Glacial retreat and its geomorphologic effects on Mexico’s active volcanoes, 1994–95

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Palacios, David, Marcos, Javier De
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1998
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000002355; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000002355

Abstract The northern slopes of Mexico’s great, active stratovolcanoes, Popocatépetl (5450 m.a.s.l.) and Pico de Orizaba (5700 m a.s.l.), are covered by glaciers. This paper analyzes the retreat of the glaciers between February 1994 and October 1995, and its geo-morphological consequences. The results discussed are a continuation of research conducted on the volcanoes up to 1994. Although the glaciers retreated a great deal during the 1980s and early 1990s, the process accelerated from 1994 to 1995. The heavy erosion that had been observed on the deglaciated walls of the volcanoes during these decades increased as the glaciers retreated. Sediments originating from material loosened from the exposed lateral walls added to the supraglacial layer. Temperature readings taken from boreholes made in the glaciers indicated that ablation had been reduced as a result of the insulating effects of the debris mantle. This allowed widespread formation of deposits that buried ice in areas where the glacier had already disappeared. These results confirmed the conclusions of earlier studies that deglaciation of stratovolcanoes has resulted in the acceleration of slope processes and the formation of buried ice deposits.