Rock Glacier and Permafrost Survey in the Central Andes

Morenas Coloradas basin in the Central Andes of Argentina, covering 54 square kilometers, was surveyed for rock glacier activity and permafrost conditions. Meteorological, hydrological, and geophysical measurements, including temperature profiles and drillings, were conducted primarily between 1981 and 1993. The dataset, from NSIDCV0, documents the structure and dynamics of glacigenic and primary rock glaciers in this arid, high-altitude environment.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the relationship between avalanche activity and primary rock glacier formation using survey data from El Salto.
• Modeling permafrost table depth and thermal regime using temperature measurements from the active layer (1981-1986).
• Studying the spatial distribution and activity phases of interconnected rock glaciers across the 54 sq km basin.
• Correlating rock glacier activity with climatic variables like annual precipitation (630 mm, 1991-93) and the 0°C air isotherm.
• Investigating the incorporation of glacigenic ice into rock glacier substrates under arid conditions using drilling and geophysical data.

Strengths

• Includes direct in-situ measurements from 5 drillings to a depth of 5 m and temperature profiles from a multipoint recorder.
• Provides a detailed spatial context with a surveyed basin area of 54 square kilometers and specific elevation ranges (3500-3600 m).
• Covers a multi-year temporal range for key measurements, including temperature data from 1981 to 1986 and precipitation from 1991 to 1993.

Limitations

• The specific column names and row count of the underlying data are unknown across all platforms.
• Conflicting metadata exists for the last update date: one source lists 2026-03-12, while another lists 1993-12-31.
• The dataset's file formats (BIN, ISO, HTML) suggest potential accessibility or usability challenges for standard analysis tools.

Provenance

Source

NSIDCV0

Collection Method

Field surveys, meteorological and hydrological measurements, geophysical surveys, and drillings.

Time Range

1981 to 1993

Freshness

2026-03-12 22:28:17.318068

Geography

Morenas Coloradas basin and El Salto rock glacier, Central Andes, Argentina.