Changes of the tropical glaciers throughout Peru between 2000 and 2016 - Mass balance and area fluctuations

Seehaus T, Malz P, Sommer C, Lippl S, Cochachin A, Braun M (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Cryosphere European Geosciences Union (EGU) / Copernicus Publications

Book Volume: 13

Pages Range: 2537-2556

Journal Issue: 10

DOI: 10.5194/tc-13-2537-2019

Abstract

Glaciers in tropical regions are very sensitive to climatic variations and thus strongly affected by climate change. The majority of the tropical glaciers worldwide are located in the Peruvian Andes, which have shown significant ice loss in the last century. Here, we present the first multi-temporal, region-wide survey of geodetic mass balances and glacier area fluctuations throughout Peru covering the period 2000-2016. Glacier extents are derived from Landsat imagery by performing automatic glacier delineation based on a combination of the NDSI and band ratio method and final manual inspection and correction. The mapping of debris-covered glacier extents is supported by synthetic aperture radar (SAR) coherence information. A total glacier area loss of $- 548.5 \pm 65.7$ km2 (-29 %, -34.3 km2 a-1) is obtained for the study period. Using interferometric satellite SAR acquisitions, bi-temporal geodetic mass balances are derived. An average specific mass balance of $- 296 \pm 41$ kg m-2 a-1 is found throughout Peru for the period 2000-2016. However, there are strong regional and temporal differences in the mass budgets ranging from 45±97 to $- 752 \pm 452$ kg m-2 a-1. The ice loss increased towards the end of the observation period. Between 2013 and 2016, a retreat of the glacierized area of $- 203.8 \pm 65.7$ km2 (-16 %, -101.9 km2 a-1) is mapped and the average mass budget amounts to $- 660 \pm 178$ kg m-2 a-1. The glacier changes revealed can be attributed to changes in the climatic settings in the study region, derived from ERA-Interim reanalysis data and the Oceanic Nino Index. The intense El Niño activities in 2015/16 are most likely the trigger for the increased change rates in the time interval 2013-2016. Our observations provide fundamental information on the current dramatic glacier changes for local authorities and for the calibration and validation of glacier change projections.

Authors with CRIS profile

Thorsten Seehaus Institut für Geographie Philipp Malz Professur für Geographie (Fernerkundung und GIS) Christian Sommer Institut für Geographie Stefan Lippl Institut für Geographie Matthias Braun Professur für Geographie (Fernerkundung und GIS)

Related research project(s)

A stochastic estimate of sea level contribution from glaciers and ice caps using satellite remote sensing (SATELLITE) DFG Schwerpunktprogramm "Regional Sea Level Change & Society" Jan. 1, 2017 - Feb. 29, 2020 Remote sensing of mountain glaciers: Derivation of essential climate variables for international initiatives in the area of cryosphereand water resourcesa. Method development and refinements with example applications to the tropical Andes (GEKKO) July 1, 2016 - Oct. 31, 2019

Involved external institutions

Autoridad Nacional del Agua

Peru (PE)

How to cite

APA:

Seehaus, T., Malz, P., Sommer, C., Lippl, S., Cochachin, A., & Braun, M. (2019). Changes of the tropical glaciers throughout Peru between 2000 and 2016 - Mass balance and area fluctuations. Cryosphere, 13(10), 2537-2556. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2537-2019

MLA:

Seehaus, Thorsten, et al. "Changes of the tropical glaciers throughout Peru between 2000 and 2016 - Mass balance and area fluctuations." Cryosphere 13.10 (2019): 2537-2556.

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