Permafrost and active layer characteristics in the high arid Andes between the Altiplano and high Atacama Desert
The thermal and hydrological regime of permafrost in the arid Andes is unique due to the combination of extreme aridity, high solar radiation, and significant diurnal temperature fluctuations. Drilling at Chachani (6,057 m.a.s.l.), Aucanquilcha (6,176 m.a.s.l.), Chajnantor (5,640 m.a.s.l.), and Ojos...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2025.2532202 |
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| author | Kenji Yoshikawa Gino Casassa Guillermo Azócar Pablo Iribarren Anacona Pablo Masías Takashi Miyata Nori Takahashi Norbert Schorghofer Edson Ramirez Bolívar Cáceres Correa |
| author_facet | Kenji Yoshikawa Gino Casassa Guillermo Azócar Pablo Iribarren Anacona Pablo Masías Takashi Miyata Nori Takahashi Norbert Schorghofer Edson Ramirez Bolívar Cáceres Correa |
| author_sort | Kenji Yoshikawa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The thermal and hydrological regime of permafrost in the arid Andes is unique due to the combination of extreme aridity, high solar radiation, and significant diurnal temperature fluctuations. Drilling at Chachani (6,057 m.a.s.l.), Aucanquilcha (6,176 m.a.s.l.), Chajnantor (5,640 m.a.s.l.), and Ojos del Salado (6,893 m.a.s.l.) volcanoes revealed both dry permafrost and ice-rich permafrost in one of the driest areas on Earth. We monitored solar radiations and ground temperature conditions at twenty-four sites on eleven mountains between 1° and 33° S. At elevations above 5,800 m, the active layer is about 10 to 30 cm thick and is controlled by diurnal fluctuations. Near the lower limit of mountain permafrost (LLMP), the thermal offset is positive and ice-rich terrains are found that are associated with moisture percolating from penitentes. Above 6,400 m, the surface energy balance is dominated by sublimation and dry permafrost was found. Near LLMP elevation, snow ablation was dominated by melting during summer, and ice-rich permafrost was present. We found that the type of snow ablation varies with elevation and affects the thermal properties of the permafrost in the arid Andes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5b3aa60ed88f43cd812fa806fa8b4d1f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1523-0430 1938-4246 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-5b3aa60ed88f43cd812fa806fa8b4d1f2025-08-20T13:52:50ZengTaylor & Francis GroupArctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research1523-04301938-42462025-12-0157110.1080/15230430.2025.2532202Permafrost and active layer characteristics in the high arid Andes between the Altiplano and high Atacama DesertKenji Yoshikawa0Gino Casassa1Guillermo Azócar2Pablo Iribarren Anacona3Pablo Masías4Takashi Miyata5Nori Takahashi6Norbert Schorghofer7Edson Ramirez8Bolívar Cáceres Correa9Water and Environmental Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska, United StatesInstituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, ChileAtacama Environment, Santiago, ChileUniversidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, ChileINGEMMET, Arequipa, PeruInstitute of Astronomy, University of Tokyo, Mitaka Tokyo, JapanInstitute of Astronomy, University of Tokyo, Mitaka Tokyo, JapanPlanetary Science Institute, Honolulu, Hawaii, United StatesInstituto de Hidráulica e Hidrología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, BoliviaInstituto Nacional de Meterología e Hidrología, Quito, EcuadorThe thermal and hydrological regime of permafrost in the arid Andes is unique due to the combination of extreme aridity, high solar radiation, and significant diurnal temperature fluctuations. Drilling at Chachani (6,057 m.a.s.l.), Aucanquilcha (6,176 m.a.s.l.), Chajnantor (5,640 m.a.s.l.), and Ojos del Salado (6,893 m.a.s.l.) volcanoes revealed both dry permafrost and ice-rich permafrost in one of the driest areas on Earth. We monitored solar radiations and ground temperature conditions at twenty-four sites on eleven mountains between 1° and 33° S. At elevations above 5,800 m, the active layer is about 10 to 30 cm thick and is controlled by diurnal fluctuations. Near the lower limit of mountain permafrost (LLMP), the thermal offset is positive and ice-rich terrains are found that are associated with moisture percolating from penitentes. Above 6,400 m, the surface energy balance is dominated by sublimation and dry permafrost was found. Near LLMP elevation, snow ablation was dominated by melting during summer, and ice-rich permafrost was present. We found that the type of snow ablation varies with elevation and affects the thermal properties of the permafrost in the arid Andes.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2025.2532202Dry permafrosttropical mountain permafrostdiurnal active layerthermal offsethigh Atacama Desertsublimation |
| spellingShingle | Kenji Yoshikawa Gino Casassa Guillermo Azócar Pablo Iribarren Anacona Pablo Masías Takashi Miyata Nori Takahashi Norbert Schorghofer Edson Ramirez Bolívar Cáceres Correa Permafrost and active layer characteristics in the high arid Andes between the Altiplano and high Atacama Desert Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research Dry permafrost tropical mountain permafrost diurnal active layer thermal offset high Atacama Desert sublimation |
| title | Permafrost and active layer characteristics in the high arid Andes between the Altiplano and high Atacama Desert |
| title_full | Permafrost and active layer characteristics in the high arid Andes between the Altiplano and high Atacama Desert |
| title_fullStr | Permafrost and active layer characteristics in the high arid Andes between the Altiplano and high Atacama Desert |
| title_full_unstemmed | Permafrost and active layer characteristics in the high arid Andes between the Altiplano and high Atacama Desert |
| title_short | Permafrost and active layer characteristics in the high arid Andes between the Altiplano and high Atacama Desert |
| title_sort | permafrost and active layer characteristics in the high arid andes between the altiplano and high atacama desert |
| topic | Dry permafrost tropical mountain permafrost diurnal active layer thermal offset high Atacama Desert sublimation |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2025.2532202 |
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