Mass Balance Factsheet for the Echaurren Norte glacier, Andes
The Echaurren Norte glacier (33°34’S 70°07’W) is located approximately 50 km east of the city of Santiago de Chile, specifically in the Yeso river sub-basin, and is one of the 1261 inventoried glaciers in the Maipo river basin, Central Andes.
With an average height of 3750 m.a.s.l. and a vertical distribution between 3650-3880 m.a.s.l., the Echaurren Norte glacier is classified as a mountain glacier. This glacier is characterized by having the most extensive glaciological mass balance record in South America, which has been recorded since 1975 by the General Directorate of Waters (DGA), thereby generating a continuous statistic of 48 years to the present.
It is estimated that its surface area in the year 1955 was 0.55 km2, currently has an area of 0.18 km2 and his ice body has fragmented into three parts. The Echaurren Norte glacier is at the end of the process of becoming a debris-covered glacier.
For additional information on the status of the glacier and on data relating to annual mass balance and other measurements, visit the WGMS Fluctuations of Glaciers Browser.
FACTS:
- Political unit: CL
- WGMS ID: 1344
- Latitude: 33.34°S
- Longitude: 70.07°W
- Height min: 3650 m a.s.l.
- Height max: 3900 m a.s.l.
- Measurement types: MASS BALANCE
- Current Principal Investigator: Jorge Huenante Gutiérrez & Colleagues
- Current Sponsoring Agency: DIRECCION GENERAL DE AGUAS (SANTIAGO, CL)
Echaurren Norte glacier in April 2023 (taken by Jorge Huenante)
Terrestrial and satellite map of Echaurren Norte glacier (Google Maps)
Echaurren Norte glacier Annual Mass Balance (WGMS)
Continuous Mass Balance (MB) measurements since 1975/76:
Additional data available: Front Variation (FV), Thickness Change (TC) and Glacier Outlines:
