Scientists Install Weather Stations on South America’s Highest Peak to Track Climate Change
Aconcagua, Argentina — In February, an international team of climbers and scientists summited Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, to install advanced weather monitoring equipment aimed at studying the effects of climate change in the Andes.
Led by Tom Matthews of King’s College London, the team endured weeks of trekking and camping through harsh, rocky terrain to reach the summit, which rises nearly 7,000 meters above sea level. Once there, they took in the vast, arid beauty of the surrounding Andes Mountains before turning their attention to their scientific mission.
“The landscape is beautiful and exceptionally barren,” said Matthews. “It’s very, very dry, but also stunning.”
The team installed one of five weather stations on the snowy summit, with the others positioned at varying elevations along the mountain. These stations will continuously record data on temperature, precipitation, and other key climate variables.
The project aims to better understand how rising global temperatures are impacting snowpack and glacier melt on Aconcagua. Both processes have critical downstream effects, as mountain snow and ice act as natural reservoirs, slowly releasing water that supports communities far below during warmer months.
“As the climate changes, the way that reservoir behaves is changing,” Matthews explained. “Everything downstream is potentially at risk. We really need to understand how. The details matter, and that’s what work like this is about.”
The data collected will contribute to global climate models and help local and regional planners prepare for a future where water availability may become increasingly unpredictable.
Only 28% of Americans regularly hear about climate change in the media — despite 77% saying they want more climate-related news. Initiatives like this expedition, and the stories that emerge from them, are essential in bridging that gap.
