Spatial occurrence and hydrological significance of Andean permafrost (Agua Negra, San Juan, Argentina) (HyPerm)

半干旱的安第斯冰冻圈是一个重要的水文水库，通过冰川融化、降水、融雪（包括常年雪原）和广泛的多年冻土区活动层的水释放来控制径流和地下水补给。然而，在许多关于山地系统和过程的研究中，多年冻土的水文影响仍然没有得到充分的体现。因此，本项目的主要目的是研究安第斯山脉块状边坡和土垄（包括土垄）的空间分布、地貌特征及其水文意义。我们之前的DFG项目（PermArg）对岩石冰川的研究结果将通过测绘、统计建模、土壤温度监测和地球物理调查（包括四阶段建模）对迄今为止被忽视的块状斜坡和滑石进行整合和扩展。此外，我们将在六个测定站持续测量流量，以进行水文分离（包括为进一步的水化学分析和混合模型进行水样取样；见补充项目“安第斯高原永久冻土环境水库的来源、动态和水文意义”/HyRes的工作方案）。我们假设，这些冰缘地貌（冰垄、块状斜坡、岩石冰川）的（季节性）融化活跃层的很大一部分有助于总体排放和地下水补给。我们的发现将大大提高我们对半干旱安第斯山脉永久冻土的发生和水文重要性的认识。

The semiarid Andean cryosphere is an important hydrological reservoir that controls runoff and groundwater recharge through glacier melt, precipitation, snowmelt (including perennial snowfields), and water releases from the active layer in the extensive permafrost regions. However, in numerous studies on mountain systems and processes the hydrological influence of permafrost is still insufficiently represented. Thus, the main objective of this project is to study the spatial distribution, geomorphic characteristics and hydrological significance of Andean mountain permafrost in blockslopes, and taluses (including protalus ramparts). Findings from our previous DFG project (PermArg) on rock glaciers will be integrated and extended through mapping, statistical modelling, soil temperature monitoring, and geophysical surveys (incl. four-phase modelling) on so far overlooked blockslopes and taluses. Furthermore, we will continuously measure the discharge at six gauging stations for hydrograph separations (incl. water sampling for further hydrochemical analysis and mixing models; see work programme of complementary project “Source, dynamics and hydrological significance of water reservoirs of a High Andean Permafrost Environment”/HyRes). We hypothesize that a significant part of the (seasonally) thawing active layer of these periglacial landforms (taluses, blockslopes, rock glaciers) contributes to the overall discharge and groundwater recharge. Our findings will significantly improve our knowledge regarding the occurrence and hydrological importance of permafrost in the semiarid Andes.