The Patagonian Icefields : A Unique Natural Laboratory for Environmental and Climate Change Studies

A collection of 17 papers by authors from diverse backgrounds dealing with multi-disciplinary research on the Patagonian ice fields. The main emphasis is glaciology, climatology and paleoclimatology, with contributions in glacier ecology, microbiology and aerosols.

Preface. Acknowledgments. Introduction. List of Participants. Color Plates. Biology. 1. Glacier Ecosystem and Biological Ice Core Analysis; S. Kohshima, et al. 2. Isolation and Identification of Bacteria from Ancient and Modern Ice Cores; B.C. Christner, et al. 3. Perspectives for DNA Studies on Polar Ice Cores; A.J. Hansen, E. Willerslev. Climate and Paleoclimate. 4. Meteorological and Climatological Aspects of the Southern Patagonia Icefield, Patagonia; J.F. Carrasco, et al. 5. Western Patagonia: A Key Area for Understanding Quaternary Paleoclimate at Southern Mid-Latitudes; P.I. Moreno. 6. Late Pleistocene and Holocene Glacier Fluctuations in the Mendoza Andes, Argentina; L.E. Espizúa. Glaciology. 7. Current Knowledge of the Southern Patagonia Icefield; G. Casassa, et al. 8. The Southern Patagonia Icefield Mass Balance; J.C. Leiva. 9. Glacier Mass Balance and Climate in the South American Andes; G. Kaser. 10. Ice Thickness Measurements on the Southern Patagonia Icefield; A. Rivera, G. Casassa. Ice Coring. 11. Locating a Drilling Site on the Patagonian Icefield; N. Gundestrup. 12. On the Potential to Retrieve Climatic and Environmental Information From Ice Core Sites Suffering Periodical Melt, with Specific Assessment of the Southern Patagonia Icefield; V. Pohjola. 13. Argentine Program on Climate and Environmental Studies by Means of Ice Cores; A.J. Aristarain. 14. Firn-Core Drilling Operational at Tyndall Glacier, Southern Patagonia Icefield; M.-A. Godoi, et al. 15.First Results of a Palaeoatmospheric Chemistry and Climate Study of Cerro Tapado Glacier, Chile; P. Ginot, et al. 16. Interpreting Climate Signals from a Shallow Equatorian Core: Antisana, Ecuador; M.W. Williams, et al. 17. Potential Application of Methodologies for Studying Atmospheric Aerosols, in the Study of Climatic and Environmental Information from Ice Cores; M. Préndez. Appendix. Glossary. Index.