Glacier inventory and recent variations of Santa Inés Icefield, Southern Patagonia

Gurdiel I, Rada C, Malz P, Braun M, Casassa G (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research Taylor & Francis

Book Volume: 54

Pages Range: 202-220

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1080/15230430.2022.2071793

Abstract

The study of glaciers in remote regions improves our understanding of global glacier change. With an area of 149.31 ± 1.84 km2, the Santa Inés Icefield constitutes one of the largest and least studied and explored glaciated areas of Southern Patagonia. We study the extent and glacier variations of the Santa Inés Icefield over the last 75 years, and we generate the most detailed glacier inventory to date of its 24 constituting glaciers. We estimate surface elevation changes between 2000 and 2014 using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and TanDEM-X digital elevation models. Our results show a generalized trend of retreat, with a glacier area loss of −9.78 ± 1.52 km2 between 1998 and 2020, with annual rate increase from −0.15 ± 0.01 km2 a−1 (1998–2005) to −0.58 ± 0.10 km2 a−1 (2005–2020), and an average thinning of 0.60 ± 0.26 m a−1 (2σ) between 2000 and 2014. No clear correlation was found between retreat or thinning rates and Accumulation Area Ratio (AAR), terminus slope, aspect, or glacier type. While ERA5 reanalysis data shows no significant climatic trends in temperature or precipitation, a small warming trend below our detection record is the most likely cause of the observed retreat and thinning of the Santa Inés Icefield.

Authors with CRIS profile

Philipp Malz Professur für Geographie (Fernerkundung und GIS) Matthias Braun Professur für Geographie (Fernerkundung und GIS)

Involved external institutions

University of Magallanes / Universidad de Magallanes (UMAG) CL Chile (CL)

How to cite

APA:

Gurdiel, I., Rada, C., Malz, P., Braun, M., & Casassa, G. (2022). Glacier inventory and recent variations of Santa Inés Icefield, Southern Patagonia. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 54(1), 202-220. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2022.2071793

MLA:

Gurdiel, Isaac, et al. "Glacier inventory and recent variations of Santa Inés Icefield, Southern Patagonia." Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 54.1 (2022): 202-220.

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