Petrologic Research in Southern Patagonia

Participants:  Matthew Gorring -  Montclair State University
                    Suzanne M. Kay - Cornell University (Andes Project)
                    Victor Ramos - Universidad de Buenos Aires
                    Brad Singer - University of Wisconsin
 
Supporting Agencies:   National Science Foundation
                                    Geological Society of America
                                    Servicio Geologico de Argentina
                                    Cornell Chapter of Sigma Xi
                                    Montclair State University
 
 
 
 

Where is Patagonia and what is it like??

• Patagonia is the region of South America (includes both Argentina and Chile) that is south of the Rio Negro in Argentina (40 S; see map).  The Rio Negro is the first river to make it entirely across the width of Argentina from the its' headwaters in the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean.  All other rivers to the north "dry up" in the Argentine Pampas before making it the Atlantic.
• Patagonia is a sparsely populated and rugged place.  The Andes Mountains forms a heavily glaciated, volcanic spine that rises up between 2,000 to 4,000 m high and forms the natural border between Argentina and Chile.  Patagonia is home to the 3rd largest continental ice cap in the world (Southen Patagonian Ice Cap) after Antarctica and Greendland.  Along the Andes, there are many pristine, glacially-carved lakes that have spectacular turquoise blue waters.
• The climate is highly variable:  Along the west coast and in the main chain of the Andes there is a tremendous amount of rainfall (and snowfall!) and thus climate and vegetation is much like a temperate rainforest.  Immediately to the east of the Andes, the climate is semi-arid due to the very strong rain-shadow effect of the Andes.  Summers are usually very pleasant, but it can get hot in the more arid regions to the east in Argentina.  Winters are not brutally cold, but the weather is usually very bad (lots rain and snow).  Patagonia is famous for being WINDY!  This is especially true in winter, but it can get pretty blustery in the summer too.  Patagonia's wind and nasty weather is primarily due to the fact that it extends southward into a very strong atmospheric and oceanic circulation that surrounds the Antarctic continent.  Weather systems come all the way across the southern Pacific Ocean and continually batter Patagonia.

Patagonia Image Gallery

• Meseta del Lago Buenos Aires Expedition, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina -  December 1998

Zeballos Complex (2743 m) with edge of Lago Sello in foreground.  Meseta del Lago Buenos Aires.
 
 

Lago Sello with young cinder cones in the background. Meseta del Lago Buenos Aires.
 
 

Dr. Brad Singer at campsite on the Meseta del Lago Buenos Aires.  Young cones in background.
 
 

Large dune of sand-sized pumice fragments and ash from the 1991 eruption of Cerro Hudson. Brad Singer for scale.  Meseta del Lago Buenos Aires.
 
 

Shallow lakes on the Meseta del Lago Buenos Aires, Cerro Overo is large cone to the right. Interesting cloud formations typical of Patagonia.
 
 

Dr. Matthew Gorring on the summit of Cerro Overo with Zeballos Complex in background. Meseta del Lago Buenos Aires
 
 
 
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Interesting Patagonian Links
Wildlife of Patagonia
Tierra del Fuego