Chevallier Pierre auteur aut IRD Pouyaud Bernard auteur aut IRD Suarez W. auteur aut IRD Condom Thomas auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Almost all of the world's glaciers in the tropical latitudes are located in the Central Andes (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia). Due to their high altitude, to the high level of radiation and to the tropical climate dynamics, they all are particularly threatened by climate change, as a result of not only warming, but also of changing variability of precipitation. Many glaciers are of crucial importance for the livelihood of the local populations and even for three capitals, Lima (Peru), La Paz (Bolivia) and Quito (Ecuador), which depend on them for water and energy supplies. This paper shows that after a period of increased flow due to the glacier melt disequilibrium, the available water resource will decrease along with the rapid shrinking of the glaciers considered as water reservoirs. The case of the Cordillera Blanca (Peru) is analyzed more in detail with the mid-term (20 years) and long-term (1-2 centuries) impact of the glacier shrinking on the local water resources. Associated risks for the population and consequences for the human activities (tourism, hydropower, agriculture and stockbreeding, large-scale irrigation) are described at each stage of the mountain range. specialized Water resources Water uses High mountains Tropical glaciers Central Andes 062 021 11 Suppl. 1 S179-S187 2011 1436-3798 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010052664 10.1007/s10113-010-0177-6 1436-3798 [F B010052664] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010052664 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/depot/2011-10-06/010052664.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2011-05-02 2017-08-23 fdi:010052664 fre