Universidad de Magallanes

Abstract GeoLatinas is a nonprofit organization based on members volunteering and Co‑Leadership, which conduct initiatives to foster skills and knowledge transference collectively. This chapter describes GeoLatinas mentoring program design and workflow, which is aimed at building a tailored mentoring program focused on Latinas in geoscience careers. The program design involved a literature review, webinar organizations, surveys, and feedback from the GeoLatinas members, and shared experiences from our liaisons and advisers. GeoLatinas designed mentoring program is focused on younger generations of Latinas in STEM disciplines, particularly in geosciences. The mentoring program is rooted in Latina sisterhood, which is focused on creating a safe place for Latinas to grow professionally. Also, peer mentoring accelerates leadership skills among members who undertake initiatives. Here, we discuss lessons and challenges that mentors, mentees, and program coordinators overcame, which resulted in a successful mentoring experience in a formal program. We recognized the coordinators’ significant role, especially demands regarding volunteering and commitment. We strongly believe that our workflow may aid other non–profit organizations for mentoring purposes.

<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> Mountain permafrost is an important feature affecting slope stability and hydrological processes, yet its distribution remains poorly understood in many parts of the world, including Chile. This study develops the first countrywide high-resolution (30 m x 30 m) model of mountain permafrost distribution in mainland Chile, using geomorphological evidence from intact (active and inactive) and relict rock glaciers, along with empirical indicators of permafrost presence/absence primarily derived from borehole temperature records, test pits, and surface temperature measurements. We employ a generalized additive model representing local and regional trends by incorporating mean annual air temperature, potential incoming solar radiation, and latitude as predictors. This model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.70 (0.74) in spatial (non-spatial) cross-validation. The model's predictions generate a Permafrost Favorability Index (PFI), which expresses the potential of permafrost occurrence conditional on the predictor variables. Excluding glaciers, rock glaciers and vegetated surfaces, areas with PFI values &ge;0.75 were classified as having favorable conditions for permafrost development. Under this criterion, approximately 1.06 % (8,042 km²) of mainland Chile exhibits conditions suitable for mountain permafrost, concentrated in the Atacama, Antofagasta, Coquimbo, and Santiago Metropolitan regions (21&ndash;32&deg; S and 33&ndash;34&deg; S). In contrast, permafrost is scarce or absent from the Maule to the Magallanes regions (south of ~36&deg; S). The interpretation of PFI values should consider local environmental factors not included in the model, such as snow cover duration, clast size, soil properties, and surface albedo. These variables may influence the presence or absence of permafrost locally and should be accounted for using an interpretative guide. This first version of the permafrost distribution model provides a baseline for understanding its general distribution in Chile, which should be refined as new empirical evidence and improved subsurface temperature records become available in the future.