Université de Fribourg

Anthropogenic climate change and glacier lake outburst flood risk: local and global drivers and responsibilities for the case of lake Palcacocha, Peru

Huggel, Christian ; Carey, Mark ; Emmer, Adam ; Frey, Holger ; Walker-Crawford, Noah ; Wallimann-Helmer, Ivo

In: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 2020, vol. 20, no. 8, p. 2175–2193

Evidence of observed negative impacts on natural and human systems from anthropogenic climate change is increasing. However, human systems in particular are dynamic and influenced by multiple drivers and hence identifying an anthropogenic climate signal is challenging. Here we analyze the case of lake Palcacocha in the Andes of Peru, which offers a representative model for other glacier lakes...

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...