ESA - Eduspace EN - Global Change

Coastal change

Danube Delta change detection Oil spills

Deforestation

Bardia National Park Congo River Basin Kameng-Sonitpur Elephant Reserve Kilimanjaro Rondonia Shillong and Guwahati

Ice

Antarctica 2003 Climate change and glaciers Glacier analysis using radar imagery Glacial retreat in the Alps Glacier Ice Flow Monitoring of glaciers in the Himalayas Remote sensing of ice and snow

Urbanisation

Cairo City of Kathmandu Córdoba Himalayas Kathmandu Valley Lagos

Vegetation

Annapurna Conservation Area Lost in the Andes Ngorongoro Conservation Area Niger Inland Delta Vegetation in South America

Background

Ocean Continent Convergence

Central Andes is defined as the area between 27º South, at the southern edge of the Puna (the high Andean plateau ), and 39º South at Lake Aluminé, between longitudes 69º and 71º West. It forms an elongated strip of high mountainous relief. The region contains the highest point of the Americas, Aconcagua, which rises 6,959 m above sea level.

The origin of these mountains can be explained using the tectonic plates theory. The Oceanic Crust submerges and causes movement (folding, volcanoes, earthquakes) on the Continental Crust. In this region earthquakes are frequent. On 27 February 2010 an earthquake of a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter Scale took place off the coast of Central Chile.

The movement of the Continental Crust creates an asymmetrical profile which in turn causes an abrupt western slope and a slight east-lying slope, forming a continuous mountain chain. It acts as a drainage divide, and defines the boundary between Argentina and Chile.

Profile between Muelle Llico (Chile), 34°45’16”S 72°05’03”W and Malargue (Argentina), 35°30’S 69°35’W

This mountain range represents a barrier that forces the westerly winds to rise. On the western side of the range (Chile) there is copious orographic precipitation feeding rivers, ice fields, and glaciers. On the Argentinean side of the Andes - east of the mountain range - the winds are dry, a consequence of the rainfall occurring on the opposite side. As these winds move down the mountain, they create low humidity, which results in desert-like areas.

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Lost in the Andes!

Lost in the Andes Introduction

Exercises

Exercise 1: The Andean region Exercise 2: Vegetation cover (NDVI) (for university students)Exercise 3: The geographical setting of the accident Exercise 4: The route back to civilisation Exercise 5: Expedition “Alive!”Exercise 6: A multidisciplinary workshop

Eduspace - Software

LEOWorks 3 LEOWorks 4 (MacOS)LEOWorks 4 (Windows)LEOWorks 4 (Linux)

Eduspace - Download

Lost_in_the_Andes.zip