The Origin of Penitents

Abstract

AbstractPenitents are observed on all the snow fields and glaciers of the Santiago Andes between 4000 and 5200 m. They are caused by the prolonged action of the sun in a dry and cold atmosphere, The sublimation of the snow or ice allows the crests to maintain their temperature below 0° C., while in the spaces or passages between the penitents, where radiation is concentrated and removal of water vapour not so easy, melting takes place. This hypothesis is justified by a brief study of the climate of the high Cordillera of Santiago; this study has been attempted for the first time with the help of meteorological information obtained from La Cumbre (3837 m.).The first stage of the penitents is a form of “micropenitent,” similar to that observed at the end of the winter below 3500 m. These micropenitents frequently come from crusted snow which has cracked. The compact ice penitents are directly formed from ice, as is proved by the existence of ice micropenitents.