The International Research Network - ANDES Climate-Cryosphere-Hydrosphere (ANDES-C2H IRN) aims to bring together scientists from different French and South American institutions whose research focuses on the study of the dynamics of the water cycle and associated environmental changes, in interaction with climate forcings and changes in surface conditions, along the Andes.

In South America, more than 80 million people are directly dependent on mountain water resources. However, the question of their future availability is still being debated and requires the coordination of research activities. The Andes extend from 10°N in Venezuela to 55°S in Patagonia. They encompass a variety of mountain climates ranging from very wet conditions near the Equator, on the eastern flank of the tropical Andes and in western Patagonia, to very dry conditions in the western part of the central Andes.

The cryosphere (snow/ice) is an essential component of these mountain regions for water resources. In addition, the impact of regional and global climate variability (ENSO, monsoon, global warming, etc.) and local conditions (orography, surface conditions) on precipitation patterns must be considered. Indeed, this spatio-temporal variability of precipitation, which is particularly marked in the Andean mountains, must be taken into account in order to understand the evolution of water flows within the hydro-systems. In particular, changes in glacial masses and seasonal snow cover play a major role in variations in surface and subsurface water flows in mountain catchments.

Although identified, the impact of climate change on the evolution of the different compartments of hydro-systems is still poorly understood due to the lack of observations and the difficulty of modelling all the processes. This will therefore be the focus of ANDES-C2H IRN.