Lee et al. (2026) Glaciers of the Andes

Identification

• Journal: Elsevier eBooks
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-01
• Authors: Ethan Lee, Owen King, Jeremy C. Ely, Claudio Bravo, Fabián Drenkhan, Daniel Falaschi, Juan‐Luis García, Lucas Ruiz, Bethan J. Davies
• DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-85242-5.00063-4

Research Groups

• School of Geography and Planning, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
• School of Geography, Planning, and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
• Centro de Estudios Científicos, Valdivia, Chile
• Geography and Environment, Department of Humanities, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru
• Grupo de Glaciología y Ecohidrología de Montañas Andinas (GEMS), Institute for Nature, Earth and Energy (INTE), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru
• Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales, Mendoza, Argentina
• Instituto de Geografía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
• Centro UC Desierto de Atacama, Santiago, Chile
• Geoestudios Ltda, Santiago, Chile

Short Summary

This chapter reviews the contemporary state, past changes (centennial), and future projections of the over 25,000 glaciers across the 8000 km long Andean mountain range, highlighting how latitude and climate dictate their configuration and varying rates of mass loss.

Objective

• To explore the contemporary state of Andean glaciers and ice caps, and how local climate and topography dictate their configurations across different latitudinal ranges.
• To assess the accelerated retreat and volume loss observed in recent decades due to climate change.
• To provide an understanding of longer-term changes from the Little Ice Age (LIA) using the geomorphological record.
• To examine future projections of glacier ice loss over the next century.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: The entire Andean mountain range, spanning over 8000 km from 11°N to 55°S, covering tropical, dry, and wet Andean regions.
• Temporal Scale: Contemporary (satellite era, recent decades, 21st century), longer-term (centennial, from the Little Ice Age), and projected future changes (next century).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: This is a review chapter that synthesizes findings from existing literature, including discussions of projections of future glacier change which imply the use of glaciological and climate models by other studies. The chapter itself does not present new model results.
• Data sources: Satellite observations (for contemporary changes), geomorphological records (for longer-term changes), and existing scientific literature on glacier mass balance and climate projections.

Main Results

• The Andes host over 25,000 glaciers with an area of approximately 30,000 km², exhibiting unique glacial landscapes influenced by distinct climatological regimes across their vast latitudinal range.
• Recent climate change has significantly impacted the mass balances of all Andean glaciers, leading to massive reductions in ice mass.
• The Patagonian Wet Andes and the Tropical Andes have experienced the largest increases in mass loss throughout the 21st century.
• The Dry Andes have shown comparatively smaller increases in mass loss.
• Glaciers play a critical role as natural water towers, providing freshwater to communities and supporting unique ecosystems.
• Projections indicate substantive future reductions in glacier ice mass over the next century.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive review and synthesis of the contemporary state, historical changes (from LIA), and future projections of glaciers across the entire Andean range.
• Highlights the inter- and intra-regional variability in glacier response to climate change, linking it to latitudinal position, local climate, and topography.
• Consolidates understanding of the critical role of Andean glaciers as water resources and their vulnerability to ongoing climate change.

Funding

• No specific funding projects, programs, or reference codes are provided in the given text.

Citation

@article{Lee2026Glaciers,
  author = {Lee, Ethan and King, Owen and Ely, Jeremy C. and Bravo, Claudio and Drenkhan, Fabián and Falaschi, Daniel and García, Juan‐Luis and Ruiz, Lucas and Davies, Bethan J.},
  title = {Glaciers of the Andes},
  journal = {Elsevier eBooks},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/b978-0-323-85242-5.00063-4},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-85242-5.00063-4}
}