{"id":17864,"date":"2020-09-03T12:00:42","date_gmt":"2020-09-03T15:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/?p=17864"},"modified":"2025-02-10T12:38:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T15:38:59","slug":"the-contribution-of-glacier-streamflows-to-the-maipo-river-could-decrease-to-75","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glaciareschilenos.org\/en\/notes\/the-contribution-of-glacier-streamflows-to-the-maipo-river-could-decrease-to-75\/","title":{"rendered":"The contribution of glacier streamflows to the Maipo River could decrease to 75%"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to a study made by Cetaqua Water Technology Centre, the glacier contributions could be greatly reduced by the Chilean summertime \u2013 from December to March \u2013 which would expose the basin of the <\/span>Metropolitana<\/span><\/i> region to a complicated situation of vulnerability.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a recent research carried out by Cetaqua \u2013 requested by the <\/span>Junta de Vigilancia del R\u00edo Maipo<\/span><\/i> [an organization that safeguards the correct use of water resources of the <\/span>Maipo<\/span><\/i> River], <\/span>Aguas Andinas<\/span><\/i> [water supply and sanitation Chilean company] and Maipo Water Channels Association \u2013 the streamflows of the <\/span>Maipo<\/span><\/i> river will decrease by 75% in Chilean summer and spring seasons of the middle and end of this century.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Crucial Contribution from Glaciers<\/b><\/p>\n

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Nowadays, glaciers contribute about 40% of the streamflow from the main river that supplies the <\/span>Metropolitana<\/span><\/i> region, a figure that would decrease up to 15% in 80 years. According to the research, glaciers from the basin will have a significant surface and volume reduction, so the involved entities that conducted the research request to be conscious of climate change impacts. \u201cIt\u2019s important to understand that glaciers\u2019 contribution is crucial to some rivers\u2019 streamflow such as <\/span>Maipo<\/span><\/i>, which is the largest drinking water supplier of the <\/span>Metropolitana <\/span><\/i>region. In this case, if we aren\u2019t conscious of how important its care is, the issues associated with water scarcity will be even more serious than they already are today. For this reason, one of our purposes as an investigation center is to carry out an anticipated work to take better decisions and actions to face climate change,\u201d Carmen Lacoma emphasized, CEO of Cetaqua Chile.<\/span><\/p>\n

The research mentions that \u2013 in a possible stage where the polluting emissions aren\u2019t reduced\u00a0 80 years from now \u2013 glaciers from the central zone of Chile would lose a substantive part of their volume, so streamflows from the <\/span>Maipo <\/span><\/i>river would decrease until their highest points, both by Chilean summer and spring. Due to this, <\/span>Santiago <\/span><\/i>city will be in an extreme state in the face of the water shortage. \u201cOne more time, it confirms that climate change effects will have a long-term impact. Therefore, it\u2019s necessary to act with a global and collaborative vision that allows us to deal with this problem as best as possible. Beyond taking consciousness about it, with these studies, we look for tools that let us make anticipated and shared decisions with the rest of basin users.\u201d Jon\u00e1s de Miguel explained, CSO of <\/span>Aguas Andinas.<\/span><\/i> Finally, the study also exposes significant reductions in <\/span>El Yeso, Bello, Pir\u00e1mide, <\/span><\/i>and <\/span>D073 glaciers,<\/span><\/i> regarding their volume and surface in different stages due to increasing temperatures and rainfalls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Productive landscapes of the <\/span>Maipo<\/span><\/i> river \/ \u00a9 Montserrat Castro<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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Anticipated decisions in case of unfavorable stages<\/b><\/p>\n

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The research simulated two future scenarios from 2020 to 2100. The first one is optimistic regarding the control of greenhouse gas emissions, while the second is more pessimistic considering The Paris Agreement as a complete failure, which sets worldwide goals to hold global warming below 2\u00b0C. Both projections demonstrate a \u201creduction of glacier contribution by 75% of current runoff volumes to the basin during summertime (from March to December in Chile),\u201d the text mentions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to quantifying the decrease of the glacier contribution to the river\u2019s total streamflow, another relevant conclusion about the study is the anticipated arrival of the peak streamflow, which has historically originated in December. However, the peak will take place one or two months earlier, probably in November due to the earlier melting and the glacier volume decrease. For this reason, it\u2019s necessary to adapt the current model management of the basin,\u201d Carmen Lacoma concluded the announcement based on the report.<\/span><\/p>\n

To address these prognostics about climate model, it requires a joint effort between countries, governments, civil society, the private sector, and all relevant entities when making decisions about energy matrix, resource extraction, technological advances, and several variables that influence the greenhouse gas concentration. Consequently, these types of projections determine the path to take by authorities and their possible action plan to mitigate climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

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References:<\/b><\/p>\n