Climate change and permafrost stability in the eastern Canada Cordillera:The results of 33 years of measurements

Over the last 33 years,a network of climate stations has been set up at high altitude mountain permafrost sites from Plateau Mountain near Claresholm,Alberta,north to Sheldon Lake on the North Canol Road in the Yukon.Taken together with the data from the US National Weather Service and the Canadian Atmospheric Environment Service,the results indicate a cooling of mean annual air temperature south of Calgary,no significant change in Calgary,a slight warming at Jasper,and a major warming at Summit Lake,west of Fort Nelson.In contrast,the south eastern and central Yukon show only a minor warming trend that lies well within the limits of a sixty-year record measured by the Canadian Atmospheric Environment Service.Along the Mackenzie valley and on the North Slope of Alaska,the mean annual air temperature is rising.Permafrost is aggrading on Plateau Mountain,degrading at Summit Lake,and appears to be stable in southern Yukon and southern Alaska.This is in contrast to the warming occurring on the Arctic coastal plain and along the Mackenzie valley.It therefore appears that changes in climate vary considera-bly from place to place,and even where warming may occur,it may not continue indefinitely.There has been a northward shift of the arctic front due to a weakening of air pressure in the Yukon and Alaska relative to the continental tropical(cT) and maritime polar(mT) air masses to the south.Any actual changes that may be occurring appear to undergo amplification along the Mackenzie valley and Arctic coastal plain and reduction by buffering in the interior Yukon and Alaskan mountains,a result of mi-cro-environmental factors.Continued,careful monitoring of the climate is required and needs to be expanded in the National Parks in the mountains in order to provide data on the changes that may be taking place.Such measurements can provide a sound basis for interpreting ecological and other climate-related data.The existing climate models are not working satisfactorily because we do not know enough about the causes and processes involved in climate change.Improved results can indicate where best to site structures such as pipelines so as to minimize maintenance costs.Models may also help explain why certain areas such as Beringia,which saw reduced climate change,acted as important refugia during the glaciations.

Distribution and morpho-anatomical characterization of ’Beket’(Coriaria japonica subsp. intermedia(Matsum) T.C. Huanh) in Cordillera Central Range, Northern Philippines

Coriaria,the only genus under family Coriariacea,receives a lot interest among botanist due to its controversial taxonomic treatment and unique phytochemistry that could be commercially important.The populations of Coriaria japonica subsp.intermedia in Cordillera Central Range(CCR),Philippines had never been studied in detail.With the need for more information on this controversial genus,the study deemed it necessary to present the distribution and morpho-anatomical description of C.japonica subsp.intermedia in CCR.A total of 123 populations were documented,found at an elevation range of 1334 to 2494 m asl and stretched between16°31’37.7"to 17°5’47.8"N and 120°39’40.3"to120°55’48"E.Mapping these populations showed a narrow linear pattern of distribution concentrated at the southern portion of CCR.The plant is a shrub with simple leaves,collateral buds,raceme inflorescence,bisexual flowers with persistent perianth forming an accessory fruit after fertilization.In terms of anatomy,much are of the usual dicot characters such as dorsiventral leaf with stomata concentrated in the lower epidermis,eustele with pith in the stem andpresence of secondary growth both on old stem and old root.Interesting findings of the study include the123 populations,the larger leaf measurements,longer petals and larger fruits than the original description given by Matsumura.Also,the paracytic type of stomata and presence of pith in the primary roots of C.japonica subsp.intermedia are interesting since these are common monocot characters while the plant is dicot.These findings are additional information that could help clear the controversies on the genus Coriaria.More importantly,our results could provide essential information for understanding the plant and for developing conservation strategies not just for this plant but also for the other related plants in the CCR biogeographical zone.

Establishing geothermometric constraints on the local geothermal gradients:Case study of the Eastern Cordillera Basin,Colombia

Geochemical analyses were performed on 170 coal bed-trapped groundwater samples from 97 underground mines located in the Eastern Cordillera Basin, Colombia. The waters analyzed in this paper are from exploited coal beds, located up to 0.73 km deep, which emerge along with the local fault systems.The hydrochemical facies were classified based on the concentration of major ions by inferring the equilibrium state and rock water source. The main hydrochemical facies presented in the groundwater study are SO_4-Ca-Mg, HCO_3-Ca, HCO_3-Ca-Mg, and SO_4-HCO_3 mixed waters. We used geothermometric equations to estimate the most probable temperature under in-situ conditions and the propagation of errors theory to test the results. The geothermal gradient in the study area is close to 30℃/km, which is consistent with measurements from oil wells within the study area. Principal Component Analysis was used to explain factors affecting formation water composition and hydrogeochemical evolution of aquifers.

Seismicity pattern of the Betic Cordillera(southern Spain) derived from the fractal properties of earthquakes and faults

Several studies on earthquake occurrence and associated faulting have demonstrated that both phenomena have a scale-invariant behavior which can be analyzed by means of a set of non-integer dimensions （Dq） describing their fractal properties and the calculation ofmulti-fractal spectra. It is the case that the behavior of these spectra is asymptotic at the ends of the variation interval of q, which is a real number that enters into the definition of the partition function of the dataset. The difference between the extreme values, called multi-fractal spectrum slope, is used to investigate the heterogeneity of the spatial distribution of earthquakes and fault systems. In this paper we focus on the Betic Cordillera, southeastern Spain, which is commonly considered the contact between the Eurasian and African plates and has an important seismic activity in the context of the Iberian Peninsula. Some of the most conspicuous Iberian earthquakes, such as the 1829 mb6.3 Torrevieja and the 1884 mb6.1 Alhama de Granada earthquakes occurred in this mountain range and both reached intensity X. The pre- sent work implies a new analysis based on the slope of multi-fractal spectra and referred to the historical seismicity of the re- gion, specifically b-value （frequency distribution of earthquakes respect to magnitude）, epicentral location, seismic energy and faulting. On this basis we propose a seismotectonic zonation that is contrasted with the stress state and the geodynamical evolution of the Betic Cordillera.

Coal petrology analysis and implications in depositional environments from upper Cretaceous to Miocene:a study case in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia

The Piedemonte Llanero Basin is located on the eastern side of the Eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes.It has been the subject of numerous geological studies carried out for the oil sector,mainly.This study presents the coalpetrographical features of 15 coal seams of four geological formations from Late Cretaceous to Middle Miocene(Chipaque formation,Palmichal group,Arcillas del Limbo formation,and San Fernando formation).Analysis of 33 samples indicates enrichment in vitrinite,while liptinite and inertinite concentrations vary according to the stratigraphic position.Reflectance indicates that the coal range gradually decreases from highly volatile bituminous C(Chipaque formation)to subbituminous C(San Fernando formation).The microlithotypes with the highest concentrations are clarite and vitrinertoliptite.Maceral composition and coal facies indicate changes in the depositional conditions of the sequence.The precursor peat from Late Cretaceous to Late Paleocene accumulated under limnic conditions followed by telmatic in Late Eocene-Early Miocene.The coal facies indices show wet conditions in forest swamps with variations in the flooding surface,influxes of brackish water and good tissue preservation.The tectonic conditions along the Piedemonte Llanero basin is evident,from post-rift to foreland basin,evidenced by oxic and anoxic periods reflected in the maceral composition and its morphology.The coal environment corresponds to an estuarine system started in the Chipaque formation evolving to the lacustrine conditions in the San Fernando formation.

Hydrocarbon distribution along the Soapaga thrust(Eastern Cordillera, Colombia) based on new strategic geochemistry samples

The Colombian Eastern Cordillera constitutes a region with potential for finding hydrocarbon reserves that are still under-explored, despite the existence of oil and tar sand production. The intense tectonic deformation affects the petroleum systems and increases exploration challenges due to the different generation, maturation, and entrapment conditions that they produce. Diverse geochemical analysis conducted on strategic samples determines that these are likely generated by the same anoxic marine source rock type. Two source rock samples we investigated are characterized by very different biomarker signals as compared to the tar sands and oil samples. Both samples are dominated by hopanes as compared to tri-and tetracyclic terpanes, with very low(Tibasosa Formation) to no(Chipaque Formation) extended tricyclic terpanes. The Soapaga Thrust, along which the analyzed samples are located, has exercised first-rate regional structural control of the distribution of hydrocarbons in the studied area. The uplift of their Mesozoic hanging wall produces intense erosion with sediment transport towards the eastern footwall forming the present infill of the Arcabuco basin. The kitchen areas were connected with the shallower entrapment sectors where excellent reservoir levels such as the Picacho Formation before the Soapaga Thrust movement. The high degree of biodegradation observed in the Picacho Fm. tar sands support early charge before the Soapaga thrust movement, and severe biodegradation following the thrust movement when hydrocarbon supply from the kitchen was interrupted. This work aims to contribute to a better understanding of the geochemical characteristics of the petroleum systems due to the action of the Soapaga Thrust.

Geologic field evidence for non-lithostatic overpressure recorded in the North American Cordillera hinterland,northeast Nevada

There is a long-standing discrepancy for numerous North American Cordillera metamorphic core complexes between geobarometric pressures recorded in the exhumed rocks and their apparent burial depths based on palinspastic reconstructions from geologic field data.In particular,metamorphic core complexes in eastern Nevada are comprised of well-documented~12-15 km thick Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic stratigraphy of Laurentia’s western passive margin,which allows for critical characterization of field relationships.In this contribution we focus on the Ruby Mountain-East Humboldt Range-Wood Hills-Pequop Mountains(REWP)metamorphic core complex of northeast Nevada to explore reported peak pressure estimates versus geologic field relationships that appear to prohibit deep burial.Relatively high pressure estimates of 6-8 kbar(23-30 km depth,if lithostatic)from the lower section of the Neoproterozoic-Paleozoic passive margin sequence require burial and or repetition of the passive margin sequence by 2-3×stratigraphic depths.Our observations from the least migmatized and/or mylonitized parts of this complex,including field observations,a transect of peak-temperature(T_(p))estimates,and critical evaluation of proposed thickening/burial mechanisms cannot account for such deep burial.From Neoproterozoic-Cambrian(€)rocks part of a continuous stratigraphic section that transitions~8 km upsection to unmetamorphosed Permian strata that were not buried,we obtained new quartz-in-garnet barometry via Raman analysis that suggest pressures of~7 kbar(~26 km).A T_(p)traverse starting at the same basal€rocks reveals a smooth but hot geothermal gradient of≥40℃/km that is inconsistent with deep burial.This observation is clearly at odds with thermal gradients implied by high P-T estimates that are all≤25℃/km.Remarkably similar discrepancies between pressure estimates and field observations have been discussed for the northern Snake Range metamorphic core complex,~200 km to the southeast.We argue that a possible reconciliation of longestablished field observations versus pressures estimated from a variety of barometry techniques is that the rocks experienced non-lithostatic tectonic overpressure.We illustrate how proposed mechanisms to structurally bury the rocks,as have been invoked to justify published high pressure estimates,are entirely atypical of the Cordillera hinterland and unlike structures interpreted from other analogous orogenic plateau hinterlands.Proposed overpressure mechanisms are relevant in the REWP,including impacts from deviatoric/differential stress considerations,tectonic mode switching,and the autoclave effect driven by dehydration melting.Simple mechanical arguments demonstrate how this overpressure could have been achieved.This study highlights that detailed field and structural restorations of the least strained rocks in an orogen are critical to evaluate the tectonic history of more deformed rocks.

Life under Supernovae. Story of the Cordillera Pine Forest

The article presents the first direct evidence of the influence of supernova flashes on the biosphere. Geochemistry and paleontology have not yet provided convincing data on the life response to disasters in the Milky Way Galaxy. This gap was eliminated through tree ring analysis of bristlecone pine from the Cordilleras responded to seven supernova outbursts in 185-1604 AD. The author used the superposed epoch method to process data at the 11 longest dendrochronologies, based on the results of measurement of annual growth of about 300 trees. The main finding is the growth depression in high-mountain population caused by supernova outbursts lasted for 20 - 30 years after the event. Moreover, in most cases, drastic growth reduction occurred one year prior to the event. In some cases, the annual tree ring increment exceeded the normal range many years after the event, and, consequently, it could be concluded that plant response was associated with the ozone layer depletion.

Within plate seismicity analysis in the segment between the high Cordillera and the Precordillera of northern Mendoza(Southern Central Andes)

Crustal seismicity in northwestern Mendoza Province in Argentina, corresponding to the transition zone between the Chilean-Pampean flat subduction zone（26.5-33.5°S） and the Southern Central Andes normal subduction zone to the south, is studied in order to i） identify its relationship with the mapped structure, ii）determine deformational mechanisms and iii） constrain the geometry of the fold and thrust belt in the lower crust. Through this, we aim to determine which are the structures that contribute to Andean construction, east of the Frontal Cordillera in Argentina and at the western Principal Cordillera in Chile. Data from a temporary local seismic network are reprocessed in order to achieve a precise location of hypocenters and, whenever possible, to build focal mechanisms. Results are interpreted and compared with previous seismic studies and structural models. Analyzed seismicity is grouped around the eastern front of Frontal Cordillera, with hypocenters mainly at depths of 25-40 km. Contrastingly, earthquakes in the Principal Cordillera to the west are located at the axial Andean sector and Chilean slope, with depths shallower than 15 km. Obtained focal mechanisms indicate mainly strike-slip displacements, left lateral at Frontal Cordillera and right lateral at Principal Cordillera. Based on these observations, new possible structural models are proposed, where seismogenic sources could be either associated with inherited basement structures from the Cuyania-Chilenia suture; or correspond to deep-blind thrusts linked with a deeper-than-previously-assumed decollement that could be shared between Frontal Cordillera and western Precordillera. This deeper decollement would coincide in turn with the one determined from receiver function analysis for the eastern Sierras Pampeanas in previous works, potentially implying a common decollement all through the fold and thrust belt configuration. Apart from this, a new interpretation of seismogenic structures in Principal Cordillera near the Argentina-Chile boundary is provided.

Grain Size Distribution of Soils within the Cordillera Blanca, Peru: An Indicator of Basic Mechanical Properties for Slope Stability Evaluation

This paper presents results of a study on the mechanical properties of sandy and gravely soils within the Cordillera Blanca, Peru. The soils were divided into groups according to their origin(glacial, fluvial, or debris flow). The grain size distribution of forty three soil samples was used to classify the soils according to the scheme of the Unified Soil Classification System(USCS). These distributions have then been used to estimate shear strength and hydraulic properties of the soils. There are clear differences between the soils which reflect their divergent origins. The glacial soils normally fit within one of two distinctive groups according to the proportion of fines(Group A, 7%-21.5%; Group B, 21%-65%). The estimation of shear strength at constant volume friction angle and peak shear strength of the glacial sediments with low content of fines was made using published data relating to the measured shear strength characteristics of soils with similar origins and grain size distributions. The estimated values were supported by measurements of the angle of repose taken from fourteen samples from two moraines and by shear tests on samples from one locality. The results of the grain size distribution werealso used to estimate the average hydraulic conductivity using the empirical Hazen formula which results were verified by field infiltration tests at two localities.

Development of endemicity and conservation importance indices for tropical forests and the floral diversity assessment of Mt.Natoo in Benguet,Philippines

The scientific community faces the challenge of measuring progress toward biodiversity targets and indices have been traditionally used.However,recent inventories in secondary tropical mountain forests using traditional biodiversity indices have yielded results that are indistinct with primary ones.This shows the need to develop complementary indices that goes beyond species count but integrates the distribution and conservation status of the species.This study developed endemicity and conservation importance index for tropical forest that incorporated the distribution and conservation status of the species.These indices were applied to Mt.Natoo,a remnant primary mossy forest in Buguias,Benguet,Philippines,that resulted to endemicity index of 81.07 and conservation importance index of 42.90.Comparing these with secondary forest sites with comparable Shannon-Wiener,Simpson,Evenness and Margalef’s indices,our endemicity and conservation indices clearly differentiates primary forest(our study site)with higher values from secondary forests with much lower values.Thus,we are proposing these indices for a direct but scientifically-informed identification of specific sites for conservation and protection in tropical forests.Additionally,our study documented a total of 168 vascular plant species(79 endemic and 12 locally threatened species)in Mt.Nato-o.Majority are of tropical elements for both generic and species levels with some temperate elements that could be attributed to the site's high elevation and semi-temperate climate.These are important baseline information for conservation plans and monitoring of tropical mossy forests.

南美奥连特盆地坎潘阶碳酸盐岩建隆的识别及科迪勒拉运动早期抬升对Main-M1储集层沉积的控制作用

厄瓜多尔奥连特盆地Main-M1砂岩储集层是该盆地近年来重要的构造-岩性圈闭勘探目的层系,寻找砂体和岩性尖灭带是Main-M1砂岩勘探的关键。该盆地为晚白垩世弧后热沉降盆地和新生代前陆盆地的叠合盆地,在构造上分为西部逆冲褶皱带、中部前渊带和东部斜坡带,在前渊带发育一系列近N-S走向长轴背斜。综合观察和分析发现,在研究区内长轴背斜上生长了1个碳酸盐岩建隆,地震上具有明显的边界反射形成丘状外观和较连续的弱振幅内部反射,测井上具有厚层、近箱型低GR响应特征。该建隆表明在其沉积的坎潘阶时期,长轴背斜已经开始抬升,将背斜顶部推升至古水面附近,形成建隆局部生长的条件。压实回剥方法恢复古地貌证实,长轴背斜在坎潘阶早期开始发育,构造抬升幅度为7~10 m。由于构造抬升和建隆发育始于Main-M1沉积前,抬升古地貌可影响砂岩沉积。根据背斜上数十口已钻井Main-M1砂体厚度统计,发现背斜顶部砂岩储集层整体较发育,但古建隆顶部砂层厚度减薄或者缺失,在背斜的南部延伸段,构造顶部砂岩缺失,仅在东部侧翼富集。提出了近N-S向背斜古地貌影响Main-M1砂体沉积,使砂岩于富集于构造下倾方向的控砂模式。该模式可形成上倾尖灭型构造-岩性圈闭,从而提供了通过古地貌恢复在奥连特盆地前渊带寻找新圈闭的勘探思路。

川东褶皱山系“Ω形地貌”特征、成因和演化——以拟建华蓥山大峡谷地质公园为例

以华蓥山中段华蓥山大峡谷地质公园内的"Ω形地貌"为例,在野外调查和资料分析的基础上,借助DEM,运用地貌学相关理论,对川东褶皱山系"Ω形地貌"特征、成因和演化进行了探讨。研究表明:该地貌在平面上呈"Ω"字形,发育于特殊的地质背景下,特点是内腔宽大,隘口窄小;华蓥山老龙洞背斜、李子沿向斜,近北东向和北西向两组节理以及走向断层——涂家院子2#逆断层是"Ω形地貌"形成的构造背景;风化作用、流水侵蚀和溶蚀作用,是"Ω形地貌"主要外营力;"Ω形地貌"的形成过程分为6个阶段:前期(构造隆起为主的阶段)、幼年期(自由沟渠阶段)、青年期(断层发育后顺坡向形成横向断层谷)、壮年初期(形成"Ω形地貌"雏形)、壮年期("Ω形地貌"最终形成)、老年期。

造山带的伸展作用及其地壳演化意义

造山带的伸展作用大致可以分为两种类型:(1)喜马拉雅型伸展,伸展限于上地壳,表现为规模有限的伸展断层,发生于俯冲—碰撞阶段;(2)科迪勒拉型伸展,整个地壳发生伸展,涉及拆离断层、沉积盆地、变质核杂岩的形成,发生于碰撞后阶段。对加厚地壳的热力学模拟,可以解释造山带挤压终止到伸展开始的时序与岩浆活动的关系。喜马拉雅型伸展伴随高压变质作用,并使变质岩系近等温减压;科迪勒拉型伸展与高温变质作用关系密切,伴随花岗质岩体的侵位,并使变质岩系近等温减压之后近等压冷却。

阿巴拉契亚褶皱带东段斑岩铜钼矿床与科迪勒拉褶皱带斑岩矿床特征的主要差异

加拿大阿巴拉契亚(Appalachian)褶皱带东段,具有类似于加拿大西部科迪勒拉(Cordillera)褶皱带的洋陆汇聚环境,分布有Coxheath等一系列斑岩铜钼矿床,但是其形成时代较老(前寒武纪—泥盆纪),斑岩面型蚀变分布不全,地表多数没有火山岩分布,矿化受断裂控制明显,分布在岩体一侧或断裂带旁;阿巴拉契亚褶皱带东段斑岩铜钼矿特征与科迪勒拉褶皱带斑岩矿床差异较大,造成这种差异的主要原因是两者大地构造演化等方面的巨大差异。

苏北蛇绿岩

苏北构造混杂岩中大部分超镁铁岩和部分榴辉岩、角内岩、石英岩等岩块为变质橄榄岩、堆积超镁铁岩和镁铁岩、英云闪长岩、斜长花岗岩、岩墙群、镁铁质熔岩、深海硅质岩等，属于构造解体的蛇绿岩。苏北—胶南地体是扬子古陆板块北缘的晋宁期沟弧盆体系。苏北蛇绿岩原生于晋宁期胶北地体与苏北—胶南地体间的洋盆环境，构造侵位始于晋宁期，属于科迪勒拉型蛇绿岩。

湘赣地区中生代基性岩地球化学特征与岩石圈厚度变化

湘赣地区中生代是多金属矿产的集中地区,是环太平洋成矿带的重要组成部分,该区中生代大规模成矿的最终制约因素来自地球深部，岩石圈厚度是探索地球深部的重要组成部分。本文通过湘南宁远玄武岩、长城岭辉绿岩和赣西北基性岩的研究，运用玄武岩主量元素对玄武岩的形成深度进行了定量模拟，初步探讨了湘赣地区中生代岩石圈厚度随时间的演化关系。研究表明，湘西南宁远地区晚三叠世岩石圈厚度约为53km，湘中南长城岭晚三叠世岩石圈厚度约为81～84km，赣西北早白垩世岩石圈厚度的形成深度约60～63km。

Glacier retreat, rock weathering and the growth of lichensin the Churup Valley, Peruvian Tropical Andes

The most heavily glacierized tropical range in the world– the Peruvian Cordillera Blanca-has been losing ice since the end of the Little Ice Age(LIA).In this study,the decline of the Churup glacier(9°28’18"S;77°25’02"W)and associated processes were documented employing multi-proxy approach including the analysis of remotely sensed images(1948-2016),the Schmidt hammer rock test and lichenometric dating.It is shown that Churup glacier has lost the vast majority of its estimated LIA extent(1.05±0.1 km^2;45.0×10^6-57.4×10^6 m^3).The rate of glacier retreat is documented to vary in space(SE,SW and NW-facing slopes)and time,with the peak between 1986 and 1995.With an area of 0.045 km^2 in 2016,it is expected that the complete deglaciation of the Churup valley is inevitable in the near future.Recently(post-LIA)exposed bedrock surfaces have shown higher R-values(54.2-66.4,AVG 63.3,STDEV 2.9)compared to pre-LIA exposed surfaces(46.1-59.3,AVG 50.1,STDEV 4.9),confirming the links to the duration of rock weathering.The Lichenometric dating is applied to recently exposed areas and elevations above 4800 m a.s.l.,revealing only limited reliability and agreement with the age of deglaciation estimated from remotely-sensed images in such an environment.

Early Permian arc-related volcanism and sedimentation at the western margin of Gondwana： Insight from the Choiyoi Group lower section

Permian sedimentary and basic to intermediate volcanic rocks assigned to the Conglomerado del Río Blanco and Portezuelo del Cenizo Formation, lower part of the Choiyoi Group, crop out between the Cordon del Plata, Cordillera Frontal and Precordillera of Mendoza Province, Argentina. The sedimentary rocks are represented by six lithofacies grouped in three facies associations. They were deposited by mantled and gravitational flows modified by high-energy fluvial currents that evolved to low-energy fluvial and lacustrine environments. They constitute the Conglomerado del Río Blanco, which cover unconformably marine Carboniferous sequences. Five volcanic and volcaniclastic facies make up the beginning of volcanic activity. The first volcanic event in the Portezuelo del Cenizo is basaltic to andesitic lava-flows emplaced in the flanks of volcanoes. Lava collapse produced thick block and ash flows.Interbedding in the intermediate volcanic rocks, there are dacites of different geochemical signature,which indicate that the development of acidic volcanism was coetaneous with the first volcanic activity.The geochemistry of these rocks induces to consider that the Choiyoi Group Lower section belongs to a magmatic arc on continental crust. The age of this section is assigned to the lower Permian（277 ？ 3.0Ma, Kungurian age）.

Can a dam type of an alpine lake be derived from lake geometry?A negative result

Glacial lake outburst floods(GLOFs)represent one of the most serious hazard and risk in deglaciating high mountain regions worldwide and the need for GLOF hazard and risk assessment is apparent.As a consequence,numerous region-and nation-wide GLOF assessment studies have been published recently.These studies cover large areas and consider hundreds to thousands of lakes,prioritizing the hazard posed by them.Clearly,certain simplification is required for executing such studies,often resulting in neglecting qualitative characteristics which would need manual assignment.Different lake dam types(e.g.,bedrock-dammed,moraine-dammed)are often not distinguished,despite they control GLOF mechanism(dam overtopping/dam breach)and thus GLOF magnitude.In this study,we explore the potential of easily measurable quantitative characteristics and four ratios to approximate the lake dam type.Our dataset of 851 lakes of the Cordillera Blanca suggests that while variances and means of these characteristics of individual lake types differ significantly(F-test,t-test),value distribution of different geometrical properties can’t be used for the originally proposed purpose along the spectra.The only promising results are obtained for extreme values(selected bins)of the ratios.For instance,the low width to length ratio indicates likely morainedammed lake while the high value of ratio indicating round-shape of the lake indicates increased likelihood of bedrock-dammed lake.Overall,we report a negative result of our experiment since there are negligible differences of relative frequencies in most of the bins along the spectra.