Abstract ID: 3.13519 | Accepted as Talk | Talk | TBA | TBA

The hydro-geomorphological changes and water security scenarios in the face of climate change and ENSO events in the river basins of Southeastern Peru need to be better understood to analyse the socio-environmental impacts for communities that depend on local natural resources. This study investigates changes in glaciers that can increase problems with water availability, pasture quality, soil preparation for crops, and problems with maintaining the quality and way of life in rural communities in the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Vilcanota, Peru. Up until this point, 149 images were processed in Google Earth Engine – all available optical satellite images recorded by Landsat 5 TM, Landsat-8 OLI and PlanetScope covering the study area between 1988 and 2023 with low cloudiness were obtained. Results indicate losses in glacier areas and changes in the snow accumulation areas since 1987 in response to a warming climate in the higher altitudes of the Andean region. The observed retreat rates present a significant decrease of 21-22% of the glacier area (1988-2022), meaning a mean loss of -0.74 to -0.75%/year in the Cordillera Blanca. The same methodology is being used for the Cordillera Vilcanota, where previous work that found that migrations are a current problem in the Phinaya community, which has intensified in the last 2 decades. From semi-structured interviews and direct observation, the local people point out that depopulation in rural areas is considered a cause for concern for reasons as the water availability, the beginning of mining activities and, consequently, an increase in conflicts, violence, impoverishment and environmental degradation. Although this work is in progress, the results indicate that the decrease in snow cover area, snowfall, and air temperature increases indicate risks to the socio-cryosphere culture in high Andes rural communities. These factors may require greater attention regarding water resources and disaster prevention.