Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Seasonal Glacial Meltwater Contributions To Surface Water In The Bolivian Andes: A Case Study Using Environmental Tracers, Zack Guido, Jennifer C. Mcintosh, Shirley A. Papuga, Thomas Meixner

Environmental Science and Geology Faculty Research Publications

Study region: The Cordoriri watershed and vicinity in the Cordillera Real, Bolivia, South America

Study focus: Recent warming has contributed to substantial reductions in glaciers in many regions around the globe. Melting of these glaciers alters the timing and magnitude of stream flows and diminishes water resources accumulated in past climates. These changes are especially acute in regions with small glaciers and problematic for populations relying on surface water. In Bolivia, most glaciers are less than 0.5 km² and about 2 million people draw water in part from glacier-fed watersheds. Sparse monitoring, however, has limited estimates of …