Climactic record preserved in Andean ice
El Niño is the periodic warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean that takes place every few years. In the last two decades it has been returning more often, bringing with it floods, fires and devastation across the globe. Some scientists suspect that the frequency and ferocity of El Niño owe something to global warming.
"By understanding El Niño evolution over a long stretch of time, we will be able to improve our understanding of the mechanisms that cause these events.”
Bernard Francou, a French glaciologist and mountaineer, hopes to test this theory by extracting an ice core from deep inside an Andean glacier. Since the ice has never melted, he believes that it will provide an archive of climatic change over thousands of years.
Latest Update
Glacier guardian
For over 20 years, Bernard Francou has been probing glaciers for clues to the future of our planet.
A panorama of glaciers around the world
Skilled alpinist Bernard Francou published an inspiring book, “Les Glaciers à l’épreuve du climat” (“Glaciers challenged by climate”).
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- Contact Information
Dr Bernard Francou
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)
Apartado Postal 17 12 857 - Whymper 442 y Coruña
Quito
EcuadorDirect: (593 2) 223 44 36
Secrétariat: (593 2) 250 39 44
Fax: (593 2) 250 40 20
bernard.francou@ird.fr
