Mountain GeoScience Group

at Universidad de Concepción (MGSG@UdeC)

About Us

We are a diverse team of Geoscientists curious about dynamics occurring on Mountain Areas, with a strong focus on the Atmosphere-Cryosphere-Hydrosphere nexus. Our research seeks to understand hydroclimatic interactions occurring in Mountain Environments and the application of the implications for policy and decision making. The tools we use include numerical climate modeling, hydroclimatic observations, climate proxies, GIS, and remote sensing. Profoundly, we embrace developing interdisciplinary approaches to questions relevant to society related to hydroclimatic change.

​The MGSG@UdeC Team

Alfonso Fernández (CV)

Full Professor

David Farías-Barahona

Assistant Professor

Research: High-Mountain geography, GeoHazards, Permafrost

Jan Arndt

Postdoctoral Researcher


Research: Glacial geomorphology & Glacial morphometry

Mariajose Herrera

Postdoctoral Researcher


Research: Glacial geomorphology & Glacial morphometry

Isabella Ciocca

Associate Researcher
Masters in Regional Sciences
​UdeC

Research: Wildfire modeling

Francisco Castro

Ph.D. Student
Geological Sciences
UdeC

Research: Natural Hazards

Sofía Navas

Ph.D. Student
Geological Sciences
UdeC

Research: Glacial Geomorphology, paleoclimate

Hazem Mahmoud

Ph.D. Student
Environmental Science and Engineering
University of Texas San Antonio

Research: Glacier Volume Change, Photogrammetry

Andreaw Rifo

Masters Student
Regional Sciences ​UdeC

Research: Flood modeling, UAV and Lidar

Belén Cartes

Masters Student
Geographical Analysis
UdeC

Research: Climate trends and modeling

Gianni Leal

Masters Student
Geographical Analysis
UdeC

Research: Snow mapping and analysis

Juan Varas

Masters Student
Geographical Analysis
UdeC

Research: Glacier Volume Change, LiDAR

Active Research Projects

Supporting detailed monitoring of Nevados de Chillán, Ñuble region, central macro-zone.

Funding: Ministry of Public Works

Implementación de una infraestructura de datos geoespacial geomorfológica (I2GEO), para la región del BioBío: una herramienta estandarizada para la planificación territorial.

Funding: ANID - FONDEF

Centro Interdisciplinario para las Montañas de los Andes del Sur (CIMASur).

Funding: Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Desarrollo, Universidad de Concepción

Trajectories of glacier volume in the Sierra del Brujo, Central Chile (34º30’S) under the RCP8.5 scenario using reanalysis of multidecadal geodetic mass balance and coupled atmosphere-cryosphere modeling.

Funding: ANID-FONDECYT

Modeling mountain streamflow and hydroclimate-elevation feedbacks in the Andean Araucania of Chile.

Funding: ANID-FONDECYT

Changing landscapes: From glaciers to lakes.

Funding: National Geographic Society

Fortalecimiento del intercambio y vinculación internacional de investigación y formación de recursos humanos para el estudio de cambios en el paisaje y sus efectos en ambientes de montaña.

Funding: ANID

Two or three minutes to midnight? Tropical ice loss following Amazon tipping points.

Funding: Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation.