Periglacial Environment and Geocryological Regions in the Dry Andes of San Juan (28°-33° S, Argentina)

This work deals with the extension, limits and characteristics of the periglacial environment of the Dry Andes of San Juan (Argentina). To achieve this objective, the three key-indicators of the environment were characterized: 1) extension and duration of frost-thaw cycles, 2) periglacial geomorphology and processes and, 3) permafrost occurrence. A regional model of air temperature was made using reanalysis of data-grids (NCEP-CSFR, 1979-2010) to delimit the geocryological regions according to the frost-thaw cycles duration. Bibliographical references and own works regarding periglacial landforms and periglacial processes were recollected and analysed and, later classified into the corresponding geocryological zones. Finally, results were compared with two probabilistic models of permafrost occurrence. The exposed methodology allows to establish the spatial extension of the periglacial environment, towards present and past environment.