Dynamics of two high mountain wetlands in Vallecitos, Cordón del Plata, Mendoza, Argentina (2002 – 2019)

Abstract

The study area is situated at 69o19’ and 69o26’ W and 32o55’ and 32o59’ S, Cordón del Plata, Cordillera Frontal, Mendoza, Argentina, with maximum heights of 6000 m ASL. There are glaciers, debris covered glaciers, and perennial snow patches; however, the predominant environment is periglacial, mainly with rock glaciers, protalus ramparts, solifluction and gelifluction forms up to approximately 3600 m ASL. Associated with these periglacial and glacial environments mountain wetlands are present. It is the aim of this contribution to analyze the dynamics observed in two wetland areas studied annually between 2002 and 2019 as bioindicators of temperature and humidity changes, in order to understand the processes that may be affecting these wetlands. Changes are associated, not only with meteorological anomalies of the region, but also with the degradation of exposed and ground ice. The applied methodology is based on the use of satellite images for classification, digitization of the rims of the wetland areas and construction of soil, vegetation and moisture indexes LST, NDVI and NWDI.