Ice patch origin, evolution and dynamics in a temperate high mountain environment: the jou negro, picos de europa (nw spain)

Abstract

Serrano, E., González‐Trueba, J.J., Sanjosé, J.J. and Del Río, L.M., 2011. Ice patch origin, evolution and dynamics in a temperate high mountain environment: the Jou Negro, Picos de Europa (NW Spain). Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography, 93, 57–70. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468‐0459.2011.00006.x

ABSTRACT

The Jou Negro ice patch has the greatest surface area of the few that remain in the Cantabrian mountain range. This paper studies its development since the Little Ice Age, its structure and current dynamics. The ice patch lost mass throughout the twentieth century following the general air temperature rise in the region. It was originally a glacier, but from the beginning of the twentieth century it became a glacial ice patch, showing considerable loss of mass after the 1980s. The internal structure with two basal layers of saturated and partially frozen sediments upon which the glacial ice lies, favours contemporary movement. A considerable mass loss in 2009 has been detected associated with small displacements by sliding. The considerable clast cover and topoclimate favours the maintenance of the ice patch, which is in a state of imbalance with current environmental conditions.

Key words:

• Ice patch
• paraglacial environments
• Picos de Europa

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the projects CGL‐2010‐19729/BTE and CGL2007‐65295/BTE (Ministry of Science & Innovation and FEDER) and OAPN 0534/2010 of Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Environment. We thank A. Atkinson, Angel Fernández, Diego Fernández, R. Martín, J. de Matías and I. Rico, for field assistance and P.D. Hughes and an anonymous reviewer for helpful comments.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Enrique Serrano

Enrique Serrano, Departament of Geography, Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo Prado de la Magdalena s/n, 47011 Valladolid. Spain 
 Email: [email protected]

Juan J. González‐trueba

Juan José González‐Trueba, Departamento de Geografía, Prehistoria y Arqueología, Universidad del País Vasco, C/Tomás y Valiente s/n, 01006 Vitoria‐Gasteiz, Spain 
 Email: [email protected]

José J. Sanjosé

José Juan Sanjosé, Departamento de Expresión Gráfica, Universidad de Extremadura 
 Email: [email protected]

Luis M. Del río

Luis Mariano Del Río, Departamento de Física Aplicada. Escuela Politécnica de Cáceres, Universidad de Extremadura 
 Email: [email protected]