Climate response and the interaction of hydro-, atmo- and cryosphere in Southern Patagonia

Network Project

The largest ice fields in Southern Patagonia record considerable amounts of precipitation in the accumulation zone of the ice masses that are essential for the fact that despite the relatively warm temperatures in the temperate latitudes, ice masses can reach sea level. The ice system reacts very sensitively to climatic changes. Variations in precipitation and temperature change the thickness and flow velocity of the ice masses and thus also their mass loss through calving. These changes are being investigated in the context of a dissertation project in continuation of the Gaby Vasa project and in cooperation with an international research team. Recent changes in the ice masses and the immediate environment are recorded with automatic weather stations, water isotope analyses and time series camera systems. In combination with global reanalysis data, glacier and climate models, the close interaction of hydro-, atmo- and cryosphere can thus be investigated.

More information on the projeckt can be found here.

Copyright and credits header image: Lukas Langhammer

Climate