Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 6
Glacier Inventory: A Case in Semiarid Chile
Jorge Marín and José Araos
Abstract
Glaciers are the most important water reservoirs found in the Andes.
While the scientific community has conducted more extensive glaciological stud-
ies in southern Chile, it is only recently that attention has been focused on northern
Chile. In the Chilean “Norte Chico” region, where glaciation is restricted to the
highest summits, the sparse glacier network provides the majority of water to down-
stream users during dry years. Here the economy is based on mining and agriculture,
both of which depend on an intensive and reliable water source. Given the impor-
tance of glaciers to supply this water, it is surprising that few detailed glaciological
studies have been conducted in this region. Just as the glaciers recede to higher sum-
mits, making water availability less reliable, the economic activity in this region is
increasing; thus, glacier inventory is needed to aid Chilean policy makers in the deci-
sion making process. This chapter examines how remotely sensed imagery (ASTER
and aerial photos) is being used to develop baseline glacier data in Norte Chico and
to provide policy makers with scientific data for decision making. Finally, the chap-
ter shows how GIS technology can integrate remote sensing processing results into
a georeferenced database with a broader range of users than the raw data.
Keywords
Glaciers
·
Norte Chico
·
Chile
·
Glacier
inventory
·
Wa t er
resources
·
GIS
6.1 Introduction
Glaciers in South America are critically important for water resources for domestic,
agricultural and industrial uses, particularly in equatorial, tropical and subtropical
latitudes (Casassa et al.
2007
). In the northern region of Chile, the local economy
depends on agriculture and mining, and both activities have high requirements of
