the glacial dynamics in the southernmost part of America. Schiaparelli Glacier (54°24′S, 70°50′W), located at the western side of the Cordillera Darwin, was selected for tree-ring-based and radiocarbon dating of the glacial deposits. One focus of the study was to address to the potential dating uncertainties that arise by the use of Nothofagus spp. as a pioneer species. A robust analysis of the age–height relationship, missing the pith of the tree (pith offset), and site-specific ecesis time revealed a total uncertainty value of ±59 years. Three adjacent terminal moraines were identified, which increasingly tapered towards the glacier, with oldest deposition dates of 1749 ± 5 CE, 1789 ± 5 CE, and 1867 ± 5 CE. Radiocarbon dates of trunks incorporated within the terminal moraine system indicate at least three phases of cumulative glacial activity within the last 2300 years that coincide with the Neoglacial phases of the Southern Patagonian Icefield and adjacent mountain glaciers. The sub-recent trunks revealed the first evidence of a Neoglacial advance between ~600 BCE and 100 CE, which so far has not been substantiated in the Magallanes–Tierra del Fuego region.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Holocene Glacial Fluctuations of Schiaparelli Glacier at Monte Sarmiento Massif, Tierra del Fuego (54°24′ S)

et al. 2019

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“…However, little is known about precipitation along the main ridge and, in particular, on the Patagonian Icefields. Current estimates from firn cores (Schwikowski et al, 2006;Shiraiwa et al, 2002), discharge measurements (Escobar, 1992) and numerical modelling (Bravo et al, 2019;Lenaerts et al, 2014;Mernild et al, 2017;Schaefer et al, 2013Schaefer et al, , 2015Weidemann et al, 2018b) suggest average annual precipitation rates of 5 to 8 m w.e. yr −1 and of 7 to > 10 m w.e.…”

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confidence: 99%

Revisiting extreme precipitation amounts over southern South America and implications for the Patagonian Icefields

Sauter

2020

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Patagonia is thought to be one of the wettest regions on Earth, although available regional precipitation estimates vary considerably. This uncertainty complicates understanding and quantifying the observed environmental changes, such as glacier recession, biodiversity decline in fjord ecosystems and enhanced net primary production. The Patagonian Icefields, for example, are one of the largest contributors to sea-level rise outside the polar regions, and robust hydroclimatic projections are needed to understand and quantify current and future mass changes. The reported projections of precipitation from numerical modelling studies tend to overestimate those from in situ determinations, and the plausibility of these numbers has never been carefully scrutinized, despite the significance of this topic to our understanding of observed environmental changes. Here I use simple physical arguments and a linear model to test the plausibility of the current precipitation estimates and its impact on the Patagonian Icefields. The results show that environmental conditions required to sustain a mean precipitation amount exceeding 6.09±0.64 m yr−1 are untenable according to the regional moisture flux. The revised precipitation values imply a significant reduction in the surface mass balance of the Patagonian Icefields compared to previously reported values. This yields a new perspective on the response of Patagonia's glaciers to climate change and their sea-level contribution and might also help reduce uncertainties in the change of other precipitation-driven environmental phenomena.

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“…The area has a strong Pacific Ocean influence, through the prevailing westerly circulation regime. This in combination with the unique topographic distribution of the Patagonian Andes creates one of the most pronounced precipitation gradients on earth (Carrasco et al, 2002;Schneider et al, 2003;Smith and Evans, 2007;Garreaud et al, 2013;Weidemann et al, 2018). Due to the north-south orientation of the Andes almost perpendicular to the westerly airflow, the regional west-to-east variation along the 53 • S latitude and across the southern Andes shows an annual precipitation of about 6,000 mm on the western slopes of the mountain range decreasing to <1,000 mm on the eastern slope (Schneider et al, 2003) and to 416 mm at Punta Arenas (González-Reyes et al, 2017).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The available station data allow studying the inter-annual and decadal pattern of air temperature and precipitation in relation to forcing mechanisms such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) or the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Other stations have been deployed in recent decades in southern South America by DGA (e.g., Teniente Merino, San Gregorio, Pampa Huanaco and Bahía San Felipe), by DMC (Porvenir station) and by specific research projects such as Bahamondes station (Schneider et al, 2003;Weidemann et al, 2018). Table 1 lists the above stations used in this study.…”

Section: Meteorological Data and Climate Indicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, the west side of southernmost Patagonia is frequently affected by passing fronts and low-pressure systems that results in a high number of cloudy (77-86%) and precipitation days (81-88%) throughout the year (Carrasco et al, 2002). In addition, the complex topography defines a distinct climate regime at both sides of the Andes, with a relatively warmer and moister environment on the western side in comparison with the eastern side (Schneider et al, 2003;Weidemann et al, 2018). The precipitation is much higher and increases with altitude on the western slope due to orographically induced upward motion, and rapidly decreases toward the east due to the foehn mechanism (Weidemann et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introduction and Regional Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Snow Cover Change as a Climate Indicator in Brunswick Peninsula, Patagonia

et al. 2018

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Snow cover changes are assessed for the Brunswick Peninsula in southern Patagonia (52.9 • S to 53.5 • S), located on the transition between the wet Pacific Ocean area and the drier leeward side of the Andes. We use the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) and a new index which we call Snow power , combining the NDSI and the Melt Area Detection Index (MADI), to reconstruct the snow cover extent and its temporal distribution for the period 2000-2016, based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Sensor (MODIS) MOD09GA products. Comparison of these satellite-derived products with available snow duration and snow height data for 2010-2016 at the local Club Andino ski center of Punta Arenas shows that the NDSI exhibits the best agreement. A reasonable and significant linear correlation is found between the MODIS NDSI snow cover extent and the mean monthly temperature at Punta Arenas Airport combined with the monthly snow accumulation at Jorge Schythe station at Punta Arenas city for the extended winter period (April to September) from 2000 to 2016. Snow cover changes within this time series are extended to 1972 and 1958 based on historical climate data of Jorge Schythe and Punta Arenas airport, repectively. The results show a significant decreasing trend of snow extent of 19% for Brunswick Peninsula for the 45-year period (1972-2016), which can be attributed to a statistically significant long-term warming of 0.71 • C at Punta Arenas during the extended winter (April-September) in the same period. Multiple correlation with different climate variables indicates that solid precipitation has a relevant role on short-term snow cover variability, but is not related to the observed long-term snow cover decrease.

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A 17-year Record of Meteorological Observations Across the Gran Campo Nevado Ice Cap in Southern Patagonia, Chile, Related to Synoptic Weather Types and Climate Modes

Cited by 29 publications

References 42 publications

Late Holocene Glacial Fluctuations of Schiaparelli Glacier at Monte Sarmiento Massif, Tierra del Fuego (54°24′ S)

Late Holocene Glacial Fluctuations of Schiaparelli Glacier at Monte Sarmiento Massif, Tierra del Fuego (54°24′ S)

Revisiting extreme precipitation amounts over southern South America and implications for the Patagonian Icefields

Snow Cover Change as a Climate Indicator in Brunswick Peninsula, Patagonia

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