Inventory of glaciers in isla Riesco, Patagonia, Chile, based on aerial photography and satellite imagery

Casassa, G.; Smith, K; Rivera A.; Araos, J; Schnirch, M; Schneider, C

Abstract

A glacier inventory for peninsula Córdova, isla Riesco, Chilean Patagonia (53°14?S, 73°00?W), has been compiled based on stereoscopic interpretation of aerial photographs of March and December 1984 and 1:100 000 topographic maps. Three small icefields comprising 33 glacier outlets in addition to 12 small separate glaciers, have been identified, with a total area of 57 km2. Glaciers are located on mountain peaks with a maximum altitude of 1183 m and a lowermost elevation of 100 m. All glaciers terminate on land, except for three glaciers calving into small fresh-water lakes. A Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) image of 6 October 1986 has been rectified and analyzed using a supervised classification to estimate snow- and glacier-covered surfaces. Glacier-area data derived from satellite-image analyses have been adjusted at peninsula Córdova using photo-interpreted data, and extrapolated to estimate a glacier area of 215 ± 40 km2 for all of isla Riesco. The presence of trimlines and moraines beyond the present position of the glaciers indicates a generalized retreat from a maximum neoglacial position at península Córdova, most probably as a result of regional warming and precipitation decrease observed during the last century.

Más información

Título según WOS: Inventory of glaciers in isla Riesco, Patagonia, Chile, based on aerial photography and satellite imagery
Título según SCOPUS: Inventory of glaciers in isla Riesco, Patagonia, Chile, based on aerial photography and satellite imagery
Título de la Revista: ANNALS OF GLACIOLOGY
Volumen: 34
Editorial: CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
Fecha de publicación: 2002
Página de inicio: 373
Página final: 378
Idioma: English
URL: http://openurl.ingenta.com/content/xref?genre=article&issn=0260-3055&volume=34&issue=1&spage=373
DOI:

10.3189/172756402781817671

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS