El Niño Enchances Snowline Rise and Ice Loss on the World's Largest Tropical Ice Cap
Loading...
Date
2024-03
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
EGUsphere
Abstract
Tropical glaciers are essential water resources in the central Andes as vital water resources and crucial climate indicators, currently undergoing rapid retreat. However, understanding their vulnerability to the combined effects of persistent warming, short-term climate phenomena, and interannual fluctuations remains limited. Here we automate mapping of key mass balance parameters on the Quelccaya Ice Cap (QIC), the world’s largest tropical ice cap. Using Landsat's near-infrared (NIR) band, we analyze snow cover area (SCA) and total area (TA) and calculate the Accumulation Area Ratio (AAR) and Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) over nearly 40 years (1985-2023). Between 1985 and 2022, the QIC lost ~46% and ~34% of its SCA and TA, respectively. We show that the QIC’s loss in SCA and rise in ELA are exacerbated by El Niño events, which are strongly correlated to the preceding wet season’s Ocean Niño Index (ONI). We observe lower levels of correlation to more recent El Niño events as anthropogenic climatic impacts overwhelm the natural forcing and continue to exacerbate loss at the QIC.
Description
Mathematical and Physical Sciences: 1st Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes
Advanced Research Forum)
Keywords
Climate Change, Remote Sensing, El Niño, Tropical Glaciers, Ice Loss
Citation
Lamantia, K. A., Larocca, L. J., Thompson, L. G., and Mark, B. G.: El Niño Enhances Snowline Rise and Ice Loss on the World's Largest Tropical Ice Cap, EGUsphere [preprint], 2024. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-676