Evolución de los glaciares tropicales de Colombia (2010-2023) utilizando herramientas geoespaciales

Abstract

Tropical glaciers in Colombia, located near the equator, are extremely vulnerable to climate change due to high temperatures and variable precipitation. Over the past five decades, glaciers have been retreating alarmingly worldwide, and Colombia is no exception. High-resolution multispectral data from the RapidEye (2010-2016) and PlanetScope (2017-2023) constellations were used to monitor these changes, along with the Deep Learning Segment Anything Model tool. Additionally, precipitation and temperature data from 1991 to 2023 were analyzed using Google Earth Engine to calculate climate anomalies. Between 2010 and 2023, Colombian glaciers have shown a consistent decrease in their total area due to climate change, with temporary peaks of increase in 2011 and 2021. The average, maximum, and minimum altitudes of the glaciers were calculated using the SRTM elevation model, ranging between 4804 and 5067 meters above sea level (m asl), with an average of 4952 m asl. The El Niño and La Niña phenomena influence glacier surfaces, increasing during La Niña and decreasing during El Niño. Despite these fluc tuations, glacier mass has significantly reduced between 2010 and 2023, more so than recorded in previous studies.