 {"id":14398,"date":"2020-03-26T15:14:36","date_gmt":"2020-03-26T18:14:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/?page_id=14398"},"modified":"2024-05-31T21:09:47","modified_gmt":"2024-06-01T00:09:47","slug":"where-can-we-find-glaciers-in-chile","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/where-can-we-find-glaciers-in-chile\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00bfWhere can we find glaciers in Chile?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; title_text=&#8221;IMG_0771&#8243; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/glaciareschilenoss3.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/08094212\/IMG_0771.png&#8221; background_enable_mask_style=&#8221;on&#8221; background_mask_style=&#8221;chevrons&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; disabled_on=&#8221;on|off|off&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/faq\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;PREGUNTAS GLACIARES&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; button_use_icon=&#8221;off&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_enable_color=&#8221;on&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221;][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;4_4&#8243;][et_pb_heading title=&#8221;Where can we find glaciers in Chile?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_font=&#8221;Montserrat|700|||||||&#8221; title_text_color=&#8221;#424242&#8243; title_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; title_font_size=&#8221;35px&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243;][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Montserrat||||||||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;17px|17px|17px|17px|true|true&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|20px|20px|20px|20px&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>The majority of glaciers in Chile (and South America) are located in Patagonia. Normally when Chilean glaciers are mentioned, one thinks of the expansive South Patagonian Icefield (which the third largest single ice mass after Antarctic and Greenland). However, the story is much more interesting than that. Glacier existence is controlled by temperature and snowfall and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/que-es-un-glaciar\">balance of the two<\/a>, and thus their presence, is limited by both latitude (distance from the equator) and altitude (height above the level of the sea) (Figure 1). Luckily, the amazing landscape of Chile supports both high altitude and high latitude glaciers <sup>1<\/sup>. While ~86% of Chile\u2019s glaciers (and ~94% of the total ice area) are found south of Puerto Montt, the rest (albeit smaller) exist in the mountains and sides of volcanoes all the way from lago Llanquehue to Parinacota. Naturally, these glaciers experience different climatic and local conditions, and as such, persist in different ways (read more about glacier types in Chile <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/que-tipos-de-glaciares-existen-en-chile\">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243;][et_pb_blurb title=&#8221;Figure 1&#8243; image=&#8221;https:\/\/glaciareschilenoss3.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/24173146\/3.GEOdist_GC.png&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_text=&#8221;3.GEOdist_GC&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; header_font=&#8221;Montserrat||||||||&#8221; body_font=&#8221;Montserrat||||||||&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;17px|17px|17px|17px|true|true&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|20px|20px|20px|20px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><em>The geographical distribution of glaciers in Chile as shown by latitude vs elevation. Crosses represent each individual glacier. Data source: Randolph Glacier Inventory V.6. Figure source: Thomas Shaw.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243;][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;17px|17px|17px|17px|true|true&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|20px|20px|20px|20px&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Montserrat||||||||&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>The glaciers of central and northern Chile are found at high altitudes of generally &gt;3,000 metres above sea level (m a.s.l.), and more commonly &gt;4,000 m a.s.l. (Figure 1). This is because of the high temperatures that occur every year at low elevations in these regions (for example, Santiago summer is typically ~30 \u00baC daily). At very high elevations, average air temperatures are low because of the lower air pressure. This sustains higher proportions of solid precipitation (snow) and melts less ice, giving a healthy mass balance!<\/p>\n<p>Conversely in Patagonia and the south of Chile, large glaciers can exist at much lower elevations and often make contact with fjords and the ocean (i.e. 0 m a.s.l.). This is because the temperatures are much lower on average, it snows a lot more, and the sky is often cloudy and so there is less energy from the sun.<\/p>\n<p>As a result of these very different climatic conditions <sup>2<\/sup>, only ~0.5% of Chilean glacier ice exists north of Coquimbo (Figure 2). This represents around 249 of the ~11,151 (*) total estimated individual glaciers of this very long country (following the most updated <i>global<\/i> inventory <sup>3<\/sup>). However, the specifics of the survival of these glaciers is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/cual-es-el-estado-actual-de-los-glaciares-chilenos\">another story<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#ace5d3&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Montserrat||||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;17px|17px|17px|17px|true|true&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|20px|20px|20px|20px&#8221; border_width_all=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_style_all=&#8221;dashed&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>(*) As mentioned above, the information about the total estimated individual glaciers (11,151) is according to the most updated <strong>global<\/strong> inventory <sup>3<\/sup>. Following a <strong>chilean<\/strong> based study <sup>4<\/sup>, this quantity is around 24,000. The last could be over-estimated, but it is most probably that 11,151: might it be between 19,000 &#8211; 20,000 glaciers.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; type=&#8221;1_2&#8243;][et_pb_blurb title=&#8221;Figure 2&#8243; image=&#8221;https:\/\/glaciareschilenoss3.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/24173428\/3.Glaciares_Loc_anot-1.png&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; title_text=&#8221;3.Glaciares_Loc_anot&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; image_icon_width=&#8221;50%&#8221; header_font=&#8221;Montserrat||||||||&#8221; body_font=&#8221;Montserrat||||||||&#8221; body_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;17px|17px|17px|17px|true|true&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|20px|20px|20px|20px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><em>Map of Chilean basins and location of glaciers (blue). Estimates of glacier quantities (and % of total) and total areas (plus % of total) are given per 10 degree latitude band. Santiago is shown in red and the inset box shows the Regi\u00f3n Metropolitana. Data source: Randolph Glacier Inventory V.6. Figure source: Thomas Shaw.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|35px||35px|false|true&#8221; border_radii=&#8221;on|20px|20px|20px|20px&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Montserrat||||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;12px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.6em&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h6><strong>Cited information:<\/strong><\/h6>\n<blockquote>\n<p><sup>1 <\/sup>Pellicciotti, F., Ragettli, S., Carenzo, M., &amp; McPhee, J. (2014). Changes of glaciers in the Andes of Chile and priorities for future work. The Science of the Total Environment, 493C(2014), 1197\u20131210. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.10.055\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.10.055<\/a><br \/><sup>2 <\/sup>Garreaud, R. D. (2009). The Andes climate and weather. Advances in Geosciences, 7, 1\u20139.<br \/><sup>3<\/sup> Pfeffer, W. T., Arendt, A. A., Bliss, A., Bolch, T., Cogley, J. G., Gardner, A. S., \u2026 The Randolph Consortium, I. (2014). The Randolph Glacier Inventory : a globally complete inventory of glaciers. Journal of Glaciology, 60(221), 537\u2013552. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3189\/2014JoG13J176\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3189\/2014JoG13J176<\/a><br \/><sup>4<\/sup> Barcaza, G., Nussbaumer, S. U., Tapia, G., Vald\u00e9s, J., Garc\u00eda, J., Videla, Y., \u2026 Arias, V. (2017). Glacier inventory and recent glacier variations in the Andes of Chile, South America. Annals of Glaciology, 58, 166\u2013180. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28&amp;sa=D&amp;ust=1586774887166000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGn5xQ0V4Vn68Fm_4g-wzz2eLNoRA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-rawhref=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Written by Thomas Shaw.<\/em><br \/><em>Edited by Equipo Glaciar.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/faq\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;PREGUNTAS GLACIARES&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.3&#8243; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; button_use_icon=&#8221;off&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_enable_color=&#8221;on&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;off|on|on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/faq\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;PREGUNTAS GLACIARES&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; button_use_icon=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Where can we find glaciers in Chile?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The majority of glaciers in Chile (and South America) are located in Patagonia. Normally when Chilean glaciers are mentioned, one thinks of the expansive South Patagonian Icefield (which the third largest single ice mass after Antarctic and Greenland). However, the story is much more interesting than that. Glacier existence is controlled by temperature and snowfall and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/que-es-un-glaciar\">balance of the two<\/a>, and thus their presence, is limited by both latitude (distance from the equator) and altitude (height above the level of the sea) (Figure 1). Luckily, the amazing landscape of Chile supports both high altitude and high latitude glaciers <sup>1<\/sup>. While ~86% of Chile\u2019s glaciers (and ~94% of the total ice area) are found south of Puerto Montt, the rest (albeit smaller) exist in the mountains and sides of volcanoes all the way from lago Llanquehue to Parinacota. Naturally, these glaciers experience different climatic and local conditions, and as such, persist in different ways (read more about glacier types in Chile <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/que-tipos-de-glaciares-existen-en-chile\">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>The glaciers of central and northern Chile are found at high altitudes of generally &gt;3,000 metres above sea level (m a.s.l.), and more commonly &gt;4,000 m a.s.l. (Figure 1). This is because of the high temperatures that occur every year at low elevations in these regions (for example, Santiago summer is typically ~30 \u00baC daily). At very high elevations, average air temperatures are low because of the lower air pressure. This sustains higher proportions of solid precipitation (snow) and melts less ice, giving a healthy mass balance!<\/p>\n<p>Conversely in Patagonia and the south of Chile, large glaciers can exist at much lower elevations and often make contact with fjords and the ocean (i.e. 0 m a.s.l.). This is because the temperatures are much lower on average, it snows a lot more, and the sky is often cloudy and so there is less energy from the sun.<\/p>\n<p>As a result of these very different climatic conditions <sup>2<\/sup>, only ~0.5% of Chilean glacier ice exists north of Coquimbo (Figure 2). This represents around 249 of the ~11,151 (*) total estimated individual glaciers of this very long country (following the most updated <i>global<\/i> inventory <sup>3<\/sup>). However, the specifics of the survival of these glaciers is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/cual-es-el-estado-actual-de-los-glaciares-chilenos\">another story<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3203\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3203\" class=\"wp-image-3203\" src=\"https:\/\/glaciareschilenoss3.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/27222056\/3.GEOdist_GC.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"316\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3203\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Figure 1. The geographical distribution of glaciers in Chile as shown by latitude vs elevation. Crosses represent each individual glacier. Data source: Randolph Glacier Inventory V.6. Figure source: Thomas Shaw.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4081\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4081\" class=\"wp-image-4081\" src=\"https:\/\/glaciareschilenoss3.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/28022136\/3.Glaciares_Loc_anot.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"800\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4081\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Figure 2. Map of Chilean basins and location of glaciers (blue). Estimates of glacier quantities (and % of total) and total areas (plus % of total) are given per 10 degree latitude band. Santiago is shown in red and the inset box shows the Regi\u00f3n Metropolitana. Data source: Randolph Glacier Inventory V.6. Figure source: Thomas Shaw.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>(*) As mentioned above, the information about the total estimated individual glaciers (11,151) is according to the most updated <strong>global<\/strong> inventory <sup>3<\/sup>. Following a <strong>chilean<\/strong> based study <sup>4<\/sup>, this quantity is around 24,000. The last could be over-estimated, but it is most probably that 11,151: might it be between 19,000 &#8211; 20,000 glaciers.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Cited information:<\/p>\n<p><sup>1 <\/sup>Pellicciotti, F., Ragettli, S., Carenzo, M., &amp; McPhee, J. (2014). Changes of glaciers in the Andes of Chile and priorities for future work. The Science of the Total Environment, 493C(2014), 1197\u20131210. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.10.055\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.10.055<\/a><br \/><sup>2 <\/sup>Garreaud, R. D. (2009). The Andes climate and weather. Advances in Geosciences, 7, 1\u20139.<br \/><sup>3<\/sup> Pfeffer, W. T., Arendt, A. A., Bliss, A., Bolch, T., Cogley, J. G., Gardner, A. S., \u2026 The Randolph Consortium, I. (2014). The Randolph Glacier Inventory : a globally complete inventory of glaciers. Journal of Glaciology, 60(221), 537\u2013552. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3189\/2014JoG13J176\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3189\/2014JoG13J176<\/a><br \/><sup>4<\/sup> Barcaza, G., Nussbaumer, S. U., Tapia, G., Vald\u00e9s, J., Garc\u00eda, J., Videla, Y., \u2026 Arias, V. (2017). Glacier inventory and recent glacier variations in the Andes of Chile, South America. Annals of Glaciology, 58, 166\u2013180. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28&amp;sa=D&amp;ust=1586774887166000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGn5xQ0V4Vn68Fm_4g-wzz2eLNoRA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-rawhref=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Written by Thomas Shaw.<\/em><br \/><em>Edited by Equipo Glaciar.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/faq\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;PREGUNTAS GLACIARES&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; button_use_icon=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The majority of glaciers in Chile (and South America) are located in Patagonia. Normally when Chilean glaciers are mentioned, one thinks of the expansive South Patagonian Icefield (which the third largest single ice mass after Antarctic and Greenland). However, the story is much more interesting than that. Glacier existence is controlled by temperature and snowfall [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAow57LVCw:productID":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"3.26.3\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_3,1_3,1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.4.2\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.4.2\"][et_pb_button button_url=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/cuantos-glaciares-hay-en-chile\/\" button_text=\"Anterior\" button_alignment=\"left\" _builder_version=\"4.7.0\" custom_button=\"on\" button_text_size=\"12px\" button_border_width=\"2px\" button_icon=\"%%23%%\" button_icon_color=\"#ffffff\" button_icon_placement=\"left\" button_on_hover=\"off\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.4.2\"][et_pb_button button_url=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/faq\/\" button_text=\"PREGUNTAS GLACIARES\" button_alignment=\"center\" _builder_version=\"4.7.0\" custom_button=\"on\" button_text_size=\"20px\" button_font=\"|700|||||||\" button_use_icon=\"off\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.4.2\"][et_pb_button button_url=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/que-tipos-de-glaciares-existen-en-chile\/\" button_text=\"Siguiente\" button_alignment=\"right\" _builder_version=\"4.4.3\" custom_button=\"on\" button_text_size=\"12px\" button_border_width=\"2px\" button_icon=\"%%24%%\" button_icon_color=\"#ffffff\" button_icon_placement=\"left\" button_on_hover=\"off\"][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"3.26.3\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"3.26.3\"][et_pb_tabs _builder_version=\"4.4.3\"][et_pb_tab title=\"Espa\u00f1ol\" _builder_version=\"4.4.3\"]<\/p><h2><strong>\u00bfD\u00f3nde podemos encontrar glaciares en Chile?<\/strong><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>La mayor\u00eda de los glaciares en Chile (y Sudam\u00e9rica) est\u00e1n ubicados en la Patagonia. Normalmente, cuando se mencionan los glaciares chilenos, se piensa en los campos de hielo (que es la tercera masa de hielo m\u00e1s grande del mundo despu\u00e9s de la Ant\u00e1rtica y Groenlandia). Sin embargo, la historia es mucho m\u00e1s interesante que eso. La existencia de un glaciar est\u00e1 controlada por la temperatura, las nevadas y el <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/que-es-un-glaciar\">equilibrio<\/a>. Por lo tanto, su presencia est\u00e1 limitada por la latitud (distancia desde el Ecuador) y la altitud (altura sobre el nivel del mar) (Figura 1). Afortunadamente, el incre\u00edble paisaje de Chile soporta glaciares de gran altitud y de alta latitud <sup>1<\/sup>. Mientras que el ~86% de los glaciares (y 94% del \u00e1rea de hielo) de Chile se encuentran al sur de Puerto Montt, el resto (aunque m\u00e1s peque\u00f1o) existe en las monta\u00f1as y pr\u00f3ximos a los volcanes que se extienden desde el Lago Llanquihue hasta Parinacota. Naturalmente, estos glaciares experimentan diferentes condiciones clim\u00e1ticas y locales, y como tales, persisten de diferentes maneras (lea m\u00e1s sobre los tipos de glaciares en Chile <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/que-tipos-de-glaciares-existen-en-chile\">aqu\u00ed<\/a>).<\/p><p>Los glaciares del centro y norte de Chile se encuentran en altitudes elevadas de generalmente m\u00e1s de 3.000 metros sobre el nivel del mar (m s.n.m.), y m\u00e1s com\u00fanmente sobre 4.000 m s.n.m. Esto se debe a las altas temperaturas que ocurren cada a\u00f1o en las bajas altitudes de estas regiones (por ejemplo, el verano en Santiago suele ser de ~30 \u00b0C por d\u00eda). En elevaciones muy altas, la temperatura promedio del aire es baja debido a la menor presi\u00f3n del aire. \u00a1Esto sostiene proporciones m\u00e1s altas de precipitaci\u00f3n s\u00f3lida (nieve) y derrite menos hielo, dando como resultado un balance de masa saludable!<\/p><p>A la inversa, en la Patagonia y el sur de Chile, los glaciares grandes pueden existir en elevaciones mucho m\u00e1s bajas y, a menudo, hacen contacto con los fiordos y el oc\u00e9ano (es decir, 0 m s.n.m.). Esto se debe a que las temperaturas son mucho m\u00e1s bajas en promedio, nieva mucho m\u00e1s y el cielo suele estar nublado con lo que hay menos energ\u00eda del sol.<\/p><p>Como resultado de estas condiciones clim\u00e1ticas muy diferentes <sup>2<\/sup>, solo ~0,5% del hielo de los glaciares chilenos existe al norte de Coquimbo (Figura 2). Esto representa una cantidad de alrededor de 249 del total de ~11.151 (*) glaciares individuales estimados en este pa\u00eds tan largo (seg\u00fan el inventario <em>global<\/em> m\u00e1s actualizado <sup>3<\/sup>). Sin embargo, los detalles espec\u00edficos de la supervivencia de estos glaciares es <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/cual-es-el-estado-actual-de-los-glaciares-chilenos\">otra historia<\/a>.<\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_3203\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"400\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3203\" src=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/3.GEOdist_GC-1024x809.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"316\" \/> <em>Figura 1. La distribuci\u00f3n geogr\u00e1fica de los glaciares en Chile, como se muestra por latitud y elevaci\u00f3n. Las cruces representan cada glaciar individual. Fuente de datos: Randolph Glacier Inventory V.6. Fuente de la figura: Thomas Shaw.<\/em>[\/caption]<p>\u00a0<\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_4081\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"350\"]<img class=\"wp-image-4081\" src=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/3.Glaciares_Loc_anot-448x1024.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"800\" \/> <em>Figura 2. Mapa de cuencas chilenas y ubicaci\u00f3n de glaciares (azul). Las estimaciones de las cantidades de glaciares (y el % del total) y las \u00e1reas totales (m\u00e1s el % del total) se dan por banda de latitud de 10 grados. Santiago se muestra en rojo y el recuadro muestra la Regi\u00f3n Metropolitana. Fuente de datos: Randolph Glacier Inventory V.6. Fuente de la figura: Thomas Shaw.<\/em>[\/caption]<p>\u00a0<\/p><p><em>(*) Como se mencion\u00f3 anteriormente, la informaci\u00f3n sobre la estimaci\u00f3n total de glaciares individuales (11.151) es acorde al inventario <strong>global<\/strong> m\u00e1s actualizado <sup>3<\/sup>. Seg\u00fan un estudio <strong>chileno<\/strong> <sup>4<\/sup>, esta cantidad es alrededor de 24.000. Esta \u00faltima podr\u00eda estar sobre estimada, pero es m\u00e1s probable que 11.151: podr\u00eda ser entre 19.000 - 20.000 glaciares.<\/em><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Informaci\u00f3n citada:<\/p><p><sup>1 <\/sup>Pellicciotti, F., Ragettli, S., Carenzo, M., & McPhee, J. (2014). Changes of glaciers in the Andes of Chile and priorities for future work. The Science of the Total Environment, 493C(2014), 1197\u20131210. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.10.055\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.10.055<\/a><br \/><sup>2 <\/sup>Garreaud, R. D. (2009). The Andes climate and weather. Advances in Geosciences, 7, 1\u20139.<br \/><sup>3<\/sup> Pfeffer, W. T., Arendt, A. A., Bliss, A., Bolch, T., Cogley, J. G., Gardner, A. S., \u2026 The Randolph Consortium, I. (2014). The Randolph Glacier Inventory : a globally complete inventory of glaciers. Journal of Glaciology, 60(221), 537\u2013552. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3189\/2014JoG13J176\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3189\/2014JoG13J176<\/a><br \/><sup>4<\/sup> Barcaza, G., Nussbaumer, S. U., Tapia, G., Vald\u00e9s, J., Garc\u00eda, J., Videla, Y., \u2026 Arias, V. (2017). Glacier inventory and recent glacier variations in the Andes of Chile, South America. Annals of Glaciology, 58, 166\u2013180. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28&sa=D&ust=1586774887166000&usg=AFQjCNGn5xQ0V4Vn68Fm_4g-wzz2eLNoRA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-rawhref=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28<\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Escrito por Thomas Shaw.<\/em><br \/><em>Editado por Equipo Glaciar.<\/em><\/p><p>[\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=\"English\" _builder_version=\"4.4.3\"]<\/p><h2><b>Where can we find glaciers in Chile?<\/b><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>The majority of glaciers in Chile (and South America) are located in Patagonia. Normally when Chilean glaciers are mentioned, one thinks of the expansive South Patagonian Icefield (which the third largest single ice mass after Antarctic and Greenland). However, the story is much more interesting than that. Glacier existence is controlled by temperature and snowfall and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/que-es-un-glaciar\">balance of the two<\/a>, and thus their presence, is limited by both latitude (distance from the equator) and altitude (height above the level of the sea) (Figure 1). Luckily, the amazing landscape of Chile supports both high altitude and high latitude glaciers <sup>1<\/sup>. While ~86% of Chile\u2019s glaciers (and ~94% of the total ice area) are found south of Puerto Montt, the rest (albeit smaller) exist in the mountains and sides of volcanoes all the way from lago Llanquehue to Parinacota. Naturally, these glaciers experience different climatic and local conditions, and as such, persist in different ways (read more about glacier types in Chile <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/que-tipos-de-glaciares-existen-en-chile\">here<\/a>).<\/p><p>The glaciers of central and northern Chile are found at high altitudes of generally >3,000 metres above sea level (m a.s.l.), and more commonly >4,000 m a.s.l. (Figure 1). This is because of the high temperatures that occur every year at low elevations in these regions (for example, Santiago summer is typically ~30 \u00baC daily). At very high elevations, average air temperatures are low because of the lower air pressure. This sustains higher proportions of solid precipitation (snow) and melts less ice, giving a healthy mass balance!<\/p><p>Conversely in Patagonia and the south of Chile, large glaciers can exist at much lower elevations and often make contact with fjords and the ocean (i.e. 0 m a.s.l.). This is because the temperatures are much lower on average, it snows a lot more, and the sky is often cloudy and so there is less energy from the sun.<\/p><p>As a result of these very different climatic conditions <sup>2<\/sup>, only ~0.5% of Chilean glacier ice exists north of Coquimbo (Figure 2). This represents around 249 of the ~11,151 (*) total estimated individual glaciers of this very long country (following the most updated <i>global<\/i> inventory <sup>3<\/sup>). However, the specifics of the survival of these glaciers is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/cual-es-el-estado-actual-de-los-glaciares-chilenos\">another story<\/a>.<\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_3203\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"400\"]<img class=\"wp-image-3203\" src=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/3.GEOdist_GC-1024x809.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"316\" \/> <em>Figure 1. The geographical distribution of glaciers in Chile as shown by latitude vs elevation. Crosses represent each individual glacier. Data source: Randolph Glacier Inventory V.6. Figure source: Thomas Shaw.<\/em>[\/caption]<p>\u00a0<\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_4081\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"350\"]<img class=\"wp-image-4081\" src=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/3.Glaciares_Loc_anot-448x1024.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"800\" \/> <em>Figure 2. Map of Chilean basins and location of glaciers (blue). Estimates of glacier quantities (and % of total) and total areas (plus % of total) are given per 10 degree latitude band. Santiago is shown in red and the inset box shows the Regi\u00f3n Metropolitana. Data source: Randolph Glacier Inventory V.6. Figure source: Thomas Shaw.<\/em>[\/caption]<p>\u00a0<\/p><p><em>(*) As mentioned above, the information about the total estimated individual glaciers (11,151) is according to the most updated <strong>global<\/strong> inventory <sup>3<\/sup>. Following a <strong>chilean<\/strong> based study <sup>4<\/sup>, this quantity is around 24,000. The last could be over-estimated, but it is most probably that 11,151: might it be between 19,000 - 20,000 glaciers.<\/em><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Cited information:<\/p><p><sup>1 <\/sup>Pellicciotti, F., Ragettli, S., Carenzo, M., & McPhee, J. (2014). Changes of glaciers in the Andes of Chile and priorities for future work. The Science of the Total Environment, 493C(2014), 1197\u20131210. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.10.055\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.10.055<\/a><br \/><sup>2 <\/sup>Garreaud, R. D. (2009). The Andes climate and weather. Advances in Geosciences, 7, 1\u20139.<br \/><sup>3<\/sup> Pfeffer, W. T., Arendt, A. A., Bliss, A., Bolch, T., Cogley, J. G., Gardner, A. S., \u2026 The Randolph Consortium, I. (2014). The Randolph Glacier Inventory : a globally complete inventory of glaciers. Journal of Glaciology, 60(221), 537\u2013552. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3189\/2014JoG13J176\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3189\/2014JoG13J176<\/a><br \/><sup>4<\/sup> Barcaza, G., Nussbaumer, S. U., Tapia, G., Vald\u00e9s, J., Garc\u00eda, J., Videla, Y., \u2026 Arias, V. (2017). Glacier inventory and recent glacier variations in the Andes of Chile, South America. Annals of Glaciology, 58, 166\u2013180. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28&sa=D&ust=1586774887166000&usg=AFQjCNGn5xQ0V4Vn68Fm_4g-wzz2eLNoRA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-rawhref=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/aog.2017.28<\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p style=\"text-align: right;\"><em>Written by Thomas Shaw.<\/em><br \/><em>Edited by Equipo Glaciar.<\/em><\/p><p>[\/et_pb_tab][\/et_pb_tabs][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_3,1_3,1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.4.2\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.4.2\"][et_pb_button button_url=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/cuantos-glaciares-hay-en-chile\/\" button_text=\"Anterior\" button_alignment=\"left\" _builder_version=\"4.7.0\" custom_button=\"on\" button_text_size=\"12px\" button_border_width=\"2px\" button_icon=\"%%23%%\" button_icon_color=\"#ffffff\" button_icon_placement=\"left\" button_on_hover=\"off\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.4.2\"][et_pb_button button_url=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/faq\/\" button_text=\"PREGUNTAS GLACIARES\" button_alignment=\"center\" _builder_version=\"4.7.0\" custom_button=\"on\" button_text_size=\"20px\" button_font=\"|700|||||||\" button_use_icon=\"off\" hover_enabled=\"0\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.4.2\"][et_pb_button button_url=\"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/que-tipos-de-glaciares-existen-en-chile\/\" button_text=\"Siguiente\" button_alignment=\"right\" _builder_version=\"4.4.3\" custom_button=\"on\" button_text_size=\"12px\" button_border_width=\"2px\" button_icon=\"%%24%%\" button_icon_color=\"#ffffff\" button_icon_placement=\"left\" button_on_hover=\"off\"][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"coauthors":[3335],"class_list":["post-14398","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14398"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16523,"href":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14398\/revisions\/16523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=14398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}