Net accumulation rates derived from ice core stable isotope records of Pío XI glacier, Southern Patagonia Icefield

Pío XI, the largest glacier of the Southern Patagonia Icefield, reached its neoglacial maximum extent in 1994 and is one of the few glaciers in that area which is not retreating. In view of the recent warming it is important to understand glacier responses to climate changes. Due to its remoteness a...

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Main Authors: M. Schwikowski, M. Schläppi, P. Santibañez, A. Rivera, G. Casassa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2013-10-01
Series:The Cryosphere
Online Access:http://www.the-cryosphere.net/7/1635/2013/tc-7-1635-2013.pdf
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author M. Schwikowski
M. Schläppi
P. Santibañez
A. Rivera
G. Casassa
author_facet M. Schwikowski
M. Schläppi
P. Santibañez
A. Rivera
G. Casassa
author_sort M. Schwikowski
collection DOAJ
description Pío XI, the largest glacier of the Southern Patagonia Icefield, reached its neoglacial maximum extent in 1994 and is one of the few glaciers in that area which is not retreating. In view of the recent warming it is important to understand glacier responses to climate changes. Due to its remoteness and the harsh conditions in Patagonia, no systematic mass balance studies have been performed. In this study we derived net accumulation rates for the period 2000–2006 from a 50 m (33.2 4 m weq) ice core collected in the accumulation area of Pío XI (2600 m a.s.l., 49°16'40"S, 73°21'14"W). Borehole temperatures indicate near temperate ice, but the average melt percent is only 16 ± 14%. Records of stable isotopes are well preserved and were used for identification of annual layers. Net accumulation rates range from 3.4–7.1 water equivalent (m weq) with an average of 5.8 m weq, comparable to precipitation amounts at the Chilean coast, but not as high as expected for the Icefield. Ice core stable isotope data correlate well with upper air temperatures and may be used as temperature proxy.
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spelling doaj.art-7af105fd2d32454c83e6dd169518ee4f2022-12-22T03:46:40ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242013-10-01751635164410.5194/tc-7-1635-2013Net accumulation rates derived from ice core stable isotope records of Pío XI glacier, Southern Patagonia IcefieldM. SchwikowskiM. SchläppiP. SantibañezA. RiveraG. CasassaPío XI, the largest glacier of the Southern Patagonia Icefield, reached its neoglacial maximum extent in 1994 and is one of the few glaciers in that area which is not retreating. In view of the recent warming it is important to understand glacier responses to climate changes. Due to its remoteness and the harsh conditions in Patagonia, no systematic mass balance studies have been performed. In this study we derived net accumulation rates for the period 2000–2006 from a 50 m (33.2 4 m weq) ice core collected in the accumulation area of Pío XI (2600 m a.s.l., 49°16'40"S, 73°21'14"W). Borehole temperatures indicate near temperate ice, but the average melt percent is only 16 ± 14%. Records of stable isotopes are well preserved and were used for identification of annual layers. Net accumulation rates range from 3.4–7.1 water equivalent (m weq) with an average of 5.8 m weq, comparable to precipitation amounts at the Chilean coast, but not as high as expected for the Icefield. Ice core stable isotope data correlate well with upper air temperatures and may be used as temperature proxy.http://www.the-cryosphere.net/7/1635/2013/tc-7-1635-2013.pdf
spellingShingle M. Schwikowski
M. Schläppi
P. Santibañez
A. Rivera
G. Casassa
Net accumulation rates derived from ice core stable isotope records of Pío XI glacier, Southern Patagonia Icefield
The Cryosphere
title Net accumulation rates derived from ice core stable isotope records of Pío XI glacier, Southern Patagonia Icefield
title_full Net accumulation rates derived from ice core stable isotope records of Pío XI glacier, Southern Patagonia Icefield
title_fullStr Net accumulation rates derived from ice core stable isotope records of Pío XI glacier, Southern Patagonia Icefield
title_full_unstemmed Net accumulation rates derived from ice core stable isotope records of Pío XI glacier, Southern Patagonia Icefield
title_short Net accumulation rates derived from ice core stable isotope records of Pío XI glacier, Southern Patagonia Icefield
title_sort net accumulation rates derived from ice core stable isotope records of pio xi glacier southern patagonia icefield
url http://www.the-cryosphere.net/7/1635/2013/tc-7-1635-2013.pdf
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