Université de Fribourg

Rapid decline of snow and ice in the tropical Andes – Impacts, uncertainties and challenges ahead

Vuille, Mathias ; Carey, Mark ; Huggel, Christian ; Buytaert, Wouter ; Rabatel, Antoine ; Jacobsen, Dean ; Soruco, Alvaro ; Villacis, Marcos ; Yarleque, Christian ; Timm, Oliver Elison ; Condom, Thomas ; Salzmann, Nadine ; Sicart, Jean-Emmanuel

In: Earth-Science Reviews, 2018, vol. 176, p. 195–213

Glaciers in the tropical Andes have been retreating for the past several decades, leading to a temporary increase in dry season water supply downstream. Projected future glacier shrinkage, however, will lead to a long-term reduction in dry season river discharge from glacierized catchments. This glacier retreat is closely related to the observed increase in high-elevation, surface air...