Glacier-Volcano interactions in Southern Chile

Dr Ben Brock, Lecturer in the Department of Geography, recently spent five weeks as Visiting Scientist at the Laboratory for Glaciology and Climate Change in the Centre for Scientific Studies, Valdivia, Southern Chile. Ben is working with Chilean scientists on a three year project on glacier-volcano interactions in the Chilean Lake District.

Ben explains, "The glaciers of Chile's Lake District region have, in common with most of the world's mountain glaciers, been shrinking rapidly during the last 50 years. We want to find out what the relative roles of climatic warming and volcanic activity are in this pattern of retreat."

Ben has spent the last ten years studying glacier-climate relationships and developing computer models of glacier melt. One of the main objectives of the trip was to set up an automatic weather station on a glacier on Villarrica Volcano, in order to provide much needed information on climatic conditions in the region. The team also made a series of measurements of snow accumulation and melt.

Ben said, "We took all of our equipment up on a train of horses, and spent five nights camped on the glacier itself, enjoying spectacular views of the smoking volcano summit and the surrounding countryside below".

The results of this work could have wider implications. Much of Central Chile experiences drought during the summer months, and is heavily dependent on the seasonal melting of glaciers and snow in the Andes to provide river water for agriculture, industry and domestic use.

Climatic warming could threaten this vital resource, with serious social and economic implications. Ben plans to return to Chile later this year to continue work on the project. The research is funded by the Royal Society and the Chilean National Science Foundation.