Variations of Glaciar Coronas, Pyrenees, Spain, during the 20th century

Abstract

Glaciar Coronas is one of the small cirque glaciers located in the Maladeta Range, central Spanish Pyrenees. The ice extends from 3220 to 3065 m a.s.l. Using early and modern photographs and aerial photographs, we study the evolution of the glacier during the 20th century, with particular focus on evaluating the variations in area, ice thickness and the withdrawal of the ice front. This information is compared with some basic climatic data (quarterly and annual evolution of temperatures and precipitation) recorded in the nearby Seira observatory. The results show that ice wastage, clearly associated with the main regional climatic evolution, has been dominant during the 20th century at Glaciar Coronas, but the rate has varied and has not been continuous. Three periods have been detected: (1) 1920s–early 1960s: ice depletion period; (2) early 1960s–mid-1980s: stabilization of the deglaciation process; (3) mid-1980s–1998: marked ice depletion period. The study shows a decrease in area of Glaciar Coronas from 19 ha in 1928 to 2.4 ha in 1998. The decrease in length from 1928 to 1998 has been 325 m.

Impact of climate change on snowpack in the Pyrenees: Horizontal spatial variability and vertical gradients

“…Crosses indicate the grid points of the HIRHAM model used to simulate snowpack. 2900 m (Chueca-Cía et al, 2003). Between November and April, the 0°C isotherm is located at approximately 1600-1700 m a.s.l.…”

Influencia de la radiación solar en el proceso de degradación y fragmentación post-pequeña Edad del Hielo del glaciar de la Madaleta (Pirineo Central Español)

“…El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el papel de la radiación solar incidente de onda corta en el proceso de degradación y fragmentación observado en el glaciar de la Maladeta desde el último Máximo de la Pequeña Edad del Hielo (PEH) hasta la actualidad. En varios estudios previos hemos identificado la importancia en el control de la evolución glaciar, dentro del ámbito pirenaico y para este período, de parámetros climá-ticos básicos como las temperaturas y las precipitaciones (Chueca et al, , 2003aLópez Moreno et al, 2004a, b). Sin embargo, en glaciares de pequeña extensión y espesor como el aquí analizado, la radiación solar ejerce igualmente un papel básico a la hora de propiciar dentro de ellos el desarrollo de áreas con mayor o menor repercusión de los procesos de degradación y fusión del hielo, matizando la morfología de detalle de cada aparato (Chueca, 1996;Chueca y Julián, 2004).…”

Besiberris glacigenic rock glacier (Central Pyrenees, Spain) : mapping surface horizontal and vertical movement (1993-2003)

“…Those losses are linked to the climatic amelioration (higher temperature; drier conditions and reduced snowfall) observed in the Pyrenean region since the end of the LIA and accentuated in the last few decades (Chueca et al, 2003(Chueca et al, , 2007López-Moreno et al, 2006). Even if protected by the layer of insulating debris, the probable reduction of thickness in Besiberris rock glacier ice-core by this atmospheric warming must have contributed in recent decades to a lowering in the basal shear stress values, which are now near the limit of ice deformation and help explain the low flow rates observed.…”