Análisis temporal de la variación de la superficie del glaciar del Nevado Chimborazo durante el periodo 2010 – 2015
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26820/reciamuc/9.(4).diciembre.2025.2-16Keywords:
Glaciar, Chimborazo, Teledetección, Cambio climático, Los Andes, HidrologíaAbstract
Este estudio analiza la variación temporal de la superficie glaciar del Nevado Chimborazo entre 2010 y 2015 y su relación con variables climáticas y ecológicas, considerando su relevancia como indicador del cambio climático en los Andes tropicales. Se aplicó un análisis multitemporal de imágenes satelitales Landsat 7 ETM+, Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS y MODIS, corregidas atmosférica y geométricamente, delimitando las áreas glaciares mediante el índice NDSI y clasificadores supervisados y no supervisados. Los resultados muestran una reducción de la superficie glaciar de 18,2 a 15,8 km² (–13,1 %), con una pérdida media anual de 0,48 km² y un ajuste lineal R² = 0,97. La correlación negativa entre temperatura y área glaciar (r = –0,87) confirma la alta sensibilidad térmica de la masa de hielo, mientras que la precipitación (r = +0,41) tuvo un efecto moderador. En paralelo, el Índice de Vegetación Mejorado (EVI) aumentó de 0,19 a 0,34 (+79 %), correlacionándose inversamente con la pérdida glaciar (r = –0,82), lo que evidencia una recolonización vegetal en la franja periglaciar (3800–4200 m s. n. m.). Estos resultados demuestran que el retroceso glaciar no solo refleja el impacto climático regional, sino que también impulsa procesos ecológicos de sucesión vegetal en los ecosistemas altoandinos. Se recomienda fortalecer los sistemas de monitoreo glaciológico integrando parámetros hidrológicos y ecológicos para una gestión sostenible de los recursos hídricos andinos.
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