Francisco Javier Aguirre González, Ph.D.

Title

Resident lecturer of Earth System and Climate Science

Location

Puerto Natales, Chile

Education

Ph.D. in Antarctic and Subantarctic sciences
Universidad de Magallanes (Punta Arenas, Chile)

Civil engineer, geographer

Teaching

SFS 3601 Earth System and Climate Science

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About

Faculty Profile


Dr. Aguirre is a civil engineer, geographer, and mountain climber who is passionate about science in Patagonia, focusing on the interactions between the atmosphere and cryosphere geosystems and their impacts on environments and communities. Much of his research examines questions of glaciology and hydroclimatology in a variety of environmental contexts. He also likes to review and validate new methods and their implementation to evaluate hydroclimatic variability and impacts on atmosphere-cryosphere interactions. Dr. Aguirre grew up in Central Chile, between the high Andes and agricultural fields, and his professional experience includes private companies, government agencies and research groups. He has worked in Patagonia in collaboration with different interdisciplinary researchers and government institutions, examining the cryosphere and climate change.

Prior to joining SFS, Dr. Aguirre implemented a Long-Term Ecologic Network measuring greenhouse gases (GHG) as a member of the Cape Horn International Centre (CHIC) of the Universidad de Magallanes (UMAG). These stations evaluate ongoing changes in the region’s hydroclimatic systems as well as Patagonian environmental responses. Dr. Aguirre also is part of the Centro de Investigación Gaia Antártica (CIGA) of UMAG, working as postdoctoral researcher in the project “Development of a prototype alert system to reduce the impact of glacier-related flood events (SAGAZ)”.

Dr. Aguirre received his doctorate from the Universidad de Magallanes, where he studied in an interdisciplinary program in Antarctic and Subantarctic Science, in which he focused on glaciology and climatology, and their interactions with terrestrial ecosystems in southern Patagonia. One goal of his studies was to give tools and answers to regional decision-makers about future climate change scenarios, and he continues with institutional collaborations, such as with the Dirección General de Aguas (DGA) and the Antarctic Chilean Institute (INACH).

Academics & Research

Professional Activities


  • Centro de Investigación Gaia Antártica (CIGA) of Universidad de Magallanes (2017 – to present)
  • Cape Horn International Centre (CHIC) (2020-2022)
  • Scientific Department, Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) (2017-2022)
  • Ecology and Biodiversity Institute (IEB) (2019-2022)

Research Interests


  • Glaciology and hydroclimatic modelling
  • Climatology and climate modelling
  • Data science and GIS
  • Remote sensing
  • Outputs

    Publications

    Nagy, L.; Eller, C.B.; Mercado, L.M.; Cuesta, F.; Llambí, L.D.; Buscardo, E.; Aragão, L.E.O.C.; García-Núñez, C.; Oliveira, R.S.; Barbosa, M.; et al. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2023.2196966 2023, doi:10.1080/17550874.2023.2196966.
    Quilodrán, C. S., Sandvig, E. M., Aguirre, F., de Aguilar, J. R., Barroso, O., Vásquez, R. A., & Rozzi, R. (2022). Biodiversity and Conservation, 1-15.
    Aguirre, F., Squeo, F. A., López, D., Grego, R. D., Buma, B., Carvajal, D., ... & Rozzi, R. (2021). In Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia (Vol. 49).
    Etayo, J., Sancho, L. G., Gómez-Bolea, A., Sochting, U., Aguirre, F., & Rozzi, R. (2021). Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia, 2021, vol. 49, p. 1-110.
    Sandvig, E., Quilodrán, C. S., Aguirre, F., de Aguilar, J. R., Barroso, O., Vásquez, R. A., & Rozzi, R. (2020). In Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia (Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 169-183). Universidad de Magallanes.
    Aguirre, F., Carrasco, J., Sauter, T., Schneider, C., Gaete, K., Garín, E., ... & Casassa, G. (2018). Frontiers in Earth Science, 6, 130.

    Presentations

    Aguirre F., Vera C., Gonzalez I., Jaña R., and Casassa G. (2022). Oral Presentation, III Congreso de la Sociedad Chilena de la Criósfera, May 25 of 2022, Pucón, Chile.
    Aguirre F., Sauter T., Schneider C., Boskurt D., Delgado R., Carrasco J., Gaete K, Jaña R y Casassa G., 2019. II Congreso de la Sociedad Chilena de la Criósfera, May 9-10 of 2019, La Serena, Chile.
    Aguirre F., Carrasco J., Sauter T., Schneider C., Gaete K., Garín E., Adaros R., Jaña R., Casassa G. 2018. I Congreso de la Sociedad Chilena de la Criósfera, March 8-9 of 2018, Valdivia, Chile.
    Aguirre, F., Gaete, K., Jaña, R. y Casassa, G. 2017. Conference and Workshop Climate Impacts on glaciers and biosphere in Fuego-Patagonia, 14-18 julio 2017, Humboldt Universität, Berlín, Alemania, https://www.geographie.hu-deberlin.de/en/professorships/climate_geography/gabyvasa_abstractbook_berlin2017-v04.pdf.
    Aguirre, F., Gaete, K., Sauter, T., Schneider, C., Jaña, R. and Casassa, G. 2017. XI Congreso de Iniciación Científica y Profesional de Estudiantes: CICYPE 2017: Ciencia e Innovación en Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego y Antártica. Universidad de Magallanes, November 30 and December 1 of 2017.