Papers by Enrique Serrano
Boletin De La Asociacion De Geografos Espanoles, 2001
Protected areas and territory policy in the South Shetland Islands (Antarctic). The protected are... more Protected areas and territory policy in the South Shetland Islands (Antarctic). The protected areas of South Shetland island are linked to the uses and human History in the islands. Today, they are a combined of disconnected areas where tourism, national policies and science have the main importance to proclaim, to conservate and the territorial use of protection figures. In this work is proposed a unify management of Antarctic protected areas into the Antarctic System Treaty.
Boletin De La Asociacion De Geografos Espanoles, 2008
Geomorphosites are often important elements of Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) and may be valued b... more Geomorphosites are often important elements of Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) and may be valued both as structural and functional elements of the natural system and for their social values in relation to their location. Natural protected areas are designated as a result of a wide range of natural and cultural values that define a landscape, a natural environment, an ecosystem or a habitat. The conservation and study of the geomorphic values of NPAs may be approached from three viewpoints: as the infrastructure of habitats and ecosystems, as the landscape in general, and as an intrinsic value of the natural environment. Up to now the first view has been dominant and has resulted in a failure to consider geomorphic features as elements of value for conservation, investigation and management. In light of the second approach, geomorphosites have now been redefined in the framework of the cultural landscapes with which they are interrelated and which they affect. In this sense, the geomo...
Ecosistemas, 2018
La Cordillera Cantábrica (CC) presenta una serie de singularidades que le convierten en un excele... more La Cordillera Cantábrica (CC) presenta una serie de singularidades que le convierten en un excelente enclave para el seguimiento de los efectos del cambio global. Este estudio analiza la necesidad de generar un observatorio inter-autonómico del cambio global, que permitiría integrar el conocimiento actual sobre estas montañas y determinar las prioridades en la generación de nuevo conocimiento. Para cumplir este objetivo, se presentan dos aproximaciones complementarias. La primera consiste en la revisión de la literatura científica publicada sobre la CC y su comparación con otros enclaves geográficos de la Península Ibérica. La segunda consiste en la síntesis de información de un seminario titulado "La CC como Centinela de los Efectos del Cambio Global", celebrado en Santander en agosto de 2015. El análisis bibliográfico muestra que el número de publicaciones científicas sobre la CC es similar al de otros enclaves geográficos de la Península Ibérica, pero con menor riqueza de disciplinas. La producción científica está dominada por los centros de investigación más próximos y tiene una alta participación internacional. Las conclusiones del seminario evidencian que este sistema es un candidato ideal para el seguimiento de los efectos del cambio global sobre multitud de elementos biofísicos. Se considera que la generación de un seminario permanente, junto con la consolidación de las redes de seguimiento actuales, la coordinación de nuevos trabajos, y la mejora de la comunicación entre administraciones y comunidad científico-técnica son elementos esenciales en la futura generación de un observatorio del cambio global en la CC.
Science of The Total Environment, 2019
Debris talus is a very common landform in the temperate high mountain, so much so that it is the ... more Debris talus is a very common landform in the temperate high mountain, so much so that it is the most representative of the periglacial and nival processes. This work studies debris cones in the Picos de Europa, an Atlantic mountain range in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. A detailed geomorphological map was prepared, fieldwork were carried out on the debris cone surface, the ground and air thermal regime was analyzed, and a five-year Terrestrial Laser Scan survey carried out. Annual volume changes on the surface of the debris cones were detected and related to active processes and sediment transfer. Two different behaviors were observed in each cone. Cone A is linear, with equilibrium between accumulation and sediment transfer, while Cone B is concave-convex denoting accumulation processes in the upper part deriving from the greater frequency of snow avalanches. Changes in morphology surpass 50 cm/year with most of the activity taking place in the highest and lowest areas. The presence and action of the ice on the debris slope are moderate or non-existent and freeze-thaw processes are only active on the walls at over 2000 m a.s.l. The main processes on debris cones are debris flow and creep related to snowcover, but sediment transfer on the slopes involves high intensity-low frequency (debris flow, avalanches) and high frequency-low intensity processes (creep, shift, solifluction and wasting).
The Cryosphere Discussions, 2016
Relict and present-day periglacial activity have been reported in the literature for the upper re... more Relict and present-day periglacial activity have been reported in the literature for the upper reaches of the High Atlas mountains, the highest range in North Africa (Djebel Toubkal – 4,167 m a.s.l.). Lobate features in the Irhzer Ikbi South at 3,800 m a.s.l. have been previously interpreted as an active rock glacier, but no measurements of ground or air temperatures are known to exist for the area. In order to assess on the possible presence of permafrost, analyse data from June 2015 to June 2016 from two air temperature sites at 2,370 and 3,200 m a.s.l., and from four ground surface temperature (GST) sites at 3,200, 3,815, 3,980 and 4,160 m a.s.l. allowing to characterize conditions along an altitudinal gradient along the Oued Ihghyghaye valley to the summit of the Djebel Toubkal. GST were collected at 1-hour intervals and the presence of snow cover at the monitoring sites was validated using Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 im...
Finisterra, 2012
En este trabajo se presenta un mapa de síntesis que ofrece una visión global de la distribución d... more En este trabajo se presenta un mapa de síntesis que ofrece una visión global de la distribución del permafrost en los pirineos a escala regional. la elaboración del mapa está basada en la utilización de indicadores de permafrost (glaciares rocosos, gelifluxión, cavidades heladas, suelos ordenados, sondeos eléctricos verticales y registros térmicos de suelos) y un modelo digital del terreno (mdT) con información sobre la inclinación de las laderas y su orientación, la altitud y la radiación solar directa potencial. El mapa resultante contiene información sobre la distribución espacial del “permafrost probable” y del “permafrost posible”, una aproximación que muestra el estado actual del conocimiento sobre permafrost en los pirineos.
The Cryosphere, 2016
This paper analyzes the evolution of the Monte Perdido Glacier, the third largest glacier in the ... more This paper analyzes the evolution of the Monte Perdido Glacier, the third largest glacier in the Pyrenees, from 1981 to the present. We assessed the evolution of the glacier's surface area by analysis of aerial photographs from 1981, 1999, and 2006, and changes in ice volume by geodetic methods with digital elevation models (DEMs) generated from topographic maps (1981 and 1999), airborne lidar (2010) and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS, 2011(TLS, , 2012(TLS, , 2013(TLS, , and 2014) ) data. We interpreted the changes in the glacier based on climate data from nearby meteorological stations. The results indicate that the degradation of this glacier accelerated after 1999. The rate of ice surface loss was almost three times greater during 1999-2006 than during earlier periods. Moreover, the rate of glacier thinning was 1.85 times faster during 1999-2010 (rate of surface elevation change = -8.98 ± 1.80 m, glacier-wide mass balance = -0.73 ± 0.14 m w.e. yr -1 ) than during 1981-1999 (rate of surface elevation change = -8.35 ± 2.12 m, glacier-wide mass balance = -0.42 ± 0.10 m w.e. yr -1 ). From 2011 to 2014, ice thinning continued at a slower rate (rate of surface elevation change = -1.93 ± 0.4 m yr -1 , glacier-wide mass balance = -0.58±0.36 m w.e. yr -1 ). This deceleration in ice thinning compared to the previous 17 years can be attributed, at least in part, to two consecutive anomalously wet winters and cool summers (2012-2013 and 2013-2014), counteracted to some degree by the intense thinning that occurred during the dry and warm 2011-2012 period. However, local climatic changes observed during the study period do not seem sufficient to explain the acceleration of ice thinning of this glacier, because precipitation and air temperature did not exhibit statistically significant trends during the study period. Rather, the accelerated degradation of this glacier in recent years can be explained by a strong disequilibrium between the glacier and the current climate, and likely by other factors affecting the energy balance (e.g., increased albedo in spring) and feedback mechanisms (e.g., heat emitted from recently exposed bedrock and debris covered areas).
Cuaternario Y Geomorfologia, May 10, 2012
Resumen: El Grupo Peña Vieja se ubica en un medio de alta montaña donde, por encima de los 1.900 ... more Resumen: El Grupo Peña Vieja se ubica en un medio de alta montaña donde, por encima de los 1.900 m, dominan las condiciones nivoperiglaciares. En este trabajo se ha realizado una cartografía geomorfológica de detalle (E 1:10.000), análisis superficiales y perfiles, y la medición de la temperatura basal del manto nival (BTS). Se observan una amplia diversidad de procesos, entre los que destacan la nivación, en combinación con la karstificación, la solifluxión y la gelifracción. La morfodinámica periglaciar actual está ligada al manto nival, y hemos diferenciado dos pisos morfodinámicos: nivoperiglaciar (1.900 -2.300 m.) y crionival (2.300 -2.613 m.). La realización de medidas B.T.S. ha permitido una aproximación a las temperaturas invernales de la formación superficial, y denota que no se dan las condiciones necesarias para el desarrollo de permafrost continuo o discontinuo.
phases in the Posets massif (Aragonese Pyrenees).
The Cryosphere Discussions, 2015
This paper analyzes the evolution of the Monte Perdido Glacier, the third largest glacier of the ... more This paper analyzes the evolution of the Monte Perdido Glacier, the third largest glacier of the Pyrenees, from 1981 to the present. We assessed the evolution of the glacier's surface area by use of aerial photographs from 1981, 1999, and 2006, and changes in ice volume by geodetic methods with digital elevation models (DEMs) generated from topographic maps (1981 and 1999), airborne LIDAR (2010) and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014). We interpreted the changes in the glacier based on climate data from a nearby meteorological station. The results indicate an accelerated degradation of this glacier after 2000, with a rate of ice surface loss that was almost three-times greater from 2000 to 2006 than for earlier periods, and a doubling of the rate of ice volume loss from 1999 to 2010 (the ice depth decreased 8.98 ± 1.8 m, −0.72 ± 0.14 m w.e. yr<sup>−1</sup>) compared to 1981 to 1999 (the ice depth decreased 8.35 ± 2.12 m, −0.39 ± 0.1 m w.e. yr...
Picos de Europa National Park is the oldest and most extensive National Park in Spain, a symbol o... more Picos de Europa National Park is the oldest and most extensive National Park in Spain, a symbol of conservationism and management of Iberian nature. The present day use is defined by abandoned ancient traditional structures, summer livestock and mainly tourism in and around the National Park, and over the last forty years the visitors of the National Park has grown until 2 million per year. The context of the map it framed in the next questions, which places are most frequented by visitors?, what places are the most interesting to visitors?, what are visitors looking for?, and who visits the National park? The main type of visitors are mountaineers (1,5%), hikers (5), active tourists (10%), recreational tourists (66%) and students (16%). Hikers and active tourist represent the 18% of visitors to the National Park, over 120,000 visitors per year. They are, joint the monitors and teachers guiding students groups, the main objective of documents and geotouristic maps. The map has five levels of reading (planimetry, altimetry, geomorphology, human uses and tourist routes), the elements are represented by areas, patterns and symbols in colours, and the selected significant elements represent the topography, geomorphological features (glacial, karst, nivation, landslide) and human remains (mining, grazing) and routes between geomorphosites and more representative scenic view points. The interpretative geotouristic maps are useful tools to develop an approach to tourist activity and for interpret nature and landscapes from direct knowledge of the field but also they are a powerful tool for environmental education in National Parks and Natural Protected Areas.
This paper analyses the glacial evolution of the Pas Mountains, in the Eastern Cantabrian Mountai... more This paper analyses the glacial evolution of the Pas Mountains, in the Eastern Cantabrian Mountains, the glacial landforms and deposits by geomorphological mapping, electric and seismic surveys, and dating intramorainic peat bog and till deposits. The external morainic complex (S-I) shows a glacial extension maximum before 29.150-28.570 cal a BP. A second glacial advance and equilibrium (S-II) have been studied in the entire massif, with glaciers reaching similar positions to the previous phase. Finally, two phases (S-III and S-IV) with very small glaciers developed in the cirque. The last equilibrium glacial phase has been attributed to Late Pleistocene cold phases, previous to Tardiglacial ones. Dating in the Pas Mountains are in agreement with previous dating in the Cantabrian Range and bears out the existence of a glacial maximum, previous to the European LGM.
The Antarctic Peninsula is experiencing one of the fastest increases in mean annual air temperatu... more The Antarctic Peninsula is experiencing one of the fastest increases in mean annual air temperatures (ca. 2.5oC in the last 50 years) on Earth. If the observed warming trend continues as indicated by climate models, the region could suffer widespread permafrost degradation. This paper presents field observations of geomorphological features linked to permafrost and ground-ice degradation at two study areas: northwest Hurd Peninsula (Livingston Island) and Deception Island along the Antarctic Peninsula. These observations include thermokarst features, debris flows, active-layer detachment slides, and rockfalls. The processes observed may be linked not only to an increase in temperature, but also to increased rainfall, which can trigger debris flows and other processes. On Deception Island some thermokarst features may be related to anomalous geothermal heat flux from volcanic activity.
Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica, 2011
The paper analyzes the fourteen rock glaciers inventoried in the Pyrenees. The genesis, surface m... more The paper analyzes the fourteen rock glaciers inventoried in the Pyrenees. The genesis, surface morphology, internal structure, surface dynamics and morphostratigraphical characters are analysed according to studies made on different rock glaciers. The Pyrenean rock glaciers are included in two genetic typologies as talus rock glacier with periglacial origin, and debris-glacier rock glacier, of glaciogenetic origin. Both types are related to different surface shapes and internal structures. The internal structure shows a great diversity, with different structures for each of the four rock glaciers studied. Rock glaciers show a wide range of horizontal displacements, although the displacements are moderate in all cases, except the Argualas rock glacier, with displacements similar to the most frequents alpine ones. In all cases rock glaciers show a trend toward thinning. The study of horizontal and vertical displacement has permitted us to establish two different dynamic models: “push...
Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica, 2011
Rock glaciers are considered reliable indicators of permafrost occurrence, developed in environme... more Rock glaciers are considered reliable indicators of permafrost occurrence, developed in environments with average temperatures below -2ºC. Relict rock glaciers and protalus lobes are well preserved landforms which permit us to deduce the environment in which they were active. This article analyzes the distribution and characteristics of 32 rock glaciers and 9 protalus lobes in the central part of Cordillera Cantábrica. Based on the shape, orientation, altitude and morphostratigraphy of rock glaciers we have established 5 different phases of rock glacier formation. Finally a chronological hypothesis is purposed, and a palaeoclimatic inference is suggested for each phase.
Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica, 2004
There are different methods for palaeo-ELAs reconstruction. The AAR method (Accumulation Area Rat... more There are different methods for palaeo-ELAs reconstruction. The AAR method (Accumulation Area Ratio) gives the most reliable results and is one of the most frequently used methods at the moment. To calculate the "palaeoELAs" of the Quaternary glaciation of the Valdecebollas Massif the use of GIS programs is applied. It is shown the use of the method as well as some considerations about its application and the factors that play an important role in the reconstruction. The calculation of the ELA in the Valdecebollas Massif allows to provide complementary information to the morphological and morphometrical analysis. The environmental conditions of the massif in two glacial stages are established: a glacial maximum with homogeneous behaviour of their both slopes (F. 1) and a stage of retreat (F. 2) with a different glacial behaviour between north and south faces. In this phase, on north face the retreat is interrupted with balances of the millennium smallest order.
Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica, 2010
The Picos de Europa massif is the maximun exponent of the Atlantic High Mountain of SW Europe. Th... more The Picos de Europa massif is the maximun exponent of the Atlantic High Mountain of SW Europe. The present day climate derive initially from its volume and altitude, with peaks of around 2.700 m, and from its geographical location. Its proximity to the Cantabrian Sea, only 20 km away, defines it as an oceanic high mountain massif with wet winters (2.500-3.000 mm/year). Its climate is characterised by warmer temperatures than other Iberian high mountain areas (Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada), and the distribution of snow in time and space, highly abundant, but unstable (wet snow), is a fundamental geoecological factor in the massif. In this work we have analysed the distribution and dynamic of the snow covering depends on factors such as altitude, topography, orientation, exposure and wind redistribution processes. At 1500 m the duration of the snow cover is 6/7 months, whereas at over 2000 m, a duration of around 8 months is estimated, though this is highly variable depending on several...
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Papers by Enrique Serrano