CATCHMENT-LEVEL ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ON GLACIERS AND LAKES IN THE CORDILLERA REAL, BOLIVIA

Abstract

 Andean glaciers have been rapidly retreating, yet the hydrological connections between glaciers and glacial lakes remain inadequately understood. This study aims to elucidate these connections in the Cordillera Real, Bolivia, using Landsat-5 and Landsat-8 imagery from 1984 to 2021. Glacier and lake areas were mapped, and the hydrological linkages between these features were evaluated through catchment-scale analysis. Our results show that lakes in close proximity to glaciers exhibit a higher correlation with glacier retreat, indicating a direct impact of glacier melt on these water bodies. In contrast, lakes farther from glaciers were more influenced by non-glacial factors. The spatiotemporal analysis revealed significant warming, especially at higher elevations, and increased evaporation rates, with higher rates on the eastern side. Although overall precipitation increased, it was insufficient to sustain downstream lakes. This research highlights the impending reduction in water resources due to global warming, which is expected to lead to higher evaporation rates and increased loss of glacier meltwater during transport. The accelerated melting of glaciers, coupled with changes in precipitation patterns, threatens the stability of water supplies in the region. Our research underscores the urgent need for comprehensive monitoring and sustainable water management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on glacial and hydrological systems in the Andean region.