IANIGLA   20881
INSTITUTO ARGENTINO DE NIVOLOGIA, GLACIOLOGIA Y CIENCIAS AMBIENTALES
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Hydro-climatic variability and socio-territorial processes in the western sector of La Rioja and Catamarca since the 18th century
Autor/es:
ROJAS, FACUNDO; MARIA DEL ROSARIO PRIETO; RICARDO VILLALBA
Lugar:
Uspallata
Reunión:
Workshop; Documenting, understanding and projecting changes in the hydrological cycle in the American Cordillera IAI CRN 2047B; 2013
Institución organizadora:
Inter American Institute for Global Change Research
Resumen:
In the western  sectors  of La Rioja and Catamarca, there is a  significant  lack of hydroclimatic information. Instrumental data are short (a few decades), not  homogeneous  and fragmentary. However, there  is an increase in  socio-economic activities with a high demand  of  water (wine and olive  production  for export, mining and tourism) in a context of water scarcity, probably exacerbated by climate change.  The  objectives  of this study  are  to  (1)  provide basic  hydro-climatic  information  from  historical series on climate and  river flows  and (2) evaluate the  social and economic  vulnerability  over  the  past  three  centuries.  The study area is located in western  sectors  of  La  Rioja and  Catamarca  provinces, Argentina, between 20° and 30° S. This  arid zonepresents a marked water deficit. Rainfalls range from 100 to 350 mm per year with a high annualevaporation between 1000  and 2000  mm. Mean annual  temperature  decreases  with elevation from  20°  to  5° C.  The major water sources  in the  region  are small  rivers  or streams  fed by the melting of snow/glacier in  the  main  Andes  Mountains. Changes in water supply in relation to climate variability will be assessed at the localities of  Villa Unión, Chilecito-Antinaco-Los Colorados, Pipanaco  and  Fiambalá-Tinogasta-Aimogasta-Mazán.  Based on  historical documents  from the late  18 th century,  we  postulate a gradual reduction in  snow  and river flows since the  mid-20 th century  in  western  La Rioja and Catamarca.    In the context  of  future  climate change  simulations  for the  21 st century,  which  indicate  a decrease in  a  snow precipitation  in  the  Cordillera,  we  assume  an  increase  of social  vulnerability;  however, social vulnerability  in the region is also related to strong socio-economic inequalities.