USGS

Desert Andes (North of Lat 31°S.)

Mercer (1967) compiled all the published observations about snow patches and glacierets in the Desert Andes. In general, observers were unable to say whether a snow patch was permanent or not. A much better compilation could be made by the comparison of satellite images on successive years.

North of about lat 25°30'S., September is the month that has the least snow cover on the crests and summits of the mountains. In March, the snow cover differs widely from year to year. From an examination of Landsat images of the area, the following months were determined to have had minimum snow cover: September 1972, October 1972, March 1973, and March 1975; February 1976 had the most snow. The most useful Landsat 1, 2, and 3 images of the Dry Andes region for glaciological purposes are listed in table 5.

South of lat 25°30'S., the situation is different because moisture comes from the southeast during Sudestada, not from the northeast. In this region, the March Landsat images show the least snow cover. The snow cover also varies from year to year; much more snow was present in March 1975 than in March 1976. Landsat images of the region do not have sufficient resolution to determine if small white areas on mountain summits are firn or glaciers. However, the important thing is that, whether snow or ice, it provides the only source of ground water in these hyperarid regions.

 

Table 5.-- Most useful Landsat 1, 2, and 3 images of the glaciers of the Dry Andes

[Table 1 lists all the optimum Landsat 1, 2, and 3 images of the glaciers of Chile and Argentina]

Path-Row

Nominal scene center
(lat-long)

Landsat
identification number

Date

248-77

24°31'S., 65°40'W.

1223-13493

03 Mar 73

248-79

27°23'S., 66°27'W.

2417-13342

14 Mar 76

249-77

24°31'S., 67°06'W.

1008-13540

31 Jul 72

249-78

25°56'S., 67°29'W.

2418-13393

15 Mar 76

249-79

27°23'S., 67°53'W.

2418-13400

15 Mar 76

249-80

28°49'S., 68°17'W.

2418-13402

15 Mar 76

249-82

31°41'S., 69°06'W.

2040-13452

03 Mar 57

249-83

33°07'S., 69°32'W.

2022-13455

13 Feb 75

249-83

33°07'S., 69°32'W.

30675-13415
A,C,D

09 Jan 80

249-83

33°07'S., 69°32'W.

2418-13414

15 Mar 76

249-84

34°32'S., 69°58'W.

2022-13461

13 Feb 75

249-84

34°32'S., 69°58'W.

2418-13420

15 Mar 76

250-75

21°38'S., 67°48'W.

1243-14001

23 Mar 73

250-76

23°04'S., 68°10'W.

1243-14004

23 Mar 73

250-77

24°31'S., 68°33'W.

1243-14010

23 Mar 73

250-78

25°56'S., 68°55'W.

2401-13455

27 Feb 76

250-80

28°49'S., 69°43'W.

1243-14022

23 Mar 73

250-81

30°15'S., 70°07'W.

1243-14024

23 Mar 73

250-82

31°41'S., 70°33'W.

1243-14031

23 Mar 73

250-83

33°07'S., 70°58'W.

2419-13472

16 Mar 76

251-73

18°45'S., 68°30'W.

1010-14035

02 Aug 72

251-74

20°11'S., 68°51'W.

1244-14053

24 Mar 73

1-72

17°19'S., 69°34'W.

1065-14091

26 Sep 72

Table 6 lists all the mountain summits north of lat 31°S. where snow or ice was present in all the analyzed Landsat images. A total of 83 summits are listed, as compared to 38 reviewed by Mercer (1967). For sake of comparison, the southernmost cordillera in Perú (Cordillera del Barroso) has been included. From this list, the glaciation level may be estimated.

At about lat 24°42'S. and long 68°30'W., an ice field existed in December 1952 between 5,600 m and 6,500 m on Llullaillaco (Lliboutry, 1956, p. 305; 1958), whereas the highest lower summit, Volcán Socompa (6,050 m), has no ice. Thus, the glaciation level is at about 6,100 m. At the same latitude but at about long 66°W., it has lowered to less than 5,800 m (Nevado de Acay, Nevado de Chañí).

At about lat 27°S., long 68°42'W., ice is found at Nevado Tres Cruces (6,330 m) but not at Cerro Solo (6,190 m), which indicates a glaciation level at about 6,200 m. At the same latitude and long 66°W., it is at 5,500 m or less in Nevado de Aconquija (5,550 m), the easternmost mountain range.

At lat 29°S., where the source of precipitation is from the southwest, the situation is reversed. The glaciation level is below 5,600 m at Nevados de Tambillos on the border, and it is at about 6,000 m at Nevado de Famatina, 175 km to the east.

At about lat 30°S., Paskoff (1967) described young rock glaciers above 4,000 m at the head of Río La Laguna, near a road from La Serena, Chile, to San Juan, Argentina, that crosses the border at Paso de Agua Negra (4,775 m). The thick morainic dam of Lago La Laguna at 3,100 m indicates the terminus of a Pleistocene glacier about 30 km long.

 

Table 6.--Mountains and volcanoes that have permanent snow patches and glaciers north of lat 31°S., Perú, Bolivia, chile, and Argentina

[Slash (/) indicates a place-name variation between Argentina and Chile (for example, Cerro/Nevado El Fraile: Argentina, Cerro El Fraile; Chile, Nevado El Fraile). Elevations from Carta Nacional de Chile (CNC), 1945 edition, unless otherwise indicated; ONC, U.S. Air Force Operational Navigation Chart; OAIC, Carta Aeronáutica Mundial; CP, Carta Prelíminar; IGMC, Instituto Geográfico Militar de Chile. Information on eruptive history from "Volcanoes of the World" (McClelland and others, 1989); n.a., not applicable, not considered a Holocene volcano]

Mountain or volcano name (alternate name) Argentina/Chile

Country

Elevation
(meters)

Latitude
south

Longitude
west

Landsat
Path-Row

Number of
and last eruption(s)

Remarks

Cordillera del Barroso:

     Nevado Chontacollo

Perú

5,484

17°26'

69°52'

1-72

n.a.

     Nevado Casiri

Perú

5,699

17°28'

69°49'

1-72

n.a.

     Nevado Coruña

Perú

5,692

17°29'

69°52

1-72

n.a.

     Nevado Barroso

Perú

5,741

17°33'

69°52'

1-72

n.a.

     Cerro Churivicho

Perú

5,463

17°36'

69°53'

1-72

n.a.

     Cerro Ancochaullane

Perú

5,540

17°35'

69°48'

1-72

n.a.

Nevado El Fraile

Perú, Chile

5,595

17°39'

69°48'

1-72

n.a.

Nevado Chupiquiña

Perú, Chile

5,787

17°41'

69°49'

1-72

n.a.

Volcán Tacora

Chile

5,988

17°43'

69°47'

1-72

Solfatari

ONC: 19,521 ft=5,950 m

Nevado de Chuquiananta

Chile

5,488

17°47'

69°31'

1-72

n.a.

Cerro Cosapilla

Chile

5,330

17°51'

69°30'

1-72

n.a.

ONC: 17,671 ft=5,386 m

Nevado de Putre

Chile

5,815

18°07'

69°32'

1-72

n.a.

ONC: 19,357 ft=5,900 m

Cerro Anallacsi

Bolivia

5,583

17°56'

68°55'

1-72,
251-73

Holocene age

ONC: 18,316 ft=5,583 m

Nevado de Sajama

Bolivia

6,520

18°07'

68°53'

1-72,
251-73

Holocene age

ONC: 21,463 ft=6,542 m

Cerro Larancagua

Bolivia, Chile

5,530

18°02'

69°04'

1-72,
251-73

n.a.

Nevados de Payachata:

     Cerro Pomerape

Bolivia, Chile

6,240

18°08'

69°07'

1-72,
251-73

n.a.

ONC: 20,413 ft=6,222 m

     Cerro Parinacota

Bolivia, Chile

6,330

18°10'

69°08'

1-72,
251-73

Fumarolic

Cerro Quisiquisini

Bolivia, Chile

5,480

18°14'

69°03'

251-73

n.a.

Nevados de Quimsachata:

     Cerro Acotango

Bolivia, Chile

6,050

18°23'

69°03'

251-73

Holocene age

ONC: 19,918 ft=6,071 m

     Cerro Capurata

Bolivia, Chile

5,990

18°25'

69°03'

251-73

n.a.

Volcán Guallatiri

Chile

6,060

18°25'

69°06'

251-73

4 in 1960

Cerro Puquintica

Bolivia, Chile

5,760

18°44'

68°58'

251-73

Solfatari

ONC: 18,852 ft=5,746 m

Volcán Isluga

Chile

5,530

19°09'

68°50'

251-73

8 in 1960

Cerro Cabaray

Bolivia

5,860(?)

19°08'

68°37'

251-73

n.a.

ONC: 21,230 ft=6,471 m

Cerro Sillajguay

Bolivia, Chile

5,995

19°44'

68°42'

251-74

n.a.

ONC: 19,670 ft=5,995 m

Cerro Aucanquilcha

Chile

6,180

21°13'

68°28'

250-75

Solfatari

ONC: 20,300 ft=6,187 m

Volcán Oyahue (Ollague)

Bolivia, Chile

5,870

21°18'

68°11'

250-75

Solfatari

ONC: 19,248 ft=5,867 m

Cerros de Cañapa:

     Cerro Coyumiche

Bolivia

5,838

21°17'

67°58'

250-75

n.a.

ONC: 19,324 ft=5,890 m

     Cerro de Callejón

Bolivia

5,880

21°29'

68°06'

250-75

n.a.

     Cerro Tapaquilcha

Bolivia

5,765

21°29'

67°56'

250-75

n.a.

Cerro Aguas Calientes

Bolivia

5,765

21°36'

67°57'

250-75

n.a.

Cerro Palpana

Chile

6,045

21°33'

68°32'

250-75

n.a.

Cerro Polapi

Chile

5,957

21°39'

68°24'

250-75

n.a.

Volcán San Pedro

Chile

6,063

21°54'

68°24'

250-75

5 in 1960(?)

ONC: 20,210 ft=6,160 m

Volcán San Pablo

Chile

6,118

21°53'

68°21'

250-75

n.a.

Twin volcano of Volcán San Pedro

Cerro Paniri

Chile

5,940

22°04'

68°14'

250-75

n.a.

ONC: 19,550 ft=5,959 m

Cerro del León

Chile

5,771

22°09'

68°07'

250-75

n.a.

Cerros de Tocorpuri

Bolivia, Chile

5,833

22°26'

67°54'

250-76

Solfatari

ONC: 6,765 m (a misprint?)

Volcán Púlar

Chile

6,225

24°12'

68°03'

250-77

n.a.

ONC: 20,420 ft=6,244 m

Cerro Pajonales

Chile

5,958

24°15'

68°07'

250-77

n.a.

Cerro/Volcán Llullaillaco

Argentina, Chile

6,723

24°43'

68°33'

250-77

3 in 1577

ONC: 22,060 ft=6,724 m

Cerro Miñique

Chile

5,916

23°49'

67°45'

249-77,
250-77

n.a.

ONC: 19,450 ft=5,928 m

Cerro Aracar

Argentina

6,080

24°17'

67°47'

249-77

n.a.

ONC: 19,950 ft=6,081 m

Nevado de Chañí

Argentina

5,803 (ONC)

24°04'

65°45'

248-77

n.a.

OAIC: 6,200 m

Cerro Quironcollo

Argentina

6,130 (ONC)

24°18'

66°44'

249-77

n.a.

Nevado de Acay

Argentina

5,886 (ONC)

24°25'

66°10'

248-77

n.a.

OAIC: 5,950 m

Unnamed

Argentina

6,047 (ONC)

24°08'

66°37'

249-77

n.a.

Nevados de Cachí

Argentina

6,380 (ONC)

24°56'

66°23'

249-77

n.a.

Volcán Antofalla

Argentina

6,440 (ONC)

25°33'

67°53'

249-78

Fumarolic

Cerro Galán

Argentina

6,114 (ONC)

25°53'

67°05'

249-78

n.a.

OAIC: 6,600 m

Unnamed

Argentina

~6,000 (ONC)

25°58'

66°55'

249-78

n.a.

Cerro Laguna Blanca

Argentina

6,194 (ONC)

26°32'

67°04'

249-78

n.a.

Sierra Nevada de Lagunas Bravas: Cumbre del Laudo

Argentina

6,400

26°29'

68°34'

249-78,
250-78

n.a.

ONC: 20,750 ft=6,325 m

Cerro El Cóndor

Argentina

6,300

26°38'

68°21'

249-78,
250-78,
249-79

n.a.

ONC: 21,430 ft=6,532 m

Cerro Ermitaño

Chile

6,140

26°47'

68°36'

249-79

n.a.

ONC: 20,300 ft=6,187 m

Cerro/Nevado de San Francisco

Argentina, Chile

6,005

26°55'

68°16'

249-79

n.a.

Cerro/Nevado de Incaguasi

Argentina, Chile

6,610

27°02'

68°18'

249-79

n.a.

ONC: 22,010 ft=6,708 m

Cerro/Nevado El Fraile

Argentina, Chile

6,044

27°03'

68°23'

249-79

n.a.

CP: 6,060 m

Cerro/Nevado El Muerto

Argentina, Chile

6,478

27°03'

68°29'

249-79

n.a.

CP: 6,470 m

Cerro/Nevado Ojos del Salado Norte

Argentina, Chile

6,863

27°07'

68°32'

249-79

n.a.

CP: 6,880 m; ONC: 23,240 ft=7,083 m; OAIC: 6,900 m

Cerro/Nevado Ojos del Salado Sur

Argentina, Chile

6,660 (CP)

27°12'

68°34'

249-79

n.a.

Cerro del Nacimiento

Argentina

6,493

27°17'

68°31'

249-79

n.a.

ONC: 21,300 ft=6,492 m

Cerro/Nevado Tres Cruces

Argentina, Chile

6,330

27°06'

68°47'

249-79

n.a.

ONC: 22,270 ft=6,788 m; OAIC: 6,356 m

Cerro de los Patos

Argentina, Chile

6,250

27°18'

68°49'

249-79

n.a.

Nevado Pissis

Argentina

6,858 (ONC)

27°47'

68°47'

249-79

n.a.

Cerro Bonete

Argentina

6,714 (ONC)

28°01'

68°46'

249-79

n.a.

Mercer (1967): 6,410 m; OAIC: 6,872 m

Nevado de Aconquija

Argentina

5,550 (ONC)

27°13'

66°05'

248-79

n.a.

Nevado de Famatina

Argentina

6,251 (ONC)

29°01'

67°50'

249-80

n.a.

OAIC: 6,421 m

Cerro El/del Potro

Argentina, Chile

5,830

28°23'

69°37'

250-80

n.a.

ONC: 19,080 ft=5,816 m

Cerro Cantaritos

Chile

5,590

28°32'

69°43'

250-80

n.a.

ONC: 18,360 ft=5,596 m

Nevados de Tambillos

Argentina, Chile

5,630

28°58'

69°45'

250-80

n.a.

ONC: 18,460 ft=5,627 m; OAIC: 5,547 m

Cerro del Toro

Argentina, Chile

6,380

29°08'

69°47'

250-80

n.a.

ONC: 19,490 ft=5,940 m

Unnamed

Argentina, Chile

5,440

29°17'

70°00'

250-80

n.a.

ONC: 18,180 ft=5,541 m

Cordillera de la Ortiga, Norte

Argentina

5,780

29°16'

69°48'

250-80

n.a.

ONC: 18,530 ft=5,648 m;
OAIC: 6,050 m

Cordillera de Colangüil

Argentina

6,020 (OAIC)

29°36'

69°27'

250-81

n.a.

ONC: 19,780 ft=6,029 m

Cerro Doña Ana

Chile

5,690

29°46'

70°06'

250-81

n.a.

ONC: 18,580 ft=5,663 m

Cerro Las/de las Tórtolas

Argentina, Chile

6,323

29°56'

69°53'

250-81

n.a.

ONC: 20,030 ft=6,105 m

Cerro de Tapado(?)

Argentina, Chile

5,915

30°07'

69°57'

250-81

n.a

IGMC: 5,820 m

Cerro Agua Negra

Argentina

5,602 (ONC)

30°13'

69°46'

250-81

n.a.

Cerro de Olivares

Argentina, Chile

6,252

30°17'

69°54'

250-81

n.a.

ONC: 20,330 ft=6,197 m

Cordillera de Olivares

Argentina

6,215 (OAIC)

30°25'

69°47'

250-81

n.a.

ONC: 20,270 ft=6,178 m

Cerro San Lorenzo

Argentina

5,570

30°25'

69°57'

250-81

n.a.

ONC: 18,150 ft=5,532 m

Cerro del Volcán

Chile

5,510

30°30'

70°16'

250-81

n.a.

OAIC: 5,540 m

 

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U.S. Geological Survey, U.S.Department of the Interior
This page is https://pubs.usgs.gov/prof/p1386i/chile-arg/dry/desert.html
Contact: Richard S. Williams, Jr., and Jane G. Ferrigno
Last modified 04.20.99