Observaciones geomorfológicas en glaciares de escombros de los Andes tropicales de Argentina

Abstract

“Geomorphological observations on rock glaciers of the Tropical Andes of Argentina”. Permafrost degradation is one of the crucial factors for the stability of slopes in high mountains and is strongly related to disturbances and atmospheric changes linked to climate change. The presence of active rock glaciers indicates mountain permafrost condi- tions. These landforms are frozen water reservoirs. They are able to move large volumes of debris. Current climatic changes can accelerate this process. These potentially unstable sediments, which are located in the initiation of debris flows, require detection, mapping and preliminary stage and monitoring for the prevention of natural hazards. In the headwaters of the Upper Bermejo river, Sierra de Santa Victoria, between 22 º 08' and 23 º 00' south (Tropic of Capricorn) and between 65 º and 65 º 30' west, rock glaciers were inventoried using satel- lite imagery (Aster, Spot and CBERS2), visual inspection with Google Earth, field-tested in 27 landforms. In some rock glaciers features of degradation were detected and described. These indicators are subject of special attention in this paper. This intertropical Dry Andes region is particularly vulnerable to global warming, by the fragility of ecosystems and the high vulner- ability of the population. Water resources and slope stability are crucial for local population and its economies. This work provides the knowledge and state of the cryosphere regional baseline information to promote adaptation to changes.