| Título | Revista | Autores | Año | Línea de Investigación | DOI | Enlace | Páginas | Volumen | ISSN | Index | Acceso | Idioma | Abstract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distributed parameter identification for the Navier–Stokes equations for obstacle detection | Inverse Problems | Aguayo, J.; Bertoglio, C.; Osses, A. | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1088/1361-6420/ad1133 | https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6420/ad1133 | art015012 | Vol: 40 Issue: 1 | 02665611 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | We present a parameter identification problem for a scalar permeability field and the maximum velocity in an inflow, following a reference profile. We utilize a modified version of the Navier–Stokes equations, incorporating a permeability term described by the Brinkman’s Law into the momentum equation. This modification takes into account the presence of obstacles on some parts of the boundary. For the outflow, we implement a directional do-nothing condition as a means of stabilizing the backflow. This work extends our previous research published in (Aguayo et al 2021 Inverse Problems 37 025010), where we considered a similar inverse problem for a linear Oseen model with do-nothing boundary conditions on the outlet and numerical simulations in 2D. Here we consider the more realistic case of Navier–Stokes equations with a backflow correction on the outflow and 3D simulations of the identification of a more realistic tricuspid cardiac valve. From a reference velocity that could have some noise or be obtained in low resolution, we define a suitable quadratic cost functional with some regularization terms. Existence of minimizers and first and second order optimality conditions are derived through the differentiability of the solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations with respect to the permeability and maximum velocity in the inflow. Finally, we present some synthetic numerical test based of recovering a 2D and 3D shape of a cardiac valve from total and local velocity measurements, inspired from 2D and 3D MRI. © 2024 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved. |
| PatagoniaMet: A multi-source hydrometeorological dataset for Western Patagonia | Scientific Data | Aguayo, R.; León-Muñoz, J.; Aguayo, M.; Baez-Villanueva, O.; Zambrano-Bigiarini, M.; Fernández, A.; Jacques-Coper, M. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos; Zonas Costeras | 10.1038/s41597-023-02828-2 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02828-2 | art6 | Vol: 11 Issue: 1 | 20524463 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Western Patagonia (40–56°S) is a clear example of how the systematic lack of publicly available data and poor quality control protocols have hindered further hydrometeorological studies. To address these limitations, we present PatagoniaMet (PMET), a compilation of ground-based hydrometeorological data (PMET-obs; 1950–2020), and a daily gridded product of precipitation and temperature (PMET-sim; 1980–2020). PMET-obs was developed considering a 4-step quality control process applied to 523 hydrometeorological time series obtained from eight institutions in Chile and Argentina. Following current guidelines for hydrological datasets, several climatic and geographic attributes were derived for each catchment. PMET-sim was developed using statistical bias correction procedures, spatial regression models and hydrological methods, and was compared against other bias-corrected alternatives using hydrological modelling. PMET-sim was able to achieve Kling-Gupta efficiencies greater than 0.7 in 72% of the catchments, while other alternatives exceeded this threshold in only 50% of the catchments. PatagoniaMet represents an important milestone in the availability of hydro-meteorological data that will facilitate new studies in one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in the world. © 2024, The Author(s). |
| HESS Opinions: The unsustainable use of groundwater conceals a "Day Zero" | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences | Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Boisier, J.; Garreaud, R.; González, J.; Rondanelli, R.; Gayó, E.; Zambrano-Bigiarini, M. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos; Zonas Costeras; Ciudades Resilientes | 10.5194/hess-28-1605-2024 | https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1605-2024 | 1605-1616 | Vol: 28 Issue: 7 | 10275606 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Water scarcity is a pressing global issue driven by increasing water demands and changing climate conditions. Based on novel estimates of water availability and water use in Chile, we examine the challenges and risks associated with groundwater (GW) withdrawals in the country's central-north region (27-35°ĝ€¯S), where extreme water stress conditions prevail. As total water use within a basin approaches the renewable freshwater resources, the dependence on GW reserves intensifies in unsustainable ways. This overuse has consequences that extend beyond mere resource depletion, manifesting into environmental degradation, societal conflict, and economic costs. We argue that the "Day Zero"scenario, often concealed by the uncertain attributes of GW resources, calls for a reconsideration of water allocation rules and a broader recognition of the long-term implications of unsustainable GW use. Our results offer insights for regions worldwide facing similar water scarcity challenges and emphasize the importance of proactive and sustainable water management strategies. © 2024 Camila Alvarez-Garreton et al. | |
| Acidithiobacillia class members originating at sites within the Pacific Ring of Fire and other tectonically active locations and description of the novel genus ‘Igneacidithiobacillus’ | Frontiers in Microbiology | Arisan, D.; Moya-Beltrán, A.; Rojas-Villalobos, C.; Issotta, F.; Castro, M.; Ulloa, R.; Chiacchiarini, P.; Díez, B.; Martín, A.; Ñancucheo, I.; Giaveno, A.; Johnson, D.; Quatrini, R. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1360268 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1360268 | art1360268 | Vol: 15 | 1664302X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Recent studies have expanded the genomic contours of the Acidithiobacillia, highlighting important lacunae in our comprehension of the phylogenetic space occupied by certain lineages of the class. One such lineage is ‘Igneacidithiobacillus’, a novel genus-level taxon, represented by ‘Igneacidithiobacillus copahuensis’ VAN18-1T as its type species, along with two other uncultivated metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) originating from geothermally active sites across the Pacific Ring of Fire. In this study, we investigate the genetic and genomic diversity, and the distribution patterns of several uncharacterized Acidithiobacillia class strains and sequence clones, which are ascribed to the same 16S rRNA gene sequence clade. By digging deeper into this data and contributing to novel MAGs emerging from environmental studies in tectonically active locations, the description of this novel genus has been consolidated. Using state-of-the-art genomic taxonomy methods, we added to already recognized taxa, an additional four novel Candidate (Ca.) species, including ‘Ca. Igneacidithiobacillus chanchocoensis’ (mCHCt20-1TS), ‘Igneacidithiobacillus siniensis’ (S30A2T), ‘Ca. Igneacidithiobacillus taupoensis’ (TVZ-G3 TS), and ‘Ca. Igneacidithiobacillus waiarikiensis’ (TVZ-G4 TS). Analysis of published data on the isolation, enrichment, cultivation, and preliminary microbiological characterization of several of these unassigned or misassigned strains, along with the type species of the genus, plus the recoverable environmental data from metagenomic studies, allowed us to identify habitat preferences of these taxa. Commonalities and lineage-specific adaptations of the seven species of the genus were derived from pangenome analysis and comparative genomic metabolic reconstruction. The findings emerging from this study lay the groundwork for further research on the ecology, evolution, and biotechnological potential of the novel genus ‘Igneacidithiobacillus’. Copyright © 2024 Arisan, Moya-Beltrán, Rojas-Villalobos, Issotta, Castro, Ulloa, Chiaccharini, Díez, Martín, Ñancucheo, Giaveno, Johnson and Quatrini. |
| On the timescale of drought indices for monitoring streamflow drought considering catchment hydrological regimes | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences | Baez-Villanueva, O.; Zambrano-Bigiarini, M.; Miralles, D.; Beck, H.; Siegmund, J.; Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Verbist, K.; Garreaud, R.; Boisier, J.; Galleguillos, M. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo; Agua y Extremos | 10.5194/hess-28-1415-2024 | https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1415-2024 | 1415-1439 | Vol: 28 Issue: 6 | 10275606 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | There is a wide variety of drought indices, yet a consensus on suitable indices and temporal scales for monitoring streamflow drought remains elusive across diverse hydrological settings. Considering the growing interest in spatially distributed indices for ungauged areas, this study addresses the following questions: (i) What temporal scales of precipitation-based indices are most suitable to assess streamflow drought in catchments with different hydrological regimes? (ii) Do soil moisture indices outperform meteorological indices as proxies for streamflow drought? (iii) Are snow indices more effective than meteorological indices for assessing streamflow drought in snow-influenced catchments? To answer these questions, we examined 100 near-natural catchments in Chile with four hydrological regimes, using the standardised precipitation index (SPI), standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), empirical standardised soil moisture index (ESSMI), and standardised snow water equivalent index (SWEI), aggregated across various temporal scales. Cross-correlation and event coincidence analysis were applied between these indices and the standardised streamflow index at a temporal scale of 1 month (SSI-1), as representative of streamflow drought events. Our results underscore that there is not a single drought index and temporal scale best suited to characterise all streamflow droughts in Chile, and their suitability largely depends on catchment memory. Specifically, in snowmelt-driven catchments characterised by a slow streamflow response to precipitation, the SPI at accumulation periods of 12-24 months serves as the best proxy for characterising streamflow droughts, with median correlation and coincidence rates of approximately 0.70-0.75 and 0.58-0.75, respectively. In contrast, the SPI at a 3-month accumulation period is the best proxy over faster-response rainfall-driven catchments, with median coincidence rates of around 0.55. Despite soil moisture and snowpack being key variables that modulate the propagation of meteorological deficits into hydrological ones, meteorological indices are better proxies for streamflow drought. Finally, to exclude the influence of non-drought periods, we recommend using the event coincidence analysis, a method that helps assessing the suitability of meteorological, soil moisture, and/or snow drought indices as proxies for streamflow drought events. © 2024 The Author(s). |
| Assessing the incorporation of latent variables in the estimation of the value of a statistical life | Risk Analysis | Barrientos, M.; Vásquez Lavín, F.; Ponce Oliva, R. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1111/risa.14286 | https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.14286 | 02724332 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | For many years, the economic literature has recognized the role of attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions in estimating the value of a statistical life (VSL). However, few applications have attempted to include them. This article incorporates the perceived controllability and concern about traffic and cardiorespiratory risks to estimate VSL using a hybrid choice model (HCM). The HCM allows us to include unobserved heterogeneity and improve behavioral realism explicitly. Using data from a choice experiment conducted in Santiago, Chile, we estimate a VSL of US$3.78 million for traffic risks and US$2.06 million for cardiorespiratory risks. We found that higher controllability decreases the likelihood that the respondents would be willing to pay for risk reductions in both risks. On the other hand, concern about these risks decreases the willingness to pay for traffic risk reductions but increases it for cardiorespiratory risk reductions. © 2024 Society for Risk Analysis. | |||
| Systemic modeling strategies in public policy: an appraisal from literature | Environmental Science & Policy | Billi, M.; Allendes, A.; Jiliberto, R.; Ramos-Jiliberto, R.; Salinas, B.; Urquiza, A. | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103668 | https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103668 | 103668 | Vol: 153 | 14629011 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Contemporary society has grown increasingly dependent on the integration of knowledge for decision-making. In this context, systemic modeling is acknowledged as a straightforward tool for representing and analyzing complex problems. To address how systemic modeling is being conducted to guide and support public policy-making, this study offers a brief synthesis of the literature on systemic modeling oriented to help public policy decision-making. The results are compared to three principles for good systemic modeling to support public policy, established by the authors: the model must a) be readable and manageable —to a basic level— by non-experts, b) require as little quantitative data as possible, and c) not generate spurious or ambiguous readings of their content or their outputs. To identify modeling patterns the models were subjected to a content analysis under eleven different categories. To depict the possible co-occurrence of these analyzed categories in order to describe different types of modeling, a multiple correspondence analysis was performed. We found different modeling patterns with a marked trend to use system modeling as a performative device to let emerging cognitively a new entity, the structure of a complex problem. Regarding our proposal for modeling public policy problems, it can be said that the modeling strategies that fit better with the proposed principles are those that were identified as qualitative and oriented to public policy. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Infrastructure Conditions and Service Quality in Rural Drinking Water Systems: A Cluster Analysis of Community-Based Organizations in Chile | Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management | Bopp, C.; Nicolas-Artero, C.; Blanco, E.; Fuster, R. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1061/JWRMD5.WRENG-6318 | https://doi.org/10.1061/JWRMD5.WRENG-6318 | art05024003 | Vol: 150 Issue: 6 | 07339496 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | In many countries, the drinking water provision in rural areas is in the charge of the users themselves, who constitute rural water supply services (RWS) to operate and maintain the public infrastructure provided by the State. However, in practice, the condition of the components of the implied infrastructure managed by RWS varies considerably, which has important implications for delivering high-quality service. This case study explores the nexus among infrastructure conditions, performance outcomes, and organization characteristics using the case of Chile. Using representatives' assessments from 406 RWS regarding the need for the replacement of several components of their system's infrastructure, an index of infrastructure conditions was constructed and subjected to a cluster analysis that identified three dissimilar groups of RWS. The top condition cluster represents a reference group (benchmark) that exhibits the highest scores in water quality, quantity, and delivery reliability, which highlights the association between infrastructure conditions and performance outcomes. In addition, a comparison of RWS attributes of these three clusters allowed us to characterize them in terms of structural, organizational, management, and environmental variables. This study sheds light on the role of RWS infrastructure in enabling these organizations to deliver high-quality service, and the findings serve to guide policy actions and tailored planning. The methodology presented here can be applied in other regions beyond that of the case study because it represents a low-cost tool to measure the infrastructure condition of RWS based on representatives' assessments and is an effective and practical way to distinguish RWS most in need of support. © 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers. | |
| Atmospheric River Brings Warmth and Rainfall to the Northern Antarctic Peninsula During the Mid-Austral Winter of 2023 | Geophysical Research Letters | Bozkurt, D.; Carrasco, J.; Cordero, R.; Fernandoy, F.; Gómez-Contreras, A.; Carrillo, B.; Guan, B. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1029/2024GL108391 | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108391 | arte2024GL108391 | Vol: 51 Issue: 13 | 00948276 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Contrasting the extensive research on summer atmospheric rivers (ARs) in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), winter AR impacts are less understood. This study examines a unique warming event from 1 to 3 July 2023, using in situ winter observations and ERA5 reanalysis. On 2 July, Frei station experienced an extreme warm event with a temperature of 2.7°C and a significant rise in the freezing level, coinciding with winter rainfall. A pressure dipole pattern over the AP, with contrasting circulations over Bellingshausen and Weddell Seas, facilitated an AR, carrying warm, humid air initially from South America/Atlantic and then the southeast Pacific. This shift resulted in anomalous water stable isotope composition in precipitation. Trends suggest a strengthening winter pressure dipole, associated with increased AR frequency and higher temperatures in northern AP. These findings highlight the importance of winter observations in exploring AR impacts, bridging knowledge gaps about winter AR behaviors. © 2024. The Author(s). |
| Atmospheric blocking and temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula | Science of the Total Environment | Bozkurt, D.; Marín, J.; Verdugo, C.; Barrett, B. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172852 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172852 | art172852 | Vol: 931 | 00489697 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The Antarctic Peninsula (AP) has displayed a propensity for persistent blocking ridges and anticyclonic conditions, particularly during recent summertime extreme weather events. This study investigates atmospheric blocking patterns over the AP through historical (1981–2010) and future (2071–2100, SSP5–8.5) periods using ERA5 reanalysis and six CMIP6 models, including multi-member realizations from two models totaling ten simulations. We focus particularly on 500 hPa geopotential height (Z500) and near-surface air temperature (T2m) anomalies. The historical analysis highlights significant differences between the CMIP6 models and ERA5 reanalysis, especially in the austral winter, with EC-Earth3 and INM-CM4 models matching closest with the ERA5. Future projections show that while the northern AP and the Drake Passage largely do not exhibit a clear trend towards increased blocking, there are exceptions. The EC-Earth3 model predicts more blocking–like conditions northwest of the AP in summer and a pronounced ridge over the Bellingshausen Sea in winter, indicating a potential increase in blocking events. The INM-CM4 model projects a minor increase in summer Z500 heights off the western and southern AP, without clear blocking patterns over the AP, and negligible winter changes. Localized intensification is noted in the northern parts of the blocking domain and southern AP during extreme blocking conditions. These variations are mirrored in T2m anomalies, suggesting warming in the northern and southern sections of AP but little change elsewhere. The results of this study underscore the need to more accurately capture complex blocking mechanisms and their impacts on regional climate patterns around the AP. We also suggest employing refined blocking definitions and incorporating a broader range of climate models to enhance our understanding of blocking patterns and their impacts in a changing climate. © 2024 Elsevier B.V. | |
| Evaluating the ability of convolutional neural networks for transfer learning in Pinus radiata cover predictions | Ecological Informatics | Bravo-Diaz, A.; Moreno, S.; Lopatin, J. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2024.102684 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2024.102684 | art102684 | Vol: 82 | 15749541 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | The species Pinus radiata is highly invasive in native forests in Chile, drastically affecting the functioning and structure of ecosystems. Hence, it is imperative to develop robust approaches to detect P. radiata invasions at different scales. Models based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) have proven to be a promising alternative to detect plant invasions in high-resolution remote sensing data, such as those obtained by drones. However, studies have been limited in their spatial variability and their assessments of transferability or transfer learning to new sectors, hindering the ability to use these models in a real-world setting. We train models based on CNN architectures using unpiloted aerial vehicle data and evaluate their ability to transfer learning outside the training domain using regression approaches. We compared models trained with low spatial variability (mono-site) with those with high spatial variability (multi-site). We further sought to maximize the transference of learning outside the training domain by searching among different architectures and models, maximizing the evaluation in an independent data set. The results showed that transfer learning is better when multi-site models with higher spatial variability are used for training, obtaining a coefficient of determination R2 between 60% and 87%. On the contrary, mono-site models present a wide variability of performance attributed to the dissimilarity of information between sites, limiting the possibilities of using these models for extrapolations or model generalizations. We also obtained a significant difference between within-domain generalization using test data versus transfer learning outside the training domain, showing that testing data alone cannot depict such discrepancy without further data. Finally, the best models for transfer learning on new data domains often do not agree with those selected by the standard training/validation/testing scheme. Our findings pave the way for deeper discussions and further investigations into the limitations of CNN models when applied to high-resolution imagery. © 2024 |
| Characterization of Multi-Decadal Beach Changes in Cartagena Bay (Valparaíso, Chile) from Satellite Imagery | Remote Sensing | Briceño de Urbaneja, I.; Pardo-Pascual, J.; Cabezas-Rabadán, C.; Aguirre, C.; Martínez, C.; Pérez-Martínez, W.; Palomar-Vázquez, J. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3390/rs16132360 | https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16132360 | art2360 | Vol: 16 Issue: 13 | 20724292 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Sandy coastlines are very dynamic spaces affected by a variety of natural and human factors. In Central Chile, changes in oceanographic and wave conditions, modes of inter-annual climate variability such as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and extreme events such as earthquakes and tsunamis condition the beach morphology. At the same time, direct human actions alter the arrival of sediments to the coast and their alongshore distribution. Despite the relevance of the beaches for this coastal region and the interesting relationship their morphology has with the aforementioned factors, there is a lack of robust morphological datasets to provide a deep characterization and understanding of the dynamism of the Chilean coast. Based on the information provided by satellite-derived shorelines (SDSs) defined by using the SHOREX algorithm, this paper characterizes the morphological changes of Playa Grande in Cartagena Bay (Central Chile) during the period 1985–2019. The shoreline position data are analyzed in the context of changing beach transforming elements, allowing for a better understanding of the changes according to multiple drivers. While some of these factors, such as earthquakes or coastal storms, have a punctual character, changes in wave patterns vary at different time scales, from seasonal to multi-annual, linked to climate phases such as ENSO. Its effects are translated into shoreline erosion and accretion conditioned by the morphology and orientation of the coast while influenced by the availability of sediment in the coastal system. According to that, a conceptual model of the dynamism and redistribution of sediment in the Bay of Cartagena is proposed. The work proves the high utility that the systematic analysis of multi-decadal SDS datasets obtained from the images acquired in the optical by the Landsat and Sentinel-2 offer for beach monitoring and understanding the coastal dynamism. © 2024 by the authors. |
| Women gatherers of nalca (Gunnera tinctoria) as guardians of socioecosystems: Local history, extractivism and restoration in Chile | Extractive Industries and Society | Cameron, J.; Vergara-Pinto, F.; Carrasco Henríquez, N.; Neves, C.; de Cortillas, N.; Flores, C. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.exis.2023.101394 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2023.101394 | art101394 | Vol: 17 | 2214790X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | In the coastal areas of southern Chile, an interdependence exists between gatherers and the nalca ecosystem known as “pajonal” (swampy spaces), as it provides livelihoods for families and gatherers work to restore and maintain the pajonales. However, the forestry industry has left significant parts of these ecosystems within their margins, impacting their distribution. In this regard, little attention has been paid to the effects of nalca decline on the lives of gatherers and their community responses. Through a historical and ethnographic approach, this paper aims to examine the trajectory followed by women gatherers of the "Agrupación Nalqueros de Pehuén'' in Lebu (Arauco Province, Chile), who have dedicated themselves to the care of socio-ecosystems amidst the globalisation of forest industry and certification process. The results revealed a historical trajectory of nalca gathering marked by interscalar processes that led to governance practices in the interstices of an imposed monocultural geography. In response, the group has resisted and made efforts to achieve the restoration of pajonales amidst forest extractivism. Caring for the nalcas involves territorialising the pajonal and redefining it in accordance with ethical and ecological principles adopted over time for the well-being of their community and the commons they care for. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Economic valuation of Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB): Methodological challenges, policy implications, and an empirical application | Journal of Environmental Management | Carias, J.; Vásquez-Lavín, F.; Barrientos, M.; Ponce Oliva, R.; Gelcich, S. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121566 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121566 | art121566 | Vol: 365 | 03014797 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | This paper presents a literature review on the economic valuation of Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) impacts, identifying methodological challenges, policy implications, and gaps. Unlike previous literature reviews, we are particularly interested in determining whether the economic valuations of HABs have included a policy analysis. Our paper provides a conceptual framework that allows us to evaluate whether applications of economic studies of HABs are consistent with a well-defined economic welfare analysis. It links methodologies and techniques with welfare measures, data types, and econometric methods. Based on this literature review, we present an example of economic valuation that closes the gap between policy analysis and valuation methodology. We use a stated preferences study to estimate a “seafood price premium” to create a fund to support monitoring systems and for damage compensation to producers in the presence of HABs. Results show that most economic studies on HAB valuation do not consider any cost-benefit analysis of a defined policy intervention. The predominant economic valuation methodology uses market information to estimate a proxy for welfare measure of the impact of HABs (loss revenue, sales, exports). Moreover, nonuse and indirect use values are ignored in the literature, while stated preference methodologies are underrepresented. Finally, results from 1293 surveys found that people are willing to pay an increase in the price of mussels to support a policy that informs on HAB. However, the lack of institutional trust affects the probability of paying negatively. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Indigenous Knowledge in Post-Pandemic Cultural Tourism: Discussion from Arauco Territories, Chile | Heritage | Carrasco Henríquez, N.; Cid Aguayo, B.; Neves Guzmán, C.; Orellana Ojeda, J. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3390/heritage7020040 | https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020040 | 829-843 | Vol: 7 Issue: 2 | 25719408 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | In the last two decades, cultural tourism has transformed the aesthetics and the relationship between the actors of the Arauco territories. In the post-COVID context, these transformations could be reinforced, especially considering the actual legal scenario about indigenous rights and the global ecological crisis. In most cases, the indigenous people, with cultural tourism initiatives, highlight their world vision, including the relations with nature. For this reason, we propose to study this scientific problem from the relational ontology perspective. In this study, we describe the situation of cultural tourism in Arauco Province, Chile, where Mapuche people, the Chilean State, and the international market coexist in permanent friction. The main objective is to analyze how the pandemic influenced Mapuche cultural tourism, from the Mapuche cultural perspective and the global conditions for their development. The methods of research mixed historical and ethnographic approaches with a sample of key actors of Mapuche cultural tourism. As results, we can show the Mapuche way of understanding cultural tourism and the new conditions derived from the pandemic and post-pandemic contexts. © 2024 by the authors. |
| Climate and ice sheet dynamics in Patagonia throughout marine isotope stages 2 and 3 | Climate of the Past | Castillo-Llarena, A.; Retamal-Ramírez, F.; Bernales, J.; Jacques-Coper, M.; Prange, M.; Rogozhina, I. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.5194/cp-20-1559-2024 | https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-1559-2024 | 1559-1577 | Vol: 20 Issue: 7 | 18149324 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, ∼23 000 to 19 000 years ago), the Patagonian Ice Sheet (PIS) covered the central chain of the Andes between ∼38 to 55° S. Existing paleoclimate evidence-mostly derived from glacial landforms-suggests that maximum ice sheet expansions in the Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere were not synchronized. However, large uncertainties still exist in the timing of the onset of regional deglaciation and its major drivers. Here we present an ensemble of numerical simulations of the PIS during the LGM. We assess the skill of paleoclimate model products in reproducing the range of atmospheric conditions needed to enable an ice sheet growth in concordance with geomorphological and geochronological evidence. The resulting best-fit climate product is then combined with records from southern South America offshore sediment cores and Antarctic ice cores to drive transient simulations throughout the last 70 ka using a glacial index approach. Our analysis suggests a strong dependence of the PIS geometry on near-surface air temperature forcing. Most ensemble members underestimate the ice cover in the northern part of Patagonia, while tending to expand beyond its constrained eastern boundaries. We largely attribute these discrepancies between the model-based ice geometries and geological evidence to the low resolution of paleoclimate models and their prescribed ice mask. In the southernmost sector, evidence suggests full glacial conditions during marine isotope stage 3 (MIS3, ∼59 400 to 27 800 years ago), followed by a warming trend towards MIS2 (∼27 800 to 14 700 years ago). However, in northern Patagonia, this deglacial trend is absent, indicating a relatively consistent signal throughout MIS3 and MIS2. Notably, Antarctic cores do not reflect a glacial history consistent with the geochronological observations. Therefore, investigations of the glacial history of the PIS should take into account southern midlatitude records to capture effectively its past climatic variability. © Copyright: 2024 Andrés Castillo-Llarena et al. |
| Vertically distinct sources modulate stable isotope signatures and distribution of Mesozooplankton in central Patagonia: The Golfo de Penas - Baker Channel connection and analogies with the Beagle Channel | Journal of Marine Systems | Castro, L.; Soto-Mendoza, S.; Riccialdelli, L.; Presta, M.; Barrientos, P.; González, H.; Daneri, G.; Gutiérrez, M.; Montero, P.; Masotti, I.; Díez, B. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2023.103892 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2023.103892 | art: 103892 | Vol: 241 | 0924-7963 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Using hydrographic and zooplankton sampling along with stable isotope analyses, we determined the influence of freshwater input and of oceanic water ingress at the Golfo de Penas to the Baker Channel (47°S), central Patagonia, on the zooplankton community during mid-spring. Our results show that different taxonomic and functional groups occurred within the mesozooplankton community along an offshore-inshore-oriented transect. Some groups occurred mostly offshore (i.e. euphausiids, fish larvae, stomatopods, amphipods), while others occurred in higher abundance inshore (i.e. medusae, chaetognaths, siphonophores, ostracods). Early life stages of ecologically key species, such as Euphausia vallentini and pelagic stages of Munida gregaria, occurred mostly at the Golfo de Penas. Higher trophic positions estimated from δ15N occurred in mesozooplankton groups inshore (Baker Channel) and lower at the Golfo de Penas, coinciding with the decrease in C:N ratio in zooplankton and with an increase in chlorophyll-a values in the seawater seawards. The δ13C distribution in the zooplankton groups along the offshore-inshore transect showed a positive gradient from the inshore most stations towards the Baker Channel mouth, suggesting a negative relationship with freshwater carrying terrestrial organic carbon and a positive relationship with seawater. However, from the channel mouth seawards, a decrease in δ13C in most zooplankton groups occurred. Within the Baker Channel, low δ13C values occurred in particulate organic matter (POM) at the surface layer, higher values at intermediate depths, and low values at the deepest zones. This uneven distribution of δ13C values in POM and zooplankton, along with the presence of different water masses at different depths suggest an along-basin transport of organic carbon of different sources at different layers: of terrestrial origin at surface, marine origin at mid depth, and from degraded organic matter from offshore entering at higher depths. Thus, a complex scenario of lateral transport of water of different characteristics modulates the presence of zooplankton in different locations and their food sources along the area. These findings resemble others observed in further south in the Beagle Channel (57°S) also in spring but the relative contribution of different carbon sources may differ between Patagonian systems. © 2023 Elsevier B.V. | |
| Estimating Residential Water Demand Under Systematic Shifts Between Uniform Price (UP) and Increasing Block Tariffs (IBT) | Water Resources Research | Chovar Vera, A.; Vásquez-Lavín, F.; Ponce Oliva, R. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1029/2022WR033508 | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR033508 | arte2022WR033508 | Vol: 60 Issue: 4 | 00431397 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | We evaluate whether changing from a uniform price (UP) to an increasing block tariff (IBT) changes people's behavior. We exploit a unique setting in which the price scheme moves back and forth yearly from UP to IBT. We discuss the effectiveness of IBT in reducing summer consumption. This issue is relevant to many countries and policymakers interested in designing tariff structures. There is no evidence of how the same consumer may react to systematically switching from one tariff structure to another yearly. We estimate the residential water demand and its price elasticity using a generalized least squared random effect model for the UP and the discrete/continuous choice model for the IBT. In addition, we split the sample between low and high-consumption groups. For the low consumption group unaffected by the tariff change, the elasticity in the nonsummer months is higher (more elastic) than in the summer. Consumers in this group reduce their elasticity from nonsummer to summer months (−0.299 vs. −0.071, respectively) and increase their consumption by 13%. The high consumption group increased its summer consumption, but only by 8.7%, and contrary to the first group, its elasticity increased significantly (from −0.299 to −0.568). The high-consumption group is indeed affected by the change in tariff. From a policy perspective, this implies that the IBT structure is relevant. However, if the policy seeks to promote conservation, it needs to be adjusted to a lower decile of the water consumption distribution to affect a more significant portion of the population. © 2024. The Authors. |
| Unveiling emerging interdisciplinary research challenges in the highly threatened sclerophyllous forests of central Chile | Revista Chilena de Historia Natural | Delpiano, C.; Vargas, S.; Ovalle, J.; Cáceres, C.; Zorondo-Rodríguez, F.; Miranda, A.; Pohl, N.; Rojas, C.; Squeo, F. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1186/s40693-024-00130-y | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-024-00130-y | art7 | Vol: 97 Issue: 1 | 0716078X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Background: The potential ecosystem collapse of forests in Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs) by unprecedented droughts is worrisome due to the impacts on its exceptional biodiversity and human well-being. However, research integrating the impacts of global change drivers, forest resilience and the challenges facing human-nature relationships is still scarce. Methods and results: Using the central Chile megadrought and recently massive forest browning event as a model scenario, we identified, through a scientific literature review and an interdisciplinary scientific workshop, the research priorities and questions to address for MTEs in a context of global change. Our results highlighted knowledge gaps that need to be covered, particularly in social and environmental sciences, with an emphasis on soil science. Research priorities must focus on (1) the understanding of interactive effects of global and local anthropogenic drivers on MTEs and (2) the evaluation of the potential impacts of MTEs collapse on human well-being and ecosystem functioning. Conclusions: We highlight the need for a collaborative approach involving scientists, landowners, managers/administrators, and policymakers to apply adaptive forest management against the current socio-environmental challenges under a global change context. © The Author(s) 2024. | |
| Advancing South American Water and Climate Science through Multidecadal Convection-Permitting Modeling | Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society | Dominguez, F.; Rasmussen, R.; Liu, C.; Ikeda, K.; Prein, A.; Varble, A.; Arias, P.; Bacmeister, J.; Bettolli, M.; Callaghan, P.; Carvalho, L.; Castro, C.; Chen, F.; Chug, D.; Chun, K.; Dai, A.; Danaila, L.; da Rocha, R.; de Lima Nascimento, E.; Dougherty, E.; Dudhia, J.; Eidhammer, T.; Feng, Z.; Fit... | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1175/BAMS-D-22-0226.1 | https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-22-0226.1 | E32-E44 | Vol: 105 Issue: 1 | 00030007 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Bronze Open Access | English | |
| Land Management Drifted: Land Use Scenario Modeling of Trancura River Basin, Araucanía, Chile | Land | Díaz-Jara, A.; Manuschevich, D.; Grau, A.; Zambrano-Bigiarini, M. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos | 10.3390/land13020157 | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/2/157 | 157 | Vol: 13 Issue: 2 | 2073-445X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Modeling land use scenarios is critical to understand the socio-environmental impacts of current decisions and to explore future configurations for management. The management of regulations and permits by central and local governments plays an important role in shaping land use, with different complexities arising from site-specific socioeconomic dynamics. In Chile, the complexity is even more evident due to insufficient binding land regulations, fragmented government procedures, and the primacy of cities over rural areas. Yet land use must be managed to support sustainable development. This research integrates several state management dynamics into scenario modeling to support decision making at the basin scale through 2050. We employed a mixed qualitative-quantitative approach using interviews with state officials and local stakeholders as the basis for the Conversion of Land Use and its Effects (CLUE) model, which resulted in three scenarios with spatially explicit maps. Key findings indicate that opportunities for developing normative planning tools are limited, leaving state management without clear direction. However, current management practices can address problematic activities such as second-home projects and industrial monocultures while promoting small-scale agriculture. Scenario modeling is useful for understanding how the specifics that arise from the scalar dynamics of state management affect land use change and how existing management resources can be leveraged to achieve positive outcomes for both the ecosystem and society. |
| Impact of atmospheric rivers on the winter snowpack in the headwaters of Euphrates-Tigris basin | Climate Dynamics | Ezber, Y.; Bozkurt, D.; Sen, O. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1007/s00382-024-07267-2 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-024-07267-2 | 09307575 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | Understanding the hydrometeorological impacts of atmospheric rivers (ARs) on mountain snowpack is crucial for water resources management in the snow-fed river basins such as the Euphrates-Tigris (ET). In this study, we investigate the contribution of wintertime (December-January–February) ARs to precipitation and snowpack in the headwater regions of the ET Basin for the period of 1979–2019 using a state-of-the-art AR catalog and ERA5 reanalysis data. The results show that AR days in the headwaters region could be warmer by up to 3 °C and wetter by over 5 mm day−1 compared to non-AR days. The contribution of ARs to the total winter precipitation varies from year to year, with a maximum contribution of over 80% in 2010 and an average contribution of 60% over the 40-year period. While snow accumulation on AR days shows spatial variability, the average snow contribution is 27% of the seasonal average, ranging from 12 to 57% for different years. The south-facing parts of the mountain range experience significant snowmelt, with contributions ranging from 15 to 80% for different years. The high total precipitation (60%) and low snowpack (27%) contribution can be attributed to the semi-arid characteristics of the region and the occurrence of rain-on-snow events, where rain falling on existing snow rapidly melts the snowpack. The findings have implications for water resource management and call for continued research to improve our knowledge of ARs and their interactions with the complex terrain of the ET Basin. © The Author(s) 2024. | ||
| Understanding the impacts of coastal deoxygenation in nitrogen dynamics: an observational analysis | Scientific Reports | Farias, L.; de la Maza, L. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1038/s41598-024-62186-w | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62186-w | art11826 | Vol: 14 Issue: 1 | 20452322 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Biological production and outgassing of greenhouse gasses (GHG) in Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS) are vital for fishing productivity and climate regulation. This study examines temporal variability of biogeochemical and oceanographic variables, focusing on dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, nitrogen deficit (N deficit), nitrous oxide (N2O) and air-sea N2O flux. This analysis is based on monthly observations from 2000 to 2023 in a region of intense seasonal coastal upwelling off central Chile (36°S). Strong correlations are estimated among N2O concentrations and N deficit in the 30–80 m layer, and N2O air-sea fluxes with the proportion of hypoxic water (4 < DO < 89 µmol L−1) in the water column, suggesting that N2O accumulation and its exchange are mainly associated with partial denitrification. Furthermore, we observe interannual variability in concentrations and inventories in the water column of DO, nitrate, N deficit, as well as air-sea N2O fluxes in both downwelling and upwelling seasons. These variabilities are not associated with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indices but are related to interannual differences in upwelling intensity. The time series reveals significant nitrate removal and N2O accumulation in both mid and bottom layers, occurring at rates of 1.5 µmol L−1 and 2.9 nmol L−1 per decade, respectively. Particularly significant is the increase over the past two decades of air-sea N2O fluxes at a rate of 2.9 µmol m−2 d−1 per decade. These observations suggest that changes in the EBUS, such as intensification of upwelling and the prevalence of hypoxic waters may have implications for N2O emissions and fixed nitrogen loss, potentially influencing coastal productivity and climate. © The Author(s) 2024. |
| Multisequal aeolian deposition during the Holocene in southwestern Patagonia (51°S) was modulated by southern westerly wind intensity and vegetation type | Quaternary Science Reviews | Flores-Aqueveque, V.; Villaseñor, T.; Gómez-Fontealba, C.; Alloway, B.; Alfaro, S.; Pizarro, H.; Guerra, L.; Moreno, P. | 2024 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política; Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108616 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108616 | art108616 | Vol: 331 | 02773791 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We studied a multisequal soil succession (MSS) just south of Torres del Paine National Park (51°S), at the present-day core of the Southern Westerly Winds (SWW). The Río Serrano Section comprises paleosol horizons with associated intervening loess and sandy loess beds formed during the Holocene. Our record suggests strong and stable aeolian activity between ∼9.3–7.2 ka followed by a decline with centennial-scale variations until ∼5 ka. A strengthening commenced at ∼5 ka and culminated in a maximum between ∼2.2–0.5 ka with millennial-scale variations. Subsequent weakening of aeolian activity between ∼0.5 and 0 ka was coeval with the deposition of a ∼40 cm-thick paleosol, after which aeolian activity increased abruptly and reached an unprecedented maximum starting in the mid-20th century. The inferred wind intensity variations from our data bear partial agreement with competing hypotheses of SWW evolution, which postulate minimum SWW influence in SW Patagonia during the early Holocene and maximum influence during the Late Holocene, or vice versa. When analyzed through the lens of vegetation physiognomy/distribution and associated hydrological balance inferences from neighboring sites, our results suggest a primary control by precipitation and wind speeds associated to SWW strength at regional scale, modulated by the position of the forest/steppe ecotone east of the austral Andes. Human activities during the mid-20th century (deforestation, fire-regime shifts, livestock grazing, land use changes) caused an unprecedented increase in aeolian activity through decreased vegetation cover that increased sediment availability for aeolian transport, marking a striking difference with the magnitude of natural processes before the Anthropocene. Our results highlight the importance of climate change and natural/human-driven changes in vegetation cover for deciphering wind intensity histories, particularly in the transition from humid to semiarid environments along the eastern slope of the southern Patagonian Andes. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Atmospheric River Rapids and Their Role in the Extreme Rainfall Event of April 2023 in the Middle East | Geophysical Research Letters | Francis, D.; Fonseca, R.; Bozkurt, D.; Nelli, N.; Guan, B. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1029/2024GL109446 | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109446 | arte2024GL109446 | Vol: 51 Issue: 12 | 00948276 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The mesoscale dynamics of a record-breaking Atmospheric River (AR) that impacted the Middle East in mid-April 2023 and caused property damage and loss of life are investigated using model, reanalysis and observational data. The high-resolution (2.5 km) simulations revealed the presence of AR rapids, narrow and long convective structures embedded within the AR that generated heavy precipitation (>4 mm hr−1) as they moved at high speeds (>30 m s−1) from northeastern Africa into western Iran. Gravity waves triggered by the complex terrain in Saudi Arabia further intensified their effects. Given the rising frequency of ARs in this region, AR rapids may be even more impactful in a warming climate, and need to be accounted for in reanalysis and numerical models. © 2024. The Author(s). | |
| Reconstruction of glaciers in the western boundary of the Altiplano (18.5°-19°S): Singularities and insights on potential drivers of past advances | Quaternary Science Advances | Gallardo, M.; Otto, J.; Gayo, E.; Sitzia, L. | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.qsa.2023.100158 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qsa.2023.100158 | art100158 | Vol: 13 | 26660334 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | English | Today, glaciers in the western Altiplano are very scarce, even on peaks exceeding 6000 m. In this mostly ice-free landscape, however, moraines and other glacial deposits are commonly found attesting to quite different climate conditions that favored the advance of glaciers in the past. Although other areas of the Altiplano have been commonly accounted for regarding paleoclimate reconstructions, western Altiplano has been often overlooked. Here we present a detailed map of glacial landforms and a paleoglacier reconstruction from a test area in the western Altiplano between 18.5° and 19°S. We reconstructed regional equilibrium line altitudes (ELA) for several moraine stages, representing extensive past glacier advances in the region. During a prominent and ubiquitous ‘Principal Moraine (PM)’ stage glaciers from most peaks and all orientations advanced to altitudes of up to 4000 m asl. Reconstructed PM ELAs along 90 valleys range from 4400 to 5000 m asl. ELA distribution reveals a strong aspect-dependency at the western boundary of the Altiplano, with ELAs 300 m lower on west-facing glaciers than east-facing glaciers. The coincidence of such steep gradient with a prominent NW-SE ridge accounts for topographic control on the precipitation and thus in the advance of glaciers along the western boundary of the Altiplano. To the east, ELAs from the peaks towering the Altiplano are comparable to ELAs from east-facing glaciers at the western Altiplano boundary but show little to no aspect-dependency. Since these patterns cannot be solely explained by increased moisture advection from the Amazon basin, we suspect that western-sourced moisture associated with increased frequency of cold fronts and cut-off events played an important role in the glacier dynamics at this latitude. Nevertheless, further investigations are required to evaluate the relative role of both precipitation regimes on the glacier dynamics from the westernmost Altiplano. © 2023 The Authors | |
| Opinion: Strengthening research in the Global South - atmospheric science opportunities in South America and Africa | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics | Garland, R.; Altieri, K.; Dawidowski, L.; Gallardo, L.; Mbandi, A.; Rojas, N.; Touré, N. | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.5194/acp-24-5757-2024 | https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-5757-2024 | 5757-5764 | Vol: 24 Issue: 10 | 16807316 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | To tackle the current pressing atmospheric science issues, as well as those in the future, a robust scientific community is necessary in all regions across the globe. Unfortunately, this does not yet exist. There are many geographical areas that are still underrepresented in the atmospheric science community, many of which are in the Global South. There are also larger gaps in the understanding of atmospheric composition, processes, and impacts in these regions. In this opinion, we focus on two geographical areas in the Global South to discuss some common challenges and constraints, with a focus on our strengths in atmospheric science research. It is these strengths, we believe, that highlight the critical role of Global South researchers in the future of atmospheric science research. © 2024 Copernicus Publications. All rights reserved. | |
| Atmospheric Rivers in South-Central Chile: Zonal and Tilted Events | Atmosphere | Garreaud, R.; Jacques-Coper, M.; Marín, J.; Narváez, D. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras; Agua y Extremos | 10.3390/atmos15040406 | https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15040406 | art406 | Vol: 15 Issue: 4 | 20734433 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | The extratropical west coast of South America has one of the largest frequencies of landfalling atmospheric rivers (ARs), with dozens of events per season that account for ~50% of the annual precipitation and can produce extreme rainfall events in south-central Chile. Most ARs form an acute angle with the Andes, but, in some cases, the moist stream impinges nearly perpendicular to the mountains, referred to as zonal atmospheric rivers (ZARs). Enhanced surface-based and upper-air measurements in Concepcion (36.8° S), as well as numerical simulations, were used to characterize a ZAR and a meridionally oriented AR in July 2022. They represent extremes of the broad distribution of winter storms in this region and exhibit key features that were found in a composite analysis based on larger samples of ZARs and tilted ARs. The latter is associated with an upper-level trough, broad-scale ascent, extratropical cyclone, and cold front reaching southern Chile. Instead, ZARs are associated with tropospheric-deep, strong zonal flow and a stationary front across the South Pacific, with ascent restricted upstream of the Andes. Consequently, ZARs have minimum precipitation offshore but a marked orographic precipitation enhancement and exhibit relatively warm temperatures, thus resulting in an augmented risk of hydrometeorological extreme events. © 2024 by the authors. |
| Remote sensing biodiversity monitoring in Latin America: Emerging need for sustained local research and regional collaboration to achieve global goals | Global Ecology and Biogeography | Garzon-Lopez, C.; Miranda, A.; Moya, D.; Andreo, V. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1111/geb.13804 | https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13804 | arte13804 | Vol: 33 Issue: 4 | 1466822X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | Aim: Biodiversity monitoring at global scales has been identified as one of the priorities to halt biodiversity loss. In this context, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), home to 60% of the global biodiversity, play an important role in the development of an integrative biodiversity monitoring platform. In this review, we explore to what extent LAC has advanced in the adoption of remote sensing for biodiversity monitoring and what are the gaps and opportunities to integrate local monitoring into global efforts to halt biodiversity loss. Location: Latin America and the Caribbean. Time period: 1995 to 2022. Taxa studied: Terrestrial organisms. Methods: We reviewed the application of remote sensing for biodiversity monitoring in LAC aiming to identify gaps and opportunities across countries, ecosystem types and research networks. Results: Our analysis illustrates how the use of remote sensing in LAC is disproportionately low in relation to the biodiversity it supports. Main conclusions: Build upon this analysis, we present, discuss and offer perspectives regarding four gaps identified in the application of remote sensing for biodiversity monitoring in Latin America and the Caribbean, namely (1) alignment between remote sensing data resolution and ecosystem structure; (2) investment in research, institutions and capacity building within researchers and stakeholders; (3) decolonized practices that promote access to publishing outlets and pluralistic participation among countries that facilitate exchange of experiences and capacity building; and (4) development of networks within and across regions to advance in ground surveys, ensure access and to foster the use of remote sensing data. © 2024 The Authors. Global Ecology and Biogeography published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
| Screening CMIP6 models for Chile based on past performance and code genealogy | Climatic Change | Gateño, F.; Mendoza, P.; Vásquez, N.; Lagos-Zúñiga, M.; Jiménez, H.; Jerez, C.; Vargas, X.; Rubio-Álvarez, E.; Montserrat, S. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1007/s10584-024-03742-1 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-024-03742-1 | art87 | Vol: 177 Issue: 6 | 01650009 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We describe and demonstrate a two-step approach for screening global climate models (GCMs) and produce robust annual and seasonal climate projections for Chile. First, we assess climate model simulations through a Past Performance Index (PPI) inspired by the Kling-Gupta Efficiency, which accounts for climatological averages, interannual variability, seasonal cycles, monthly probabilistic distribution, spatial patterns of climatological means, and the capability of the GCMs to reproduce teleconnection responses to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Southern Annular Mode (SAM). The PPI formulation is flexible enough to include additional variables and evaluation metrics and weight them differently. Secondly, we use a recently proposed GCM classification based on model code genealogy to obtain a subset of independent model structures from the top 60% GCMs in terms of PPI values. We use this approach to evaluate 27 models from the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) and generate projections in five regions with very different climates across continental Chile. The results show that the GCM evaluation framework is able to identify pools of poor-performing and well-behaved models at each macrozone. Because of its flexibility, the model features that may be improved through bias correction can be excluded from the model evaluation process to avoid culling GCMs that can replicate other climate features and observed teleconnections. More generally, the results presented here can be used as a reference for regional studies and GCM selection for dynamical downscaling, while highlighting the difficulty in constraining precipitation and temperature projections. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024. | |
| Towards understanding human-environment feedback loops: the Atacama Desert case | Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences | Gayo, E.; Lima, M.; Gurruchaga, A.; Estay, S.; Santoro, C.; Latorre, C.; McRostie, V. | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1098/rstb.2022.0253 | https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0253 | 20220253 | Vol: 379 Issue: 1893 | 14712970 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | The overall trajectory for the human-environment interaction has been punctuated by demographic boom-and-bust cycles, phases of growth/overshooting as well as of expansion/contraction in productivity. Although this pattern has been explained in terms of an interplay between population growth, social upscaling, ecosystem engineering and climate variability, the evoked demographic-resource-complexity mechanisms have not been empirically tested. By integrating proxy data for population sizes, palaeoclimate and internal societal factors into empirical modelling approaches from the population dynamic theory, we evaluated how endogenous (population sizes, warfare and social upscaling) and exogenous (climate) variables module the dynamic in past agrarian societies. We focused on the inland Atacama Desert, where populations developed agriculture activities by engineering arid and semi-arid landscapes during the last 2000 years. Our modelling approach indicates that these populations experienced a boom-and-bust dynamic over the last millennia, which was coupled to structure feedback between population sizes, hydroclimate, social upscaling, warfare and ecosystem engineering. Thus, the human-environment loop appears closely linked with cooperation, competition, limiting resources and the ability of problem-solving. This article is part of the theme issue 'Evolution and sustainability: gathering the strands for an Anthropocene synthesis'. |
| A monthly gridded burned area database of national wildland fire data | Scientific Data | Gincheva, A.; Pausas, J.; Edwards, A.; Provenzale, A.; Cerdà, A.; Hanes, C.; Royé, D.; Chuvieco, E.; Mouillot, F.; Vissio, G.; Rodrigo, J.; Bedía, J.; Abatzoglou, J.; Senciales González, J.; Short, K.; Baudena, M.; Llasat, M.; Magnani, M.; Boer, M.; González, M.; Torres-Vázquez, M.; Fiorucci, P.; Ja... | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1038/s41597-024-03141-2 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03141-2 | art352 | Vol: 11 Issue: 1 | 20524463 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | We assembled the first gridded burned area (BA) database of national wildfire data (ONFIRE), a comprehensive and integrated resource for researchers, non-government organisations, and government agencies analysing wildfires in various regions of the Earth. We extracted and harmonised records from different regions and sources using open and reproducible methods, providing data in a common framework for the whole period available (starting from 1950 in Australia, 1959 in Canada, 1985 in Chile, 1980 in Europe, and 1984 in the United States) up to 2021 on a common 1° × 1° grid. The data originate from national agencies (often, ground mapping), thus representing the best local expert knowledge. Key opportunities and limits in using this dataset are discussed as well as possible future expansions of this open-source approach that should be explored. This dataset complements existing gridded BA data based on remote sensing and offers a valuable opportunity to better understand and assess fire regime changes, and their drivers, in these regions. The ONFIRE database can be freely accessed at https://zenodo.org/record/8289245. © The Author(s) 2024. |
| Population dynamics and cultural niche construction during the Late Holocene in a mediterranean ecosystem (central Chile, 32°S−36°S) | Holocene | Godoy-Aguirre, C.; Frugone-Álvarez, M.; Gayo, E.; Campbell, R.; Lima, M.; Maldonado, A.; Latorre, C. | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1177/09596836231225722 | https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836231225722 | 509-518 | Vol: 34 Issue: 5 | 09596836 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Understanding socio-ecological systems over the long term can shed light on past adaptive strategies in environmentally sensitive regions. Central Chile is an emblematic case study for mediterranean ecosystems, where a progressive and sustained population increase began approximately 2000 years ago alongside significant landscape changes. In this work we analyzed regional paleo-demographic trends by compiling a new database of archaeological dates over the last 3000 years, and integrating population dynamics theory with an analysis of the spatio-temporal variation of regional cultural stages. Results show three moments of marked acceleration in population growth: just before agricultural adoption, during the Archaic Period (c. 700-300 BCE); during the second half of the ECP (500–900 CE); and during the Late Intermediate Period (1200–1400 CE). We also identified periods of deceleration in per capita growth rates, although population size continued to increase (300 BCE−500 CE, 900–1200 CE and after 1400 CE). These large shifts in the per capita growth rates coincide with major cultural changes associated with social and economic aspects. The pulses of major occupation show in general terms a more intensive use of the valleys as the population size increased, although the remaining ecosystems never ceased to be occupied with different economic and symbolic emphases. © The Author(s) 2024. | |
| Chile’s Valparaíso hills on fire | Science | González, M.; Syphard, A.; Fischer, A.; Muñoz, A.; Miranda, A. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo; Agua y Extremos | 10.1126/science.ado5411 | https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado5411 | 1424 | Vol: 383 Issue: 6690 | 00368075 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | [No abstract available] | |
| Chile’s Valparaíso hills on fire | Science | González, M.; Syphard, A.; Fischer, A.; Muñoz, A.; Miranda, A. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo; Agua y Extremos | 10.1126/science.adn4676 | https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adn4676 | 1425 | Vol: 383 Issue: 6690 | 00368075 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Bronze Open Access | English | [No abstract available] |
| Recent multispecies tree-growth decline reveals a severe aridity change in Mediterranean Chile | Environmental Research Letters | González-Reyes, Á.; Christie, D.; Schneider-Valenzuela, I.; Venegas-González, A.; Muñoz, A.; Hadad, M.; Gipoulou-Zuñiga, T.; Tapia-Marzan, V.; Gibson-Carpintero, S.; Santini-Junior, L.; LeQuesne, C.; Villalba, R. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1088/1748-9326/ad4049 | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad4049 | art064046 | Vol: 19 Issue: 6 | 17489326 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Soil moisture (SM) is a crucial factor in the water cycle, sustaining ecosystems and influencing local climate patterns by regulating the energy balance between the soil and atmosphere. Due to the absence of long-term, in-situ measurements of SM, studies utilizing satellite-based data and tree-ring analysis have become valuable in assessing variations of SM at regional and multi-century scales, as well as determining its effects on tree growth. This information is particularly pertinent in biodiversity hotspots made up of semi-arid ecosystems currently threatened by climate change. In the Mediterranean Chile region (MC; 30°-37° S), an ongoing megadrought since 2010 has resulted in a significant decline in the forest throughout the area. However, the impact of SM on tree growth at a multi-species and regional level remains unexplored. We analyzed a new network of 22 tree-ring width chronologies across the MC to evaluate the main spatiotemporal tree-growth patterns of nine woody species and their correlation with SM, using PCA. We also reconstructed the SM variations over the past four centuries and assessed its connection with large-scale climate forcings. Our results indicate that the primary growth patterns (PC1) explained 27% of the total variance and displayed a significant relationship with SM between 1982-2015 (r = 0.91), accurately reflecting the current megadrought. The tree-ring SM reconstruction covers the period 1616-2018 and shows a strong decrease around the year 2007, revealing an unprecedented recent change in aridity with respect to the last four centuries. The intensity of the South Pacific subtropical anticyclone, which primarily owe their existence to the subsiding branch of the Hadley Cell, appears as the primary climatic mechanism correlated with the reconstruction and the present aridity conditions in MC. The current SM conditions align with anticipated aridity changes in MC, providing a bleak perspective of future regional climate. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd. |
| Out of sight, not out of mind: The effect of access to conservation sites on the willingness to pay for protecting endangered species | Ecological Economics | Henríquez, M.; Vásquez-Lavín, F.; Barrientos, M.; Ponce Oliva, R.; Lara, A.; Flores-Benner, G.; Riquelme, C. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108280 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108280 | art108280 | Vol: 224 | 09218009 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | According to the latest global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services, nature and biodiversity have experienced a global decline, making the development of conservation policies urgent. Herein, we used a contingent valuation survey to estimate the economic value of a reintroduction program for the huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus), an endangered charismatic species in Chile. Our novel approach exploits changes in the access to the site to disentangle nonuse value from use value. We use parametric and nonparametric models to estimate the willingness to pay for the program. Our findings consistently indicate that the conservation of the huemul is valued more when tourist access is restricted, as opposed to allowing visitors access to reintroduction areas. We also analyze the sensitivity of this main finding to different cut-off points of a certainty scale, showing that the results are robust. We hypothesize that people are willing to pay a “premium” to keep the conservation site “out of sight” from tourist activities. This could also be related to the belief that a reintroduction program would be more effective if access was not allowed. A cost-benefit analysis using the most conservative assumptions suggests that social benefit significantly outperforms cost. © 2024 Elsevier B.V. | |
| Nudges versus prices: Lessons and challenges from a water-savings program | Energy Economics | Hernández, F.; Jaime, M.; Vásquez, F. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107546 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107546 | art107546 | Vol: 134 | 01409883 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | This study evaluates the effects of two exogenous interventions targeting residential consumers using both pecuniary and nonpecuniary incentives, with the potential of increasing the moral and monetary costs of water use. The first intervention provided households with personalized reports including normative information regarding household water use compared with neighbors. The second intervention consisted of an exogenous change in water tariffs. The timing of the interventions provides a unique opportunity to separately assess both the individual and combined effects of each policy instrument. The empirical analysis was conducted on the same sample households assessed in the field experiment by Jaime and Carlsson (2018), whose behavior was followed one year after implementation. The results reveal that both nonpecuniary and pecuniary incentives significantly reduce water use when each instrument is applied separately, with the change in tariffs generating larger reductions in water use, compared with information provision, at 11% vs. 7%, respectively. However, the effectiveness of the combined policy depends on the setting of implementation. While the differentiated effects of the social information campaign associated with the change in tariffs suggest this policy remains effective, the evidence also suggests potential crowding-out effects arising upon the introduction of the new tariff regime. The largest reductions in water use are achieved when the instruments are jointly implemented. Findings shed light on the importance of accurately defining the timing and order of the interventions to maximize their impact on resource conservation. © 2024 | |
| Land subdivision in the law's shadow: Unraveling the drivers and spatial patterns of land subdivision with geospatial analysis and machine learning techniques in complex landscapes | Landscape and Urban Planning | Herrera-Benavides, J.; Pfeiffer, M.; Galleguillos, M. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105106 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105106 | art105106 | Vol: 249 | 01692046 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | Land subdivisions, especially in rural areas, pose a significant threat to sustainable development in many regions of the world. This issue is particularly challenging to understand in complex landscapes, where many biophysical and anthropic drivers interact without the necessary land regulatory guidance. We combined kernel density analysis and machine learning modeling to unravel the spatial patterns of land subdivisions and the complex relationships between their drivers. We used the Los Lagos region in southern Chile as a study case because it is a global biodiversity hotspot where land subdivisions are constantly increasing. We identify a significant increasing trend of subdivisions. Our modeling approach showed robust performance with an R2 of 0.727, RMSE of 5.109, and a bias of −0.009. The proximity to urban areas, to the coast, distance to electric mains, demographic structure, and proximity to protected areas were significant predictors of land subdivision. Fertile lands, particularly those near urban centers, have become prime targets for subdivisions, exacerbating the conflict between urban development and agricultural sustainability. We highlight the increasing number of subdivisions on threatened ecosystems and highly productive soils. We discuss the interrelationship between the drivers and conclude that subdivision is primarily associated with conventional urban sprawl, although other urbanization phenomena could also be observed in some areas. These findings provide challenges and opportunities for global spatial planning and harmony with biodiversity conservation. © 2024 Elsevier B.V. | |
| Trends in seasonal precipitation extremes and associated temperatures along continental Chile | Climate Dynamics | Lagos-Zúñiga, M.; Mendoza, P.; Campos, D.; Rondanelli, R. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1007/s00382-024-07127-z | https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00382-024-07127-z | 4205-4222 | Vol: 62 | 0930-7575, 1432-0894 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Green Open Access | English | We characterize trends in maximum seasonal daily precipitation (seasonal Rx1day), minimum (Tn), and maximum (Tx) daily temperatures during days with precipitation over continental Chile for the period 1979–2017, using surface stations and the AgERA5 gridded product derived from the ERA5 reanalysis dataset. We also examine seasonal trends of Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Precipitable Water (PW), Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE), Atmospheric Rivers (ARs) frequency, and upper air observations to seek possible mechanisms that explain precipitation trends. Our results show an increase in seasonal Rx1day during fall in the south part of Northern Chile (15–30°S) and during fall and winter in Austral Chile (45–57°S), and mostly negative trends in Central Chile (30–36°S), where a few locations with positive trends along the coast during summer. Temperature trends presented cooling patterns north of 33°S in almost all the seasons (< -2 °C/dec), while warming trends prevail south of 38°S (> 1 °C/dec). The highest values in Tn trends are obtained on the western slopes of the Andes around 30°S. We also explore temperature scaling in surface stations, finding strong positive super Clausius Clapeyron with Tn, especially between fall and spring in the 33–40°S region. Sounding observations in five stations across Chile suggest warming trends at 23.5°, 33°S, and 53°S, with a stabilization effect by enhanced warming in the upper troposphere, while presenting cooling trends in Puerto Montt (41.5°S). Seasonal trends in PW reveal moistening along southern Peru and northern Chile during spring and summer. Positive trends in CAPE are observed over 35–40°S (austral summer and fall) and the north Altiplano (autumn). SST analyses reveal strong cooling around 30°S in winter, which may explain the negative trends in seasonal Rx1day in central Chile. A warming spot on the northern Peruvian coast during fall may be responsible for humidification in front of Northern Chile, particularly during summer and fall. Positive EKE trends are detected south of 40°S, being stronger and reaching almost all of the coast during spring. ARs frequency unveils negative trends up to -5 days/dec during summer and positive trends of 1 day/dec in 40°- 50°S coastal regions during spring. More generally, the results presented here shed light on the main large-scale processes driving recent trends in precipitation extremes across continental Chile. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024. |
| Post-fire Pinus radiata invasion in a threatened biodiversity hotspot forest: A multi-scale remote sensing assessment | Forest Ecology and Management | Leal-Medina, C.; Lopatin, J.; Contreras, A.; González, M.; Galleguillos, M. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.foreco.2024.121861 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2024.121861 | art121861 | Vol: 561 | 03781127 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Biological invasions are one of the most relevant factors of biodiversity loss, especially after fire disturbances. Wildfires can accelerate invasions of fire-prone species, like Pinus radiata, and dramatically alter ecosystems. However, how to assess the main impacts of this invasion process on the composition, structure, and functionality of ecosystems, including the post-fire revegetation processes, has not been fully resolved. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of P. radiata invasion on fire-damaged forest ecosystems using combined remote sensing and in situ data, focusing particularly on changes in biodiversity, ecosystem structure, and functionality. The recovery of forest leaf area index (LAI) and the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR) were monitored using Sentinel-2 time series products. Then the pre- and post-fire native community composition and the relationships of invasion and biodiversity with biotic and abiotic components were characterized using structural equation modeling (SEM). The postfire P. radiata density was mapped to quantify invasion intensity in three burned native forest fragments using generalized additive modeling (GAM) regressions based on UAS multispectral data. Biophysical metrics indicate that all forest fragments impacted by high, medium-high, and medium-low severity fires achieved a partial recovery of their canopy. The SEM model showed that microtopographic features and vegetation height explain native species diversity under pre-fire conditions due to their close relationship with favorable microclimatic conditions for species establishment. Vegetation height determined the abundance of P. radiata in post-fire conditions, and it negatively impacted diversity by promoting the homogenization of vegetation cover and altering diversity patterns. The general composition and abundance metrics also showed a substantial modification associated with the heavy (significant) invasion of P. radiata species. Predictive mapping of P. radiata density showed high accuracies (R2 =0.73 and explained deviation of 80%). The maps depicted an intense concentration of the invasive tree with a mean density of 76,217 individuals per ha−1 and high invasion spots with more than 176,000 individuals per ha−1. The quantification of invasion and mapping is a fundamental input for prioritizing areas and resources for a large-scale restoration program, and is a priority to avoid the loss of these highly threatened forest ecosystems. © 2024 Elsevier B.V. | |
| Positive feedbacks in deep-time transitions of human populations | Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences | Lima, M.; Gayo, E.; Estay, S.; Gurruchaga, A.; Robinson, E.; Freeman, J.; Latorre, C.; Bird, D. | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1098/rstb.2022.0256 | https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0256 | 20220256 | Vol: 379 Issue: 1893 | 14712970 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | Abrupt and rapid changes in human societies are among the most exciting population phenomena. Human populations tend to show rapid expansions from low to high population density along with increased social complexity in just a few generations. Such demographic transitions appear as a remarkable feature of Homo sapiens population dynamics, most likely fuelled by the ability to accumulate cultural/technological innovations that actively modify their environment. We are especially interested in establishing if the demographic transitions of pre-historic populations show the same dynamic signature of the Industrial Revolution transition (a positive relationship between population growth rates and size). Our results show that population growth patterns across different pre-historic societies were similar to those observed during the Industrial Revolution in developed western societies. These features, which appear to have been operating during most of our recent demographic history from hunter-gatherers to modern industrial societies, imply that the dynamics of cooperation underlay sudden population transitions in human societies. This article is part of the theme issue 'Evolution and sustainability: gathering the strands for an Anthropocene synthesis'. |
| Characterizing the Atmospheric Mn Cycle and Its Impact on Terrestrial Biogeochemistry | Global Biogeochemical Cycles | Lu, L.; Li, L.; Rathod, S.; Hess, P.; Martínez, C.; Fernandez, N.; Goodale, C.; Thies, J.; Wong, M.; Alaimo, M.; Artaxo, P.; Barraza, F.; Barreto, A.; Beddows, D.; Chellam, S.; Chen, Y.; Chuang, P.; Cohen, D.; Dongarrà, G.; Gaston, C.; Gómez, D.; Morera-Gómez, Y.; Hakola, H.; Hand, J.; Harrison, R.;... | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1029/2023GB007967 | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GB007967 | arte2023GB007967 | Vol: 38 Issue: 4 | 08866236 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | The role of manganese (Mn) in ecosystem carbon (C) biogeochemical cycling is gaining increasing attention. While soil Mn is mainly derived from bedrock, atmospheric deposition could be a major source of Mn to surface soils, with implications for soil C cycling. However, quantification of the atmospheric Mn cycle, which comprises emissions from natural (desert dust, sea salts, volcanoes, primary biogenic particles, and wildfires) and anthropogenic sources (e.g., industrialization and land-use change due to agriculture), transport, and deposition, remains uncertain. Here, we use compiled emission data sets for each identified source to model and quantify the atmospheric Mn cycle by combining an atmospheric model and in situ atmospheric concentration measurements. We estimated global emissions of atmospheric Mn in aerosols (<10 μm in aerodynamic diameter) to be 1,400 Gg Mn year−1. Approximately 31% of the emissions come from anthropogenic sources. Deposition of the anthropogenic Mn shortened Mn “pseudo” turnover times in 1-m-thick surface soils (ranging from 1,000 to over 10,000,000 years) by 1–2 orders of magnitude in industrialized regions. Such anthropogenic Mn inputs boosted the Mn-to-N ratio of the atmospheric deposition in non-desert dominated regions (between 5 × 10−5 and 0.02) across industrialized areas, but that was still lower than soil Mn-to-N ratio by 1–3 orders of magnitude. Correlation analysis revealed a negative relationship between Mn deposition and topsoil C density across temperate and (sub)tropical forests, consisting with atmospheric Mn deposition enhancing carbon respiration as seen in in situ biogeochemical studies. © 2024. The Authors. |
| Fire–climate–human dynamics over the last 1800 years in the mesic Araucaria-Nothofagus forests | Journal of Biogeography | Martel-Cea, A.; Abarzúa, A.; González, M.; Jarpa, L.; Hernández, M. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1111/jbi.14839 | https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14839 | 1490-1504 | Vol: 51 Issue: 8 | 03050270 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Aim: Few palaeoenvironmental studies have been performed in Araucaria-Nothofagus forests, which are highly vulnerable to ongoing threats from climate change and anthropogenic activities. The primary goal of this work is to reconstruct past environmental changes related to fire disturbances over the last 1800 years in Tolhuaca National Park (TNP), Chile. Location: TNP, Araucanian region (38.2°S; 71.8°W), Northwestern Patagonia, Chile. Taxa: Araucaria araucana (Araucariaceae), Nothofagus spp. (Nothofagaceae). Methods: We completed charcoal and pollen analyses to create two new palaeoecological records that span 1800 years. We compared the lake-based reconstruction with the available local tree-ring fire scar chronologies from the last 430 years. Using these data, we compute forest index changes, biomass burning trends and compare with estimates of archaeological radiocarbon density. We place our inferences with context of published regional palaeoclimatic proxies from the Patagonian-Andean region. Results: Our results showed that fire activity was higher than present between 200 and 1500 CE, with peaks around 200–400 CE and 1100–1500 CE. Periods with high fire activity are associated with reduced forest cover, as Araucaria declined when mixed-severity fire regime occurred for extended periods. Pollen assemblages suggested a shift from dry to wet climate conditions at 1500 CE, and from 1750 CE onward, the arrival of exotic species reflected the land-use changes related to forest clearance and transhumance practices. Main Conclusions: The palaeoenvironmental reconstructions showed changes in vegetation, fire and climate over the past 1800 years in TNP. Wildfires have been the main disturbance process modifying the vegetation structure in the Araucaria and Nothofagus forests. Since 1750 CE intensive post-Hispanic land-use changes (forest clearances by fire and logging) took place in the study area, reducing the native vegetation cover. Climate variability, modulated by SAM-like and ENSO-like conditions, influenced the fire activity (availability and flammability of fuels), concomitantly with high archaeological density. The recent (after 2000 CE) increase of catastrophic wildfires may negatively affect the conservation strategies of Araucaria-Nothofagus forests. © 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. | |
| Extreme coastal El Niño events are tightly linked to the development of the Pacific Meridional Modes | npj Climate and Atmospheric Science | Martinez-Villalobos, C.; Dewitte, B.; Garreaud, R.; Loyola, L. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1038/s41612-024-00675-5 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-024-00675-5 | art123 | Vol: 7 Issue: 1 | 23973722 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Coastal El Niño events—marine heatwaves instances in the far eastern Tropical Pacific during otherwise basin-scale neutral or cold conditions—can have severe societal impacts for countries along the west coast of South America, as exemplified by the 2017 and 2023 Peru-Ecuador floods. Due to the brevity of the observational record, it is not well understood whether these events are driven by local or large-scale processes. Here, to overcome this limitation we use a data-driven modeling approach to address their return period and forcing mechanisms. It is shown that extreme coastal El Niño events are a local manifestation in the eastern tropical Pacific of the constructive interactions of the Pacific Meridional Modes (PMM). Specifically, the North PMM yields a dipole-like anomaly SST pattern along the equator that favors its development, while the positive phase of the South PMM reinforces it. A smaller group of more moderate coastal events are remotely driven by zonal wind anomalies in the western tropical Pacific without the PMMs’ influence. The role of PMMs in the development of extreme coastal El Niño suggests that they may be more predictable than previously thought. © The Author(s) 2024. |
| A perspective on the next generation of Earth system model scenarios: Towards representative emission pathways (REPs) | Geoscientific Model Development | Meinshausen, M.; Schleussner, C.; Beyer, K.; Bodeker, G.; Boucher, O.; Canadell, J.; Daniel, J.; Diongue-Niang, A.; Driouech, F.; Fischer, E.; Forster, P.; Grose, M.; Hansen, G.; Hausfather, Z.; Ilyina, T.; Kikstra, J.; Kimutai, J.; King, A.; Lee, J.; Lennard, C.; Lissner, T.; Nauels, A.; Peters, G.... | 2024 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.5194/gmd-17-4533-2024 | https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-4533-2024 | 4533-4559 | Vol: 17 Issue: 11 | 1991959X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | In every Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment cycle, a multitude of scenarios are assessed, with different scope and emphasis throughout the various Working Group reports and special reports, as well as their respective chapters. Within the reports, the ambition is to integrate knowledge on possible climate futures across the Working Groups and scientific research domains based on a small set of "framing pathways"such as the so-called representative concentration pathways (RCPs) in the Fifth IPCC Assessment Report (AR5) and the shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios in the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). This perspective, initiated by discussions at the IPCC Bangkok workshop in April 2023 on the "Use of Scenarios in AR6 and Subsequent Assessments", is intended to serve as one of the community contributions to highlight the needs for the next generation of framing pathways that is being advanced under the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) umbrella, which will influence or even predicate the IPCC AR7 consideration of framing pathways. Here we suggest several policy research objectives that such a set of framing pathways should ideally fulfil, including mitigation needs for meeting the Paris Agreement objectives, the risks associated with carbon removal strategies, the consequences of delay in enacting that mitigation, guidance for adaptation needs, loss and damage, and for achieving mitigation in the wider context of societal development goals. Based on this context, we suggest that the next generation of climate scenarios for Earth system models should evolve towards representative emission pathways (REPs) and suggest key categories for such pathways. These framing pathways should address the most critical mitigation policy and adaptation plans that need to be implemented over the next 10 years. In our view, the most important categories are those relevant in the context of the Paris Agreement long-term goal, specifically an immediate action (low overshoot) 1.5ĝ€¯°C pathway and a delayed action (high overshoot) 1.5ĝ€¯°C pathway. Two other key categories are a pathway category approximately in line with current (as expressed by 2023) near- and long-term policy objectives, as well as a higher-emission category that is approximately in line with "current policies"(as expressed by 2023). We also argue for the scientific and policy relevance in exploring two "worlds that could have been". One of these categories has high-emission trajectories well above what is implied by current policies and the other has very-low-emission trajectories which assume that global mitigation action in line with limiting warming to 1.5ĝ€¯°C without overshoot had begun in 2015. Finally, we note that the timely provision of new scientific information on pathways is critical to inform the development and implementation of climate policy. Under the Paris Agreement, for the second global stocktake, which will occur in 2028, and to inform subsequent development of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) up to 2040, scientific inputs are required by 2027. These needs should be carefully considered in the development timeline of community modelling activities, including those under CMIP7. © Copyright: | |
| Comparing SPI and SPEI to detect different precipitation and temperature regimes in Chile throughout the last four decades | Atmospheric Research | Meseguer-Ruiz, O.; Serrano-Notivoli, R.; Aránguiz-Acuña, A.; Fuentealba, M.; Nuñez-Hidalgo, I.; Sarricolea, P.; Garreaud, R. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos; Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.atmosres.2023.107085 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2023.107085 | art107085 | Vol: 297 | 01698095 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Droughts are one of the main environmental challenges facing the world this century. The latitudinal and orographic characteristics of continental Chile leads different areas within it to experience very different regimes of precipitation and temperature, resulting in a wide variation in the occurrence and severity of droughts. Using the CR2Met 5 × 5 km resolution gridded monthly dataset covering the years from 1979 to 2019, we calculated the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Precipitation Evaporation Index (SPEI) of March and September at 3-, 6-, 9-, 12- and 24-months to: 1) relate them with different climate modes, and 2) determine their temporal evolution. We found that the Pacific Decadal Oscillation shows low positive correlations with SPI but no significant correlations with SPEI. The Multivariate El Niño Southern Oscillation shows different correlations in northern Chile, as well as El Niño 1 + 2 and the Antarctic Oscillation, for both SPI and SPEI. Both SPI and SPEI show negative (drier) trends in the north and center of Chile, while positive (wetter) trends appear in the south. SPEI shows stronger and more significant negative trends, influenced by the overall warming of the country. Warming trends are lower on the coast, so SPI could be a good indicator for coastal areas, while SPEI could be a good indicator for inland areas. Climate modes are useful for monthly and annual predictions, and by being a good drought predictor, they can help inform key public policies. These results are expected to help Chilean decision makers dealing with the challenges facing water management in the immediate future. © 2023 Elsevier B.V. | |
| General dry trends according to the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index in mainland Chile | Frontiers in Earth Science | Meseguer-Ruiz, O.; Serrano-Notivoli, R.; Núñez-Hidalgo, I.; Sarricolea, P. | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.3389/feart.2024.1355443 | https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2024.1355443 | art1355443 | Vol: 12 | 22966463 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Droughts are one of the main challenges affecting humanity in a global change context. Due to its spatial configuration, Chile experiences droughts of different severities, from arid to humid climates, ranging from sea level to elevations above 6,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.), but it is still unknown how this phenomenon behaves in distribution, duration and intensity. The goal of this study is to identify how droughts have affected the different climate regions of the country between 1979 and 2019. The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), calculated for March and September, at the end of the humid season in the north and center-south of the country, respectively, and calculated at 3-, 6-, 9-, 12- and 24-month, allowed to determine the trends of the drought severity in a 5 × 5 km grid between 1979 and 2019. We found that negative and significant trends, indicating dry conditions, appear mainly in the Andes above 2,000 m a.s.l., where the main water reservoirs are located, affecting all climate types, except Mediterranean ones between 33°S and 38°S. The SPEI indicates general trends towards drier conditions across various elevations and climate types, with more pronounced negative trends in the north and central regions and some positive trends in the south. These trends suggest a significant impact on water availability, and highlight the need for focused policy initiatives to combat drought effects and manage water resources effectively. These findings are of main interest to Chile, one of the world’s leading producers of lithium and copper, with both industries requiring substantial amounts of water for extraction and processing, demanding high water availability in a drier territory. Copyright © 2024 Meseguer-Ruiz, Serrano-Notivoli, Nuñez-Hidalgo and Sarricolea. |
| Development of a temperate rainforest zonation on the Pacific slopes of the North Patagonian Andes since ∼18 ka | Quaternary Science Reviews | Moreno, P.; Alloway, B.; Valenzuela, M.; Villacís, L.; Villa-Martínez, R. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108630 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108630 | art108630 | Vol: 332 | 02773791 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Few studies along the western slopes of the Andes in Northwestern Patagonia (NWP: 40°-44°S) allow examining vegetation development through environmental gradients in latitude and elevation along a time continuum since the Last Glacial Termination (T1, ∼18-11 ka). This complete biostratigraphic context is necessary for assessing the sequence, timing, rates, and direction of compositional/structural changes of the former vegetation, and for deciphering their environmental drivers. Here we report palynological results from two NWP sites spaced ∼22 km apart on the western Andean slopes, Caleta Puelche roadside section located near sea level and Lago Reflejos at mid elevations (∼800 m a.s.l.) and assess their continuous records since local ice-free conditions against other NWP sites. We find that cold-tolerant early successional trees dominated the initial stages of vegetation development in the Seno Reloncaví lowlands (∼18-17 ka), followed by thermophilous shade-tolerant North Patagonian rainforest (NPRF) trees, which achieved their maxima between ∼17 and 15 ka at low-elevations. A spread of cold- and shade-tolerant hygrophilous NPRF conifers ensued (∼14.8-13 ka) reaching similar magnitude at low- and mid-elevations, interrupted by increases in trees favored by canopy fragmentation linked to fire and explosive volcanism (∼13-11 ka). Thermophilous, shade-intolerant, summer-drought tolerant Valdivian rainforest (VRF) trees increased and achieved maxima between ∼10 and 8 ka, most notably in the lowlands, coeval with peak abundance of the NPRF conifers Fitzroya/Pilgerodendron and Podocarpus nubigena in mid-elevation Lago Reflejos, contemporaneous with their virtual disappearance near sea level. Widespread increases in cold-tolerant hygrophilous NPRF trees occurred after ∼8 ka, followed by mixing of NPRF and VRF elements in the lowlands after ∼6.3 ka with centennial-scale alternations. Inter-site and regional coherences of our findings suggest that variations in Southern Westerly Wind influence, along with disturbance regimes of natural and human origin, have driven the composition, structure, dynamics, and zonation of temperate rainforests in NWP since T1. We observe that Lago Reflejos features the highest abundance of Fitzroya cupressoides at regional scale since ∼12 ka, attesting to the importance of mid-elevation Andean environments for the persistence of these highly valued trees in the context of postglacial climate evolution, shifts in fire regimes, volcanic, and human disturbance in NWP. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Climatic and disturbance impacts on temperate rainforest development since ∼18 ka in central-west Isla Grande de Chiloé (42.7°S) | Quaternary Science Reviews | Moreno, P.; Gonzalorena, L.; Hernández, L. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108688 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108688 | art108688 | Vol: 333 | 02773791 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Understanding the role of disturbance regimes on terrestrial ecosystems is often compounded by the paucity of time series sufficiently long and detailed to capture triggering events and the sequence of changes in species composition, community structure and dynamics along a time continuum until the present. Adding complexity to this problem, disturbance regimes and the distribution/competitive interactions of participating species may vary in time with shifts in mean climatic conditions and variability. Here we present results from sediment cores we collected from small closed-basin lakes near the Pacific coast of central Isla Grande de Chiloé, a sector with the lowest seasonality and recurrence of explosive volcanic events in Northwestern Patagonia (NWP). Our aim is examining vegetation development since the last glaciation and exploring potential climatic and disturbance impacts. We found rapid establishment of closed-canopy rainforests, which have persisted with little variation in terms of physiognomy until the present. Significant changes in species composition, structure, dynamics, and rates of change are evident over the last ∼18,000 years, along with fire maxima at ∼16.7 ka, ∼12.7 ka, between ∼11.7-9 ka, from ∼2 ka to the present, and minima in the interim. Fires precede major increases in disturbance favored taxa, which correspond in timing with fire activity maxima at NWP scale. The most recent ∼2000 years coincide with the highest number and ubiquity of human occupations at central-west and NWP scale, raising the possibility that fires were driven by human activities near our study sites. We detect a conspicuous increase in disturbance-favored trees ∼150 years after deposition of the Puma Verde Tephra (∼8.3 ka) and interpret their subsequent maintenance by frequent blowdown events after ∼7.5 ka in exposed sectors of the Coastal Range. We posit that enhanced storminess driven by stronger Southern Westerly Winds since ∼7.5 ka has favored early successional opportunistic trees in detriment of old-growth forests dominated by shade-tolerant species, generating a spatial mosaic of forest patches or gaps in different stages of recovery. © 2024 | |
| Unraveling the Dynamics of Moisture Transport During Atmospheric Rivers Producing Rainfall in the Southern Andes | Geophysical Research Letters | Mudiar, D.; Rondanelli, R.; Valenzuela, R.; Garreaud, R. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras; Agua y Extremos | 10.1029/2024GL108664 | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108664 | arte2024GL108664 | Vol: 51 Issue: 13 | 00948276 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are known to produce both beneficial and extreme rainfall, leading to natural hazards in Chile. Motivated to understand moisture transport during AR events, this study performs a moisture budget analysis along 50 zonally elongated ARs reaching the western coast of South America. We identify the convergence of moist air masses of tropical/subtropical origin along the AR as the primary source of vertically integrated water vapor (IWV). Over the open ocean, moisture convergence is nearly balanced by precipitation. The advection of moisture along the AR, although smaller compared to mass convergence, significantly increases toward the landfalling region. The near conservation of IWV over the open ocean, observed by tracking a Lagrangian atmospheric column along the ARs, is the explanation behind the seemingly tropical origin of ARs in time-lapse visualizations of IWV. © 2024. The Author(s). |
| Dataclima: Avanzando en la gestión de datos climáticos | Bits de Ciencias (DCC-UCH) | Muñoz, F.; Bastarrica, M. | 2024 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | https://www.dcc.uchile.cl/Bitsdeciencia26.pdf | 64-68 | Issue: 26 | 0718-8005 | Not indexed | Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-Compartir Igual 3.0 | Spanish | ||
| Propuesta de un indicador para estudiar la seguridad hídrica en la interfaz doméstica – comunitaria de áreas rurales chilenas | Nicolas-Artero, C.; Gustavo, B. | 2024 | https://hal.science/hal-04288805 | El presente artículo propone un indicador compuesto que permite identificar niveles de seguridad hídrica en la interfaz doméstica-comunitaria. Para ello analiza los procesos hidrosociales que dan origen a situaciones de escasez hídrica vividas por la población rural abastecida mediante organizaciones comunitarias en Chile rural. El indicador se basa en el estudio de caso de diez organizaciones comunitarias seleccionadas para representar la heterogeneidad existente en el país, a cuyos dirigentes se les aplicó entrevistas semiestructuradas en las cuales se realizaron, además, observaciones de campo. Del estudio se desprenden dos principales hallazgos: 1) No existe una correlación entre el tamaño de las organizaciones y los niveles de seguridad hídrica observados; 2) Los casos con mayores dificultades para acceder a recursos en cantidad suficiente no son los que enfrentan una inseguridad hídrica mayor, puesto que las organizaciones compensan esta dificultad con otros componentes. | |||||||||
| Exploring the multifunctional landscapes model in areas dominated by non-native tree plantations | Trees, Forests and People | Ortiz, A.; Gayó, E.; Henríquez, N.; Henríquez, B.; Pauchard, A. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras; Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100617 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100617 | art100617 | Vol: 17 | 26667193 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | Multifunctional landscapes offer an integrated approach to production, conservation, and human well-being. However, the challenges of implementing them in territories where plantations dominate are yet not well understood. This is the case in Chile, where plantations of non-native pines and eucalypts are extensively planted in its South-Central regions for timber and pulp. The resulting landscape homogenization, environmental degradation, and increased wildfire risk have caused and exacerbated conflicts, impacting biodiversity and the well-being of local communities and the Indigenous Mapuche Peoples. After the mega-wildfires in the region in 2023, science-policy discourse promoted the multifunctional landscapes model as a way to increase resilience. But what does this multifunctionality mean in challenging social-ecological contexts? Here, we aim to explore and deconstruct the multifunctional landscapes model in the context of the complex social-ecological systems of South-Central Chile. In this study, a review of the literature and semi-structured interviews with regional experts were used to better understand the challenges and opportunities presented by multifunctional landscapes. The results show a need to deepen the knowledge of how to move the model into practice, such as how to identify and decide compatible activities in the landscape. The thematic analysis of the interviews showed that restoration and water security are shared goals across the diverse actors in South-Central Chile. However, there were significant differences in knowledge, experiences and resources. While a number of landscape initiatives exist in the region, significant work is needed to build a common vision before the potential of multifunctional landscapes can be realized. © 2024 The Author(s) |
| Are we on the same page? Understanding value similarity and its impact on public trust in institutions of the energy sector | Energy Research and Social Science | Palomo-Vélez, G.; Perlaviciute, G.; Contzen, N.; Steg, L. | 2024 | ; C; G; I; P; a; b; c; e; f; i; l; n; o; r; t; y; z; í | 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103715 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2024.103715 | art103715 | Vol: 117 | 22146296 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | Value similarity – the extent to which people think institutions managing risks hold different or similar values to themselves, affects trust in those institutions and as such, plays a critical role in the public acceptability of energy projects and policies. Yet, we do not know what constitutes value similarity. How do people judge the level of similarity between their own values and the values of an institution? What role do different values play in theses judgments? And to what extent can these perceived similarities actually increase trust in institutions? To explore this, we decomposed the construct of value similarity into one's personal values and the perceived values of an institution, and explored if their congruence led to higher ratings of perceived value similarity and trust in institutions. We studied these relationships for three institutions playing important roles in the energy sector in the Netherlands, in current and future energy systems. Overall, response surface analyses (RSA) showed that people see their own values and the values of an institution as more similar and trust the institution more when they both endorse biospheric values more strongly. Further, perceived value similarity and trust in institutions are higher when people perceive institutions to have stronger biospheric values than themselves and when they expect institutions to be less egoistic than themselves. We discuss these findings reflecting on what they suggest regarding the role of shared values in increasing trust in relevant institutions and acceptability of energy risks. © 2024 The Authors |
| Comparison of carbon and water fluxes and the drivers of ecosystem water use efficiency in a temperate rainforest and a peatland in southern South America | Biogeosciences | Perez-Quezada, J.; Trejo, D.; Lopatin, J.; Aguilera, D.; Osborne, B.; Galleguillos, M.; Zattera, L.; Celis-Diez, J.; Armesto, J. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.5194/bg-21-1371-2024 | https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1371-2024 | 1371-1389 | Vol: 21 Issue: 5 | 17264170 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | The variability and drivers of carbon and water fluxes and their relationship to ecosystem water use efficiency (WUE) in natural ecosystems of southern South America are still poorly understood. For 8 years (2015-2022), we measured carbon dioxide net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and evapotranspiration (ET) using eddy covariance towers in a temperate rainforest and a peatland in southern Chile. NEE was partitioned into gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (Reco), while ET was partitioned into evaporation (E) and transpiration (T) and used to estimate different expressions of ecosystem WUE. We then used the correlation between detrended time series and structural equation modelling to identify the main environmental drivers of WUE, GPP, ET, E and T. The results showed that the forest was a consistent carbon sink (-486g23gCg m-2g yr-1), while the peatland was, on average, a small source (33g21gCg m-2g yr-1). WUE is low in both ecosystems and likely explained by the high annual precipitation in this region (g 1/4g 2100g mm). Only expressions of WUE that included atmospheric water demand showed seasonal variation. Variations in WUE were related more to changes in ET than to changes in GPP, while T remained relatively stable, accounting for around 47g % of ET for most of the study period. For both ecosystems, E increased with higher global radiation and higher surface conductance and when the water table was closer to the surface. Higher values for E were also found with increased wind speeds in the forest and higher air temperatures in the peatland. The absence of a close relationship between ET and GPP is likely related to the dominance of plant species that either do not have stomata (i.e. mosses in the peatland or epiphytes in the forest) or have poor stomatal control (i.e. anisohydric tree species in the forest). The observed increase in potential ET in the last 2 decades and the projected drought in this region suggests that WUE could increase in these ecosystems, particularly in the forest, where stomatal control may be more significant. © 2024 Jorge F. Perez-Quezada et al. |
| Emerging energy sources' social acceptability: Evidence from marine-based energy projects | Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews | Ponce Oliva, R.; Estay, M.; Barrientos, M.; Estevez, R.; Gelcich, S.; Vásquez-Lavín, F. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.rser.2024.114429 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.114429 | art114429 | Vol: 198 | 13640321 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Any decrease in global warming and its effects can only occur with a substantial reduction in anthropogenic CO2 emissions. In this context, renewable energy sources, particularly emerging sources, may play a central role in accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources. Emerging energy sources are renewable and have the potential to reduce global warming emissions; however, they are in the early development stages. These technologies include enhanced geothermal processes, artificial photosynthesis, and marine energy. In this study, we assess the main attributes that determine the social acceptance of renewable marine energy projects, highlighting individual preferences and heterogeneity for these projects. The results show that energy generation, ecological impact, job creation, co-ownership, and distributional justice are statistically significant attributes that support projects. However, individual preferences are highly heterogeneous. The existence of distinct classes (two in this case) with different preferences for marine energy attributes indicates that the one-size-fits-all approach may be inappropriate. Instead, policymakers and energy producers should tailor their proposals to meet the needs of both groups, considering their preferences and concerns. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Pine afforestation of treeless Mediterranean heathlands reduces productivity of neighbouring cork oak woodlands | Forest Ecology and Management | Repeto-Deudero, I.; Gómez-González, S.; García-Cervigón, A.; Navarro, G.; Ojeda, F. | 2024 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122155 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122155 | art122155 | Vol: 569 | 03781127 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Afforestation programs as a strategy to address the climate crisis are on the rise worldwide. Although concerns exist about the effects of afforesting treeless habitats on their biodiversity and ecosystem services, potential impacts on areas beyond afforestation boundaries have been largely overlooked. Cork oak (Quercus suber) woodlands in southern Spain are regarded as a successful example of sustainability. However, the afforestation of their neighbouring treeless habitats may compromise their productivity through indirect effects that are not fully understood. Using a multi-method approach, we studied the effects of the afforestation of Mediterranean heathland (herriza) areas with pine tree species on the productivity of neighbouring cork oak woodlands downslope over a 37-year period. The differences in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Basal Area Increment (BAI) between cork oak woodlands below open herriza and below afforested herriza became apparent approximately ten years after pine afforestation. Specifically, NDVI was significantly reduced in cork oak stands below afforested herriza areas for the remaining years, while a substantial decrease in BAI of cork oak trees was also associated with afforested herriza areas upslope. Moreover, the NDVI and BAI trends of cork oak stands below afforested herriza reached the minimum levels of the time series following an extreme drought event. Our results reveal that the ecological impacts of afforestation of naturally treeless habitats can expand beyond the plantation area. We propose that the restoration of treeless habitats, such as the herriza, in areas where pine plantations are no longer productive, may enhance their ecological services, particularly in the context of climate change. Therefore, afforestation programs worldwide should carefully consider the trade-offs between carbon mitigation and other ecosystem services at the landscape scale. © 2024 The Authors | |
| A 300-year tree-ring δ18O-based precipitation reconstruction for the South American Altiplano highlights decadal hydroclimate teleconnections | Communications Earth and Environment | Rodriguez-Caton, M.; Morales, M.; Rao, M.; Nixon, T.; Vuille, M.; Rivera, J.; Oelkers, R.; Christie, D.; Varuolo-Clarke, A.; Ferrero, M.; Magney, T.; Daux, V.; Villalba, R.; Andreu-Hayles, L. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1038/s43247-024-01385-9 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01385-9 | art269 | Vol: 5 Issue: 1 | 26624435 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Tropical South American climate is influenced by the South American Summer Monsoon and the El Niño Southern Oscillation. However, assessing natural hydroclimate variability in the region is hindered by the scarcity of long-term instrumental records. Here we present a tree-ring δ18O-based precipitation reconstruction for the South American Altiplano for 1700–2013 C.E., derived from Polylepis tarapacana tree rings. This record explains 56% of December–March instrumental precipitation variability in the Altiplano. The tree-ring δ18O chronology shows interannual (2–5 years) and decadal (~11 years) oscillations that are remarkably consistent with periodicities observed in Altiplano precipitation, central tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures, southern-tropical Andean ice core δ18O and tropical Pacific coral δ18O archives. These results demonstrate the value of annual-resolution tree-ring δ18O records to capture hydroclimate teleconnections and generate robust tropical climate reconstructions. This work contributes to a better understanding of global oxygen-isotope patterns, as well as atmospheric and oceanic processes across the tropics. © The Author(s) 2024. |
| Stepping-up climate action and climate justice: Chile’s path towards a new model of climate governance | Environmental Research Letters | Rojas, M.; Billi, M. | 2024 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política; l | 10.1088/1748-9326/ace4de | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ace4de | art011003 | Vol: 19 Issue: 1 | 17489326 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | |
| Challenging the policy space: The legitimation of alternatives in Chilean pension policy (1980–2019) | Latin American Policy | Rozas-Bugueño, J.; Maillet, A. | 2024 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1111/lamp.12343 | https://doi.org/10.1111/lamp.12343 | 235-254 | Vol: 15 Issue: 2 | 20417365 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | In October 2019, Chile experienced its most significant cycle of protests since the return to democracy in 1990; one of the primary demands of this cycle was the improvement of pensions. What effect did the October upheaval have on the Chilean pension policy debate? How have ideas about the Chilean pension plan changed from its creation in 1981−2019? What are the main drivers of these changes? In this study, we propose the concept of policy space, which we define as the realm of ideas wherein public policies are debated and whose boundaries are determined by the legitimacy of ideas from relevant actors. We use a process-tracing approach based on qualitative data triangulation from several techniques including in-depth interviews, press analysis, and secondary document review. The findings indicate that the shift in the ideas related to pension policy is explained by two drivers—long-term linkage among actors and short-term social mobilization against the private pension system, which accelerated rapidly with the October 2019 protests. © 2024 The Authors. Latin American Policy published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Policy Studies Organisation. |
| Toward a South American High-Impact Weather Reports Database | Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society | Salio, P.; Bechis, H.; Ribeiro, B.; de Lima Nascimento, E.; Galligani, V.; Garcia, F.; Alvarenga, L.; de los Milagros Alvarezs Imaz, M.; Baissac, D.; Barle, M.; Bastías-Curivil, C.; Benedicto, M.; Cancelada, M.; da Costa, I.; D’Amen, D.; de Elia, R.; Diaz, D.; Páez, A.; González, S.; Goede, V.; Goñi... | 2024 | Zonas Costeras; Agua y Extremos | 10.1175/BAMS-D-23-0063.1 | https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-23-0063.1 | E1204-E1217 | Vol: 105 Issue: 7 | 00030007 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Bronze Open Access | English | Despite southern South America being recognized as a hotspot for deep convective storms, little is known about the socioenvironmental impacts of high-impact weather (HIW) events. Although there have been past efforts to collect severe weather reports in the region, they have been highly fragmented among and within countries, sharing no common protocol, and limited to a particular phenomenon, a very specific region, or a short period of time. There is a pressing need for a more comprehensive understanding of the present risks linked to HIW events, specifically deep convective storms, on a global scale as well as their variability and potential future evolution in the context of climate change. A database of high-quality and systematic HIW reports and associated socioenvironmental impacts is essential to understand the regional atmospheric conditions leading to hazardous weather, to quantify its predictability, and to build robust early warning systems. To tackle this problem and following successful initiatives in other regions of the world, researchers, national weather service members, and weather enthusiasts from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay have embarked on a multinational collaboration to generate a standardized database of reports of HIW events principally associated with convective storms and their socioenvironmental impacts in South America. The goal of this paper is to describe this unprecedented initiative over the region, to summarize first results, and to discuss the potential applications of this collaboration. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The South American Meteorological Hazards and their Impacts Database represents a collaborative multinational initiative aimed at systematically gathering data on high-impact weather events. Cross-border information exchange and collaborative efforts between national weather services, the academic sector, users, and weather enthusiasts will improve multihazard-impact-based forecasts and risk management strategies in the region. © 2024 American Meteorological Society. |
| Changes in South American surface ozone trends: exploring the influences of precursors and extreme events | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics | Seguel, R.; Castillo, L.; Opazo, C.; Rojas, N.; Nogueira, T.; Cazorla, M.; Gavidia-Calderón, M.; Gallardo, L.; Garreaud, R.; Carrasco-Escaff, T.; Elshorbany, Y. | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes; Agua y Extremos | 10.5194/acp-24-8225-2024 | https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-8225-2024 | 8225-8242 | Vol: 24 Issue: 14 | 16807316 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | In this study, trends of 21st-century ground-level ozone and ozone precursors were examined across South America, a less-studied region where trend estimates have rarely been comprehensively addressed. Therefore, we provided an updated regional analysis based on validated surface observations. We tested the hypothesis that the recent increasing ozone trends, mostly in urban environments, resulted from intense wildfires driven by extreme meteorological events impacting cities where preexisting volatile organic compound (VOC)-limited regimes dominate. We applied the quantile regression method based on monthly anomalies to estimate trends, quantify their uncertainties and detect trend change points. Additionally, the maximum daily 8 h average (MDA8) and peak-season metrics were used to assess short- and long-term exposure levels, respectively, for the present day (2017–2021). Our results showed lower levels in tropical cities (Bogotá and Quito), varying between 39 and 43 nmol mol−1 for short-term exposure and between 26 and 27 nmol mol−1 for long-term exposure. In contrast, ozone mixing ratios were higher in extratropical cities (Santiago and São Paulo), with a short-term exposure level of 61 nmol mol−1 and long-term exposure levels varying between 40 and 41 nmol mol−1. Santiago (since 2017) and São Paulo (since 2008) exhibited positive trends of 0.6 and 0.3 nmol mol−1 yr−1, respectively, with very high certainty. We attributed these upward trends, or no evidence of variation, such as in Bogotá and Quito, to a well-established VOC-limited regime. However, we attributed the greater increase in the extreme percentile trends (≥ 90th) to heat waves and, in the case of southwestern South America, to wildfires associated with extreme meteorological events. © Author(s) 2024. | |
| Diversity and functionality of soil prokaryotic communities in antarctic volcanic soils: insights from penguin-influenced environments | Polar Biology | Segura, D.; Jordaan, K.; Díez, B.; Tamayo-Leiva, J.; Doetterl, S.; Wasner, D.; Cifuentes-Anticevic, J.; Casanova-Katny, A. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1007/s00300-024-03273-6 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-024-03273-6 | 07224060 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | In the nutrient-limited Antarctic terrestrial habitat, penguins transfer a significant amount of nutrients from the marine to the terrestrial ecosystem through their depositions (i.e., guano). This guano influences soil physicochemical properties, leading to the formation of ornithogenic soil rich in nutrients and organic matter. We hypothesize that soil prokaryotic communities will be strongly influenced by the contribution of nitrogenous nutrients from penguin rookeries, maintaining the influence over long distances. The objective was to establish how the soil prokaryotic diversity and community structure change with distance from a penguin colony, which provides large amounts of guano and nitrogenous compounds, and to study the effects of these nutrients on the functional role of these communities. Methods include volcanic soil sampling along a 1200 m transect from the penguin active rookery and the characterization of soil nutrient content and soil prokaryotic communities using 16S rRNA high-throughput amplicon sequencing. In contrast to our hypothesis, the results showed that the impact of guano from the penguin colony was restricted to the first 300 m. Probably because the penguin rookery was sheltered, strong wind and wind direction did not affect the transport of nutrients from the penguin rookery. Areas close to the penguin rookery were dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, while areas situated further away were dominated by Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, Nitrospirae, and Planctomycetes. Beta diversity analysis among the soil prokaryotic communities revealed a high degree of community heterogeneity, strongly associated with N compound characteristics (NH4, NO3, and %N), C, and pH. Inferences from N metabolism genes suggest a high potential of the microbial community for dissimilatory nitrate reduction genes (DNRA) to ammonium, assimilatory nitrate reduction (ANR), and denitrification. Although it is assumed that the nitrogenous compounds of the penguin colonies reach long distances and affect the prokaryotic community, this effect can vary with wind directions or the morphology of the site, reducing the impact of the guano over long distances, as our results indicate. On the other hand, functional predictions give some clues about the main actors in nitrogen cycling, through processes like dissimilatory nitrate reduction, assimilatory nitrate reduction, and denitrification. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024. | |||
| Paleolimnology of Lago Pichilaguna over the past ∼12,600 years based on a fine-resolution diatom record, northwestern Patagonia (41°S) | Quaternary Science Reviews | Sepúlveda-Zúñiga, E.; Villacís, L.; Maidana, N.; Sagredo, E.; Moreno, P. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108835 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108835 | art108835 | Vol: 339 | 02773791 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The Pacific sector of Northwestern Patagonia (NWP, 40°-44°S) is key for examining the interaction between climate variability, explosive volcanism, and human influences on southern mid-latitude ecosystems. A limited number of studies in this region, however, have focused on aquatic ecosystem and hydrologic balance (HB) changes throughout the Holocene. Here we report a fossil diatom record from Lago Pichilaguna, a small closed-basin lake located in the lowlands of the Chilean Lake District, that reveals prominent changes in species composition and functional groups since ∼12.6 cal ka BP. We interpret positive HB between ∼12.6–11.4 cal ka BP and from ∼5.7 cal ka BP until recent that alternate with negative HB between ∼11.4–6.9 cal ka BP. We observe centennial-scale fluctuations since ∼5.7 cal ka BP that culminate with a negative HB phase over the past ∼270 years. Coherent responses in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems recorded in the Lago Pichilaguna sediments underscore the influence of variations in the Southern Westerly Winds in NWP from multimillennial to centennial timescales since ∼12.6 cal ka BP. These inferences replicate the timing and direction of changes from previous studies at regional, pan-Patagonian, and zonal scales. The magnitude and rapidity of changes in diatom assemblages that started at ∼0.2 cal ka BP exceeds the ranges of local natural variability since ∼12.6 cal ka BP. This abrupt change is associated with a negative HB phase at centennial timescale, deposition of a tephra layer, and large-scale disturbance by Chilean/European settlers. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Picoplanktonic methane production in eutrophic surface waters | Biogeosciences | Tenorio, S.; Farías, L. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.5194/bg-21-2029-2024 | https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2029-2024 | 2029-2050 | Vol: 21 Issue: 8 | 17264170 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Over the past decade, extensive research has delved into the methane (CH4) paradox, which involves aerobic CH4 production. We present noteworthy observations of CH4 oversaturation within the surface layer of the central Chile upwelling zone (36°S, 73°W) over two consecutive seasonal cycles (2018-2021). Complementing these observations, CH4 cycling experiments were conducted, utilizing distinct plankton fractions (encompassing the natural planktonic community, fractions <150, <3 and <0.2μm), in different productivity periods of phytoplanktonic production and composition throughout the year. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of picoplankton (<3μm) in CH4 production on the ocean surface, contrasting with the limited contribution of larger microorganisms (<150μm). Notably, incubations with methylated substrates, such as methylphosphonic acid (MPn) and trimethylamine (TMA), induce heightened CH4 production within the picoplanktonic fraction. This phenomenon is consistently observed during both upwelling (austral spring-summer) and non-upwelling (winter) seasons, with significance in the latter period, when Synechococcus sp. exhibits notably high relative abundance. Long-term microcosm experiments highlight the crucial roles played by heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria in methylotrophic methanogenesis. This process enhances CH4 production, facilitated by the recycling of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Picoplankton emerges as a pivotal factor influencing the recycling of methylated substrates, and it is responsible for maintaining CH4 supersaturation. These findings provide valuable insights into the biogeochemical processes driving CH4 dynamics, particularly in highly productive upwelling areas. © Copyright: |
| New insights on the interannual surface mass balance variability on the South Shetland Islands glaciers, northerly Antarctic Peninsula | Global and Planetary Change | Torres, C.; Bozkurt, D.; Carrasco-Escaff, T.; Bolibar, J.; Arigony-Neto, J. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras; Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2024.104506 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2024.104506 | art104506 | Vol: 239 | 09218181 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Few studies have assessed a comprehensive understanding of how the seasonal and interannual variability and trends of the surface mass balance (SMB), including the influence of atmospheric river (ARs), are governed by the climate on the South Shetland Islands (SSI) glaciers located in the northerly Antarctic Peninsula (AP). To address this gap, we comprehensively analyzed the correlations and regressions between seasonal and annual SMB with regional to global climate indices and a state-of-the-art AR tracking database from 1980 to 2019. The daily and monthly SMB was obtained from two physical glaciological models, which was verified against 19 years of annual and seasonal glacier-wide SMB observations available in three glaciers (Johnsons, Hurd, and Bellingshausen), showing a good ability to capture interannual and seasonal variability. Results indicate a low dependence of the SMB on main atmospheric modes of variability (e.g., El Niño-Southern Oscillation and the Southern Annular Mode), and a moderate dependence on regional climate indices based on atmospheric pressure anomalies and sea surface temperature anomalies over the Drake Passage. Furthermore, our findings reveal that ARs have different effects on the SMB depending on the season. For example, winter ARs tend to boost accumulation due to increased snowfall, while summer ARs tend to intensify surface melting due to increased sensible heat flux. Our study highlights the Drake Passage as a key region that has the potential to influence the interannual and seasonal variability of the SMB and other climate variables, such as air temperature and snowfall over the SSI. We suggest that future work should consider this region to better understand the past, present and future climate changes on the SSI and surrounding areas. © 2024 | |
| Camelids in the hyperarid core of the Atacama desert 12,000–11,000 years ago? A stable isotope study and its consequences for early human settlement | Quaternary Science Reviews | Ugalde, P.; Gayo, E.; Labarca, R.; Santoro, C.; Quade, J. | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108750 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108750 | art108750 | Vol: 335 | 02773791 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | How did hunter-gatherers initially settle and move across extreme environments? We conducted a multi-disciplinary study to tackle this question, focusing on how Paleoindigenous populations inhabited the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert. Particularly, we examined the stable isotopic values of ∼12,000–11,200-year-old camelid and rodent bones and hair samples retrieved from low-elevation archaeological sites (Pampa del Tamarugal basin - PdT, 800–1200 masl). By integrating novel and existing data into a regional stable isotope ecology, we offer a baseline for interpreting our results. δ13C and δ15N values on archaeological remains show animals with different geographical origins. A first group includes camelids and rodents with lower δ15N values and δ13C values indicating a dominantly C3 diet, corresponding to animals either local to the PdT or from the Andean Steppe, at least ∼80 km away and between 4000 and 4500 masl. Most of these remains, however, come from residential sites and belong to young camelids, indicating a local origin. A second group presents a higher δ15N signal and δ13C values indicative of a mixed C3–C4 based diet. These animals were not local but source to the Puna at least ∼60 km away between 3200 - 4000 masl. We hypothesize that the first would correspond to animals associated with hunter-gatherer bands settled around a wetland and grove environment in the PdT. The second group could correspond to remains brought by humans from the Puna to the PdT. Our results demonstrate that during the Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene the Atacama was very different than today, supporting life that included large and mid-size game. These results also show that the core of the Atacama attracted animals and people and counters the notion of this ecosystem as a barren passageway from the Andes to the coast. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd | |
| CoCO2-MOSAIC 1.0: A global mosaic of regional, gridded, fossil, and biofuel CO2 emission inventories | Earth System Science Data | Urraca, R.; Janssens-Maenhout, G.; Álamos, N.; Berna-Peña, L.; Crippa, M.; Darras, S.; Dellaert, S.; Denier Van Der Gon, H.; Dowell, M.; Gobron, N.; Granier, C.; Grassi, G.; Guevara, M.; Guizzardi, D.; Gurney, K.; Huneeus, N.; Keita, S.; Kuenen, J.; Lopez-Noreña, A.; Puliafito, E.; Roest, G.; Rossi,... | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.5194/essd-16-501-2024 | https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-501-2024 | 501-523 | Vol: 16 Issue: 1 | 18663508 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Gridded bottom-up inventories of CO2 emissions are needed in global CO2 inversion schemes as priors to initialize transport models and as a complement to top-down estimates to identify the anthropogenic sources. Global inversions require gridded datasets almost in near-real time that are spatially and methodologically consistent at a global scale. This may result in a loss of more detailed information that can be assessed by using regional inventories because they are built with a greater level of detail including country-specific information and finer resolution data. With this aim, a global mosaic of regional, gridded CO2 emission inventories, hereafter referred to as CoCO2-MOSAIC 1.0, has been built in the framework of the CoCO2 project. CoCO2-MOSAIC 1.0 provides gridded (0.1° ×0.1° ) monthly emissions fluxes of CO2 fossil fuel (CO2ff, long cycle) and CO2 biofuel (CO2bf, short cycle) for the years 2015-2018 disaggregated in seven sectors. The regional inventories integrated are CAMS-REG-GHG 5.1 (Europe), DACCIWA 2.0 (Africa), GEAA-AEI 3.0 (Argentina), INEMA 1.0 (Chile), REAS 3.2.1 (East, Southeast, and South Asia), and VULCAN 3.0 (USA). EDGAR 6.0, CAMS-GLOB-SHIP 3.1 and CAMS-GLOB-TEMPO 3.1 are used for gap-filling. CoCO2-MOSAIC 1.0 can be recommended as a global baseline emission inventory for 2015 which is regionally accepted as a reference, and as such we use the mosaic to inter-compare the most widely used global emission inventories: CAMS-GLOB-ANT 5.3, EDGAR 6.0, ODIAC v2020b, and CEDS v2020_04_24. CoCO2-MOSAIC 1.0 has the highest CO2ff (36.7Gt) and CO2bf (5.9Gt) emissions globally, particularly in the USA and Africa. Regional emissions generally have a higher seasonality representing better the local monthly profiles and are generally distributed over a higher number of pixels, due to the more detailed information available. All super-emitting pixels from regional inventories contain a power station (CoCO2 database), whereas several super-emitters from global inventories are likely incorrectly geolocated, which is likely because regional inventories provide large energy emitters as point sources including regional information on power plant locations. CoCO2-MOSAIC 1.0 is freely available at zenodo (10.5281/zenodo.7092358; Urraca et al., 2023) and at the JRC Data Catalogue (https://data.jrc.ec.europa.eu/dataset/6c8f9148-ce09-4dca-a4d5-422fb3682389, last access: 15 May 2023; Urraca Valle et al., 2023). © 2024 Ruben Urraca et al. |
| Role of atmospheric rivers in shaping long term Arctic moisture variability | Nature Communications | Wang, Z.; Ding, Q.; Wu, R.; Ballinger, T.; Guan, B.; Bozkurt, D.; Nash, D.; Baxter, I.; Topál, D.; Li, Z.; Huang, G.; Chen, W.; Chen, S.; Cao, X.; Chen, Z. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1038/s41467-024-49857-y | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49857-y | art5505 | Vol: 15 Issue: 1 | 20411723 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Atmospheric rivers (ARs) reaching high-latitudes in summer contribute to the majority of climatological poleward water vapor transport into the Arctic. This transport has exhibited long term changes over the past decades, which cannot be entirely explained by anthropogenic forcing according to ensemble model responses. Here, through observational analyses and model experiments in which winds are adjusted to match observations, we demonstrate that low-frequency, large-scale circulation changes in the Arctic play a decisive role in regulating AR activity and thus inducing the recent upsurge of this activity in the region. It is estimated that the trend in summertime AR activity may contribute to 36% of the increasing trend of atmospheric summer moisture over the entire Arctic since 1979 and account for over half of the humidity trends in certain areas experiencing significant recent warming, such as western Greenland, northern Europe, and eastern Siberia. This indicates that AR activity, mostly driven by strong synoptic weather systems often regarded as stochastic, may serve as a vital mechanism in regulating long term moisture variability in the Arctic. © The Author(s) 2024. |
| The Extraordinary March 2022 East Antarctica “Heat” Wave. Part I: Observations and Meteorological Drivers | Journal of Climate | Wille, J.; Alexander, S.; Amory, C.; Baiman, R.; Barthélemy, L.; Bergstrom, D.; Berne, A.; Binder, H.; Blanchet, J.; Bozkurt, D.; Bracegirdle, T.; Casado, M.; Choi, T.; Clem, K.; Codron, F.; Datta, R.; Di Battista, S.; Favier, V.; Francis, D.; Fraser, A.; Fourré, E.; Garreaud, R.; Genthon, C.; Gorod... | 2024 | Zonas Costeras; Agua y Extremos | 10.1175/JCLI-D-23-0175.1 | https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-23-0175.1 | 757-778 | Vol: 37 Issue: 3 | 08948755 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Bronze Open Access | English | Between 15 and 19 March 2022, East Antarctica experienced an exceptional heat wave with widespread 30°–40°C temperature anomalies across the ice sheet. This record-shattering event saw numerous monthly temperature records being broken including a new all-time temperature record of -9.4°C on 18 March at Concordia Station despite March typically being a transition month to the Antarctic coreless winter. The driver for these temperature extremes was an intense atmospheric river advecting subtropical/midlatitude heat and moisture deep into the Antarctic interior. The scope of the temperature records spurred a large, diverse collaborative effort to study the heat wave’s meteorological drivers, impacts, and historical climate context. Here we focus on describing those temperature records along with the intricate meteorological drivers that led to the most intense atmospheric river observed over East Antarctica. These efforts describe the Rossby wave activity forced from intense tropical convection over the Indian Ocean. This led to an atmospheric river and warm conveyor belt intensification near the coastline, which reinforced atmospheric blocking deep into East Antarctica. The resulting moisture flux and upper-level warm-air advection eroded the typical surface temperature inversions over the ice sheet. At the peak of the heat wave, an area of 3.3 million km2 in East Antarctica exceeded previous March monthly temperature records. Despite a temperature anomaly return time of about 100 years, a closer recurrence of such an event is possible under future climate projections. In Part II we describe the various impacts this extreme event had on the East Antarctic cryosphere. © 2024 American Meteorological Society. |
| The Extraordinary March 2022 East Antarctica “Heat” Wave. Part II: Impacts on the Antarctic Ice Sheet | Journal of Climate | Wille, J.; Alexander, S.; Amory, C.; Baiman, R.; Barthélemy, L.; Bergstrom, D.; Berne, A.; Binder, H.; Blanchet, J.; Bozkurt, D.; Bracegirdle, T.; Casado, M.; Choi, T.; Clem, K.; Codron, F.; Datta, R.; Di Battista, S.; Favier, V.; Francis, D.; Fraser, A.; Fourré, E.; Garreaud, R.; Genthon, C.; Gorod... | 2024 | Zonas Costeras; Agua y Extremos | 10.1175/JCLI-D-23-0176.1 | https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-23-0176.1 | 779-799 | Vol: 37 Issue: 3 | 08948755 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Bronze Open Access | English | Between 15 and 19 March 2022, East Antarctica experienced an exceptional heat wave with widespread 308–408C temperature anomalies across the ice sheet. In Part I, we assessed the meteorological drivers that generated an intense atmospheric river (AR) that caused these record-shattering temperature anomalies. Here, we continue our large collaborative study by analyzing the widespread and diverse impacts driven by the AR landfall. These impacts included widespread rain and surface melt that was recorded along coastal areas, but this was outweighed by widespread high snowfall accumulations resulting in a largely positive surface mass balance contribution to the East Antarctic region. An analysis of the surface energy budget indicated that widespread downward longwave radiation anomalies caused by large cloud-liquid water contents along with some scattered solar radiation produced intense surface warming. Isotope measurements of the moisture were highly elevated, likely imprinting a strong signal for past climate reconstructions. The AR event attenuated cosmic ray measurements at Concordia, something previously never observed. Last, an extratropical cyclone west of the AR landfall likely triggered the final collapse of the critically unstable Conger Ice Shelf while further reducing an already record low sea ice extent. © 2024 American Meteorological Society. |
| Climate projections of oceanographic variables in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Ecuador: A 21st century perspective to inform impact and adaptation assessment | Regional Studies in Marine Science | Winckler, P.; Farías, L.; Vicuña, S.; Esparza, C.; Mora, J.; Chubretovic, R.; Cabrera, F.; Zambrano-Sánchez, N.; Caza, P.; González, R. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103612 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103612 | art103612 | Vol: 77 | 23524855 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Climate projections of ocean variables are essential to inform adaptation strategies and plans involving open and coastal oceanic regions. Assessment of baseline and projections of sea surface temperature (SST), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), mean sea level (MSL), waves coastal flooding within Ecuador's Exclusive Economic Zone, including Galapagos Islands are reported herein. With different magnitudes of change, both near-future (2021–2050) and far-future projections (2051–2080) show a statistically robust increase in SST, MSL rise and a reduction in pH, a proxy for acidification. In contrast, DO decrease is only observed in surface (0–100 m) but not in subsurface waters (100–400 m). The likelihood of extreme sea level events in the coastal cities of La Libertad, Manta and Esmeraldas would remain almost unchanged for near-future projections (2026–2045) whereas, for end-of-century projections (2081–2100), historical 1 in a 100-year extreme flooding events would become yearly occurrences. The generated data product offers a state-of-the-art research and management tool for the 21st century under the combined stressors of global climate change. Since the eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean is one of the most productive and biodiverse worldwide due to the equatorial upwelling system, possible impacts on marine biodiversity, social, and economic systems are discussed. © 2024 Elsevier B.V. | |
| When another one bites the dust: Environmental impact of global copper demand on local communities in the Atacama mining hotspot as registered by tree rings | Science of the Total Environment | Zanetta-Colombo, N.; Scharnweber, T.; Christie, D.; Manzano, C.; Blersch, M.; Gayo, E.; Muñoz, A.; Fleming, Z.; Nüsser, M. | 2024 | Ciudades Resilientes; Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170954 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170954 | art170954 | Vol: 920 | 00489697 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | Assessing the impact of mining activity on the availability of environmental pollutants is crucial for informing health policies in anticipation of future production scenarios of critical minerals essential for the transition to a net-zero carbon society. However, temporal and spatial monitoring is often sparse, and measurements may not extend far enough back in time. In this study, we utilize variations of chemical elements contained in tree-rings collected in local villages from an area heavily affected by copper mining in the Atacama Desert since the early 20th century to evaluate the temporal distribution of pollutants and their relationship with local drivers. By combining time-varying data on local drivers, such as copper production and the dry tailings deposit area, we show how the surge in copper production during the 1990s, fueled by trade liberalization and increased international demand, led to a significant increment in the availability of metal(loid)s related to mining activities on indigenous lands. Our findings suggest that the environmental legislation in Chile may be underestimating the environmental impact of tailing dams in neighboring populations, affecting the well-being of Indigenous Peoples from the Atacama mining hotspot region. We argue that future changes in production rates driven by international demand could have negative repercussions on the environment and local communities. Therefore, mining emissions and the management of tailing dams should be carefully considered to anticipate their potential negative effects on human and ecosystem health. © 2024 The Authors |
| Advances and knowledge gaps on climate change impacts on honey bees and beekeeping: A systematic review | Global Change Biology | Zapata-Hernández, G.; Gajardo-Rojas, M.; Calderón-Seguel, M.; Muñoz, A.; Yáñez, K.; Requier, F.; Fontúrbel, F.; Ormeño-Arriagada, P.; Arrieta, H. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1111/gcb.17219 | https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17219 | arte17219 | Vol: 30 Issue: 3 | 13541013 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The Western honey bee Apis mellifera is a managed species that provides diverse hive products and contributing to wild plant pollination, as well as being a critical component of crop pollination systems worldwide. High mortality rates have been reported in different continents attributed to different factors, including pesticides, pests, diseases, and lack of floral resources. Furthermore, climate change has been identified as a potential driver negatively impacting pollinators, but it is still unclear how it could affect honey bee populations. In this context, we carried out a systematic review to synthesize the effects of climate change on honey bees and beekeeping activities. A total of 90 articles were identified, providing insight into potential impacts (negative, neutral, and positive) on honey bees and beekeeping. Interest in climate change's impact on honey bees has increased in the last decade, with studies mainly focusing on honey bee individuals, using empirical and experimental approaches, and performed at short-spatial (<10 km) and temporal (<5 years) scales. Moreover, environmental analyses were mainly based on short-term data (weather) and concentrated on only a few countries. Environmental variables such as temperature, precipitation, and wind were widely studied and had generalized negative effects on different biological and ecological aspects of honey bees. Food reserves, plant-pollinator networks, mortality, gene expression, and metabolism were negatively impacted. Knowledge gaps included a lack of studies at the apiary and beekeeper level, a limited number of predictive and perception studies, poor representation of large-spatial and mid-term scales, a lack of climate analysis, and a poor understanding of the potential impacts of pests and diseases. Finally, climate change's impacts on global beekeeping are still an emergent issue. This is mainly due to their diverse effects on honey bees and the potential necessity of implementing adaptation measures to sustain this activity under complex environmental scenarios. © 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. | |
| Variability in oceanographic conditions affecting Mesophotic Ecosystems along the South Eastern Pacific: Latitudinal trends and potential for climate refugia | Journal of Marine Systems | de la Maza, L.; Wieters, E.; Beldade, R.; Landaeta, M.; Perez-Matus, A.; Navarrete, S. | 2024 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2024.103999 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2024.103999 | art103999 | Vol: 245 | 09247963 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Oceans have been changing at the fastest pace since the beginning of the Holocene. The South Eastern Pacific (SEP), including the Humboldt Upwelling Ecosystem (HUE) is subject to changes in upwelling winds, temperature, El Niño, and the ever-increasing local anthropogenic stressors, all of which have been documented for surface coastal waters where in-situ and remote observations are readily available. Temporal and spatial changes in the adjacent deeper waters where diverse Mesophotic Ecosystems are found have been scarcely documented. These marine ecosystems have been the focus of ecological studies for less than two decades. Here we provide an overview of the thermal variability at mesophotic depths and assess their potential as climatic refugia along all SEP ecoregions. We analyzed a time series of temperature and salinity from a 19 yr reanalysis based on remote and in-situ observations (CTD, ARGO, XBTs, moorings) to quantify variability in the Tropical (0–5°S), Northern Warm Temperate (5–30°S); Southern Warm Temperate (30–39.5°S) and Magellanic subregions (39.5–45°S), at two mesophotic depth strata (50 and 100 m), and a reference surface (5 m) depth. We assessed variability in the seasonal, interannual (El Niño) and ‘long-term’ (ca. 20 yr) scales, and the relationship with wind velocities. The thermal depth gradient between surface and mesophotic depths did not change smoothly with latitude but peaked within the northern portion of the warm temperate subregion, decreasing towards lower and higher latitudes. Seasonal variation in temperature was also largest in the north and south temperate subregions and minimal in the Magellanic subregion. Depth dampening of seasonal temperature variation was also strengthened at intermediate latitudes and much reduced in the tropics, where seasonal variation at mesophotic depths was similar to that at the surface. The strong interannual El Niño events were identified at all depths in tropical and temperate subregions, with stronger standardized effects at mesophotic layers than at the surface. Long-term (ca. two decades) temperature trends were significant and changed direction from warming to cooling along the SEP but were generally patchier at mesophotic layers. Spatial temperature gradients have remained relatively stable over the past two decades and were stronger at the surface than at mesophotic depths, and stronger within the tropics than in all other subregions. Surprisingly, the velocity of climate change was patchier and generally faster at mesophotic layers than at the surface. We conclude that, judging solely by physical environmental conditions, mesophotic ecosystems may be used by species with very different temperature affinities in temperate subregions, while in the tropics, more overlap in temperature affinities of component species may be found. Importantly, while the seasonal amplitude is reduced at mesophotic depth in most subregions, except the tropics, interannual disturbances affect mesophotic depths at least as strongly as they do surface waters and climate change velocities are faster at mesophotic depths than at surface. Thus, these ecosystems are not sheltered from inter-annual and longer-term forcing and their biotas might be more vulnerable to climate change than shallow coastal ecosystems. © 2024 Elsevier B.V. | |
| The influence of human activities on streamflow reductions during the megadrought in central Chile | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences | Álamos, N.; Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Muñoz, A.; González-Reyes, Á. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos | 10.5194/hess-28-2483-2024 | https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2483-2024 | 2483-2503 | Vol: 28 Issue: 11 | 10275606 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Since 2010, central Chile has experienced a protracted megadrought with annual precipitation deficits ranging from 25 % to 70 %. An intensification of drought propagation has been attributed to the effect of cumulative precipitation deficits linked to catchment memory. Yet, the influence of water extractions on drought intensification is still unclear. Our study assesses climate and water use effects on streamflow reductions during a high-human-influence period (1988–2020) in four major agricultural basins. We performed this attribution by contrasting observed streamflow (driven by climate and water use) with near-natural streamflow simulations (driven mainly by climate) representing what would have occurred without water extractions. Near-natural streamflow estimations were obtained from rainfall–runoff models trained over a reference period with low human intervention (1960–1988). Annual and seasonal streamflow reductions were examined before and after the megadrought onset, and hydrological drought events were characterized for the complete evaluation period in terms of their frequency, duration, and intensity. Our results show that before the megadrought onset (1988–2009) the mean annual deficits in observed streamflow ranged between 2 % and 20 % across the study basins and that 81 % to 100 % of those deficits were explained by water extractions. During the megadrought (2010–2020), the mean annual deficits in observed streamflow were 47 % to 76 % among the basins. During this time, the relative contribution of precipitation deficits on streamflow reduction increased while the contribution of water extractions decreased, accounting for 27 % to 51 % of the streamflow reduction. Regarding drought events during the complete evaluation period, we show that human activities have amplified drought propagation, with almost double the intensity of hydrological droughts in some basins compared to those expected by precipitation deficits only. We conclude that while the primary cause of streamflow reductions during the megadrought has been the lack of precipitation, water uses have not diminished during this time, causing an exacerbation of the hydrological drought conditions and aggravating their impacts on water accessibility in rural communities and natural ecosystems. © Author(s) 2024. |
| Hydroclimate variability in the Tropical Andes recorded by δ18O isotopes from a new network of Polylepis tarapacana tree-rings | Global and Planetary Change | Álvarez, C.; Christie, D.; González-Reyes, Á.; Veblen, T.; Helle, G.; LeQuesne, C.; Rodriguez-Caton, M.; Szejner, P.; Flores-Sáez, F.; Gipoulou-Zúñiga, T.; Suazo-Álvarez, M.; Muñoz-Salazar, T.; Aliste, D.; Morales, M.; Muñoz, A.; Villalba, R. | 2024 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2024.104503 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2024.104503 | art104503 | Vol: 239 | 09218181 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Stable oxygen isotopes records (δ18O) in tree-rings are commonly used to assess the response of trees to environmental variability being a valuable tool for studying past climate at different temporal and spatial scales. This is particularly relevant in semi-arid regions like the southern Tropical Andes, where ongoing environmental changes coincide with a rapidly increasing demand for hydrological resources, presenting a challenge for ecosystem dynamics and water resource management. In this study, we aim to determine the main spatio-temporal variability of a new network of δ18O Polylepis tarapacana chronologies during the last century, and their relationships with hydroclimate and tropical circulation at local to subcontinental scales throughout the Tropical Andes. For this purpose, we develop six δ18O P. tarapacana tree-ring chronologies across a 450 km latitudinal moisture gradient in the southern Tropical Andes adjacent to the Atacama Desert, covering the period 1900–2007. Results show a clear latitudinal gradient in the δ18O values across the network and significant relationships are observed with other δ18O tree-ring chronologies in Tropical South America, demonstrating clear regional climate influences at a subcontinental scale. A principal component analysis of the δ18O tree-ring chronologies demonstrate a strong regional environmental signal contained in the network, exhibiting a main temporal pattern (PC1 δ18O) that explains 63% of the total variance during the period 1900–2007. Comparisons between PC1 δ18O and environmental variables showed significant negative relationships with precipitation and soil moisture, and positive relationships with temperature and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) during summer when the South American monsoon occurs. The main δ18O tree-ring network signal clearly records tropical atmospheric and circulation patterns across South America. The easterly wind flux conditions from the Amazon basin favor lower δ18O values, and the PC1 δ18O exhibit significant positive correlations with VPD across the entire Tropical Andes and the northern portion of the Amazon basin, and as well as outgoing longwave radiation across the southern Tropical Andes and part of the Amazon basin. The close relationships between the regional signals from our δ18O tree-ring network with the previously mentioned parameters, highlight the potential to develop future hydroclimatic-related reconstructions with these δ18O records to assess climate variability and change across the Tropical Andes. © 2023 | |
| Snow Cover Reconstruction in the Brunswick Peninsula, Patagonia, Derived from a Combination of the Spectral Fusion, Mixture Analysis, and Temporal Interpolation of MODIS Data | Remote Sensing | Aguirre, F.; Bozkurt, D.; Sauter, T.; Carrasco, J.; Schneider, C.; Jaña, R.; Casassa, G. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3390/rs15225430 | https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15225430 | art5430 | Vol: 15 Issue: 22 | 20724292 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Several methods based on satellite data products are available to estimate snow cover properties, each one with its pros and cons. This work proposes and implements a novel methodology that integrates three main processes applied to MODIS satellite data for snow cover property reconstruction: (1) the increase in the spatial resolution of MODIS (MOD09) data to 250 m using a spectral fusion technique; (2) a new proposal of snow-cloud discrimination; (3) the daily spatio-temporal reconstruction of snow extent and its albedo signature using the endmembers extraction and spectral mixture analyses. The snow cover reconstruction method was applied to the Brunswick Peninsula, Chilean Patagonia, a low-elevation (<1500 m a.s.l.) mid-latitude area. The results show a 98% agreement between MODIS snow detection and ground-based snow measurements at the automatic weather station, Tres Morros (53.3174°S, 71.2790°W), with fractional snow cover values between 20% and 50%, showing a close relationship between snow and vegetation type. The number of snow days compiled from the MODIS data indicates a good performance (Pearson’s correlation of 0.9) compared with the number of skiing days at the Cerro Mirador ski center, Punta Arenas. Although the number of seasonal snow days showed a significant increasing trend of 0.54 days/year in the Brunswick Peninsula during the 2000–2020 period, a significant decrease of −4.64 days/year was detected in 2010–2020. © 2023 by the authors. |
| The influence of human activities on streamflow reductions during the megadrought in central Chile | Alamos, N.; Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Muñoz, A.; González-Reyes, A. | 2023 | 10.5194/hess-2023-246 | https://hess.copernicus.org/preprints/hess-2023-246/ | English | Abstract. Central Chile has experienced a protracted megadrought since 2010 (up to date), with annual precipitation deficits ranging from 25 % to 70 %. Drought propagation has been intensified during this time, with streamflow reductions up to 30 % larger than those expected from historical records. This intensification has been attributed to the cumulative effect of precipitation deficits associated to catchment memory in near-natural basins of central Chile. However, the additional effect of water extractions on drought intensification in disturbed basins remains an open challenge. In this study, we assess the effects of climate and water use on streamflow reductions during the last three decades in four major agricultural basins in central Chile, with particular focus on the ongoing megadrought. We address this by contrasting streamflow observations with near-natural streamflow simulations representing the discharge that would have occurred without water extractions. Near-natural streamflow estimations are obtained from rainfall-runoff models trained over a reference period with low human intervention (1960–1988). We characterise hydrological droughts driven by precipitation and human activities during the evaluation period (1988–2020) in terms of the frequency, duration and intensity of near-natural and observed seasonal streamflow deficits, respectively. Our results show that before the megadrought onset (1988–2009), streamflow in the four basins was 2 to 20 % lower than the streamflow during the undisturbed period. Between 81 to 100 % of these larger deficits were explained by water extractions. During the megadrought (2010–2020), streamflow was reduced in a range of 47 to 76 % among the different basins, compared to the reference period. During this time, the climatic contribution to streamflow reductions increased and had a lower relative contribution, accounting for 27 to 51 % of streamflow reduction. During the complete evaluation period, human activities have amplified the propagation of droughts, with more than double the frequency, duration, and intensity of hydrological droughts in some basins, compared to those expected by precipitation deficits only. We conclude that while the primary cause of streamflow reductions during the megadrought has been the lack of precipitation, water uses have not diminished during this time, causing an exacerbation of the hydrological drought conditions and aggravating their impacts on human water consumption, economic activities, and natural ecosystems. | |||||||
| High resolution urban climatic risk impact maps in Gran Valparaiso, Chile | Alamos, N.; Videla, J.; Madariaga, M.; Gajardo, V.; Muñoz, A.; Billi, M.; Amigo, C. | 2023 | 10.17605/OSF.IO/E7FPY | https://osf.io/e7fpy/ | Open Science Framework | This collection of maps contains a set of 6 layers assessing the risk of the population of the Gran Valparaíso conurbation (Chile) in the face of threats of extreme heat, storm surges, floods, forest fires, landslides, and Droughts. The maps have a resolution at the Chilean census block level. The layers show as available attributes the overall level of risk and its components: threat (A), exposure (E), sensitivity (S), and response capacity (CR). To estimate the risk, A, E, S, and CR indices are combined through a fuzzy logic methodology, which considers using causality rules co-constructed and validated with local experts and stakeholders. It should be considered that the values presented by each census block on the maps represent an ordering of risk (and of A, E, S, and CR), where higher values indicate a greater risk than apples with lower values. The results are ordinal, ranging from mild, through moderately mild, to moderate, high, or very high. Moreover, they are not absolute values but relative to the specific case study and should not be comparable or extrapolated to other study areas. This Work is an actualization of what is presented by Alamos, N., Billi, M., Amigo, C., Urquiza, A., Winckler, P., Larraguibel, C., … Valdebenito, C. (2022, March 23). Fuzzy logic modeling to assess high-resolution spatial urban climatic risk impact in Valparaiso, Chile. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2XTVS Español Esta colección de mapas contiene un conjunto de 6 capas que evalúan el riesgo de la población de la connurbación del Gran Valparaíso (Chile) ante amenazas de calor extremo, marejadas, inundaciones, incendios forestales, deslizamientos y sequías. Los mapas tienen una resolución a nivel de manzana censal. Las capas muestran como atributos disponibles el nivel global de riesgo y sus componentes: amenaza (A), exposición (E), sensibilidad (S) y capacidad de respuesta (CR). Para estimar el riesgo, los índices de A, E, S y CR se combinan a través de una metodología de lógica difusa, que considera el uso de reglas de causalidad co-construidas y validadas con expertos locales y partes interesadas. Se debe considerar que los valores que presenta cada manzana censal en los mapas representan un ordenamiento de riesgo (y de A, E, S y CR), donde los valores más altos indican mayor riesgo que las manzanas con valores más bajos. Los resultados son ordinales, que van desde leves, pasando por moderadamente leves, hasta moderados, altos o muy altos. Además, no son valores absolutos, sino relativos al caso de estudio específico y no deben ser comparables ni extrapolables a otras áreas de estudio. Este Trabajo es una actualización de lo presentado por Alamos, N., Billi, M., Amigo, C., Urquiza, A., Winckler, P., Larraguibel, C., … Valdebenito, C. (2022, March 23). Fuzzy logic modelling to assess high resolution spatial urban climatic risk impact in Valparaiso, Chile. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2XTVS omparables ni extrapolables a otras áreas de estudio. Este Trabajo es una actualización de lo presentado por Alamos, N., Billi, M., Amigo, C., Urquiza, A., Winckler, P., Larraguibel, C., … Valdebenito, C. (2022, March 23). Fuzzy logic modelling to assess high resolution spatial urban climatic risk impact in Valparaiso, Chile. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2XTVS omparables ni extrapolables a otras áreas de estudio. Este Trabajo es una actualización de lo presentado por Alamos, N., Billi, M., Amigo, C., Urquiza, A., Winckler, P., Larraguibel, C., … Valdebenito, C. (2022, March 23). Fuzzy logic modelling to assess high resolution spatial urban climatic risk impact in Valparaiso, Chile. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2XTVS | |||||||
| Dendroecological analysis of the remote endemic Nothomyrcia fernandeziana forests of Robinson Crusoe Island in the Southeast Pacific | Dendrochronologia | Almonacid, P.; Rojas-Badilla, M.; LeQuesne, C.; Muñoz-Salazar, T.; Christie, D. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.dendro.2023.126129 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2023.126129 | art126129 | Vol: 81 | 11257865 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Juan Fernández Archipelago National Park is located in the Southeast Pacific Ocean ∼670 km off the coast of Chile. Composed by three islands, encompasses an ecosystem with 208 native plant species of which 64% are endemic. Robinson Crusoe Island (RCI) is the largest and the only with a permanent human population. Among the tree species of RCI, Nothomyrcia fernandeziana is the most abundant and dominant forming part of this fragile forest ecosystem. Despite this, there is very little information regarding its autoecology and conservation. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine the radial growth patterns of N. fernandeziana and its longevity using dendrochronological methods. For this purpose, cross sections of trees blown down by wind were collected in conjunction with park rangers from five different sites and analyzed using tree-ring methods. Our results confirm that N. fernandeziana is a shade-tolerant species capable of maintaining extremely low initial growth rates under the canopy for several decades. Individual growth series were found to respond rapidly to changes in environmental conditions, revealed by abrupt positive and negative changes in their annual growth. Our data indicate a longevity of up to 450 years, with one N. fernandeziana individual established in the mid XVII century before the arrival of humans to the pristine island ecosystem. The results of this study are essential to strengthen RCI conservation plans considering restoration actions based on the autoecology of this rare endemic tree species, and the control of exotic invasive species that presently threatens the RCI forests ecosystems. © 2023 Elsevier GmbH |
| Informe a las Naciones: Seguridad hídrica en Chile: Caracterización y perspectivas de futuro | Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Blanco, G.; Boisier, J.; Nicolas Artero, C.; Maillet, A.; Aldunce, P.; Urrutia-Jalabert, R.; Zambrano-Bigiarini, M.; Guevara, G.; Galleguillos, M.; Muñoz, A.; Christie, D.; Marinao, R.; Garreaud, R. | 2023 | https://www.cr2.cl/seguridadhidrica/ | 76 | cr2.cl | Spanish | La seguridad hídrica se define como la posibilidad de acceder al agua en cantidad y calidad adecuadas para el sustento humano, la salud y el desarrollo socioeconómico, considerando las particularidades ecosistémicas de cada cuenca y promoviendo la resiliencia frente a amenazas como la sequía, crecidas y la contaminación. Alcanzar la seguridad hídrica es un desafío complejo que requiere entender el sistema climático, su manifestación regional, su relación con las actividades humanas y contar con una gobernanza adecuada que se ciña al principio precautorio. Este informe reúne y sintetiza evidencia científica relevante para respaldar la toma de decisiones en esta materia, abordando la actual disponibilidad de agua en el país, sus proyecciones para finales del siglo XXI en un contexto de cambio climático, y las consideraciones legales y de gobernanza. El lanzamiento de este documento se llevó a cabo el 23 de noviembre de 2023 en el salón Gorbea de la Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas de la Universidad de Chile. |
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| Protecting environmental flows to achieve long-term water security | Journal of Environmental Management | Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Boisier, J.; Billi, M.; Lefort, I.; Marinao, R.; Barría, P. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116914 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0301479722024872 | 116914 | Vol: 328 | 0301-4797 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | In this work, we propose a new approach to diagnose if a water allocation scheme is compatible with long-term water security at the catchment scale, and suggest steps to achieve such compatibility. We argue that when the remaining flow of a river after upstream withdrawals is not sufficient to safeguarding ecological river functions, the basin is at extreme risk of water scarcity, which indicates that the water management is failing. To test this, we analysed the water scarcity risks and the safeguarded environmental flows (e-flows) in 277 basins across a wide range of hydro-climatic conditions in Chile (17–55°S). For each basin, water scarcity risks were assessed based on water stress indices (WSIs, computed as the ratio of withdrawals to water availability), considering two water-use scenarios: (i) WSImax, where total withdrawals correspond to the maximum consumptive water allowed by the law, i.e., where only the e-flows protected by law remain in the river, and (ii) WSIalloc, where total withdrawals correspond to the actual allocated consumptive water uses within the basins. Further, we evaluated the adequacy of the water management system to protect ecological river functions by contrasting the e-flows protected in Chile with those safeguarded in six other countries. The water allocation system in Chile incorporated the protection of minimum e-flows in 2005 and established that these do not exceed 20% of the mean annual streamflow, except in some exceptional cases. This upper limit is consistently lower than the e-flows safeguarded in other countries, where 20%–80% of the mean annual streamflow are protected. This turns out in WSImax values between 80% and 100% in all basins, well above the threshold associated with over-committed basins under extreme risk of water scarcity (70% typically). When moving from the legally allowed to the actually allocated water use scenario, we found contrasting results: about 70% of the basins show low water scarcity risk (WSIalloc <40%), while an 18% have WSIalloc above 100%, indicating the allocation is going beyond current law limits and even beyond physical limits. Our results reveal that the link between e-flows, water allocation and water security has not been adequately incorporated in the current law. E-flows stipulated by law are insufficient to fulfil environmental requirements, while placing the basins under extreme risk of water scarcity if the total allowed withdrawals were exerted. To move towards a system that can effectively achieve long-term water security, we recommend: (i) To define tolerable water scarcity risks for basins, considering environmental requirements. (ii) To translate those risks into measurable basin indices to measure water security, such as the WSI. (iii) To set maximum water use limits (or minimum e-flows) within the basins that are compatible to the water security goals. If, under current and projected water availability conditions, the existing withdrawals exceed these limits, water managers should be able to adapt total consumption to the required limits. © 2022 The Authors |
| HESS Opinions: The unsustainable use of groundwater conceals a “Day Zero” | Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Boisier, J.; Garreaud, R.; González, J.; Rondanelli, R.; Gayó, E.; Zambrano-Bigiarini, M. | 2023 | 10.5194/hess-2023-245 | https://hess.copernicus.org/preprints/hess-2023-245/ | Abstract. Water scarcity is a pressing global issue driven by increasing water demands and changing climatic conditions. Based on novel estimates of water availability and water use, we examine the challenges and risks associated with groundwater (GW) withdrawals, focusing on the case of central-north Chile (27−35º S), where extreme water stress conditions prevail. As total water uses within a basin approaches the renewable freshwater resources, the dependence on GW reserves in unsustainable ways intensifies. This overuse has consequences that extend beyond mere resource depletion, manifesting into environmental degradation, societal conflict, and economic costs. We argue that the “Day Zero” scenario, often concealed by the hidden nature of GW resources, calls for a reconsideration of water allocation rules and a broader recognition of the long-term implications of unsustainable GW use. Our results offer insights for regions worldwide facing similar water scarcity challenges and emphasize the importance of proactive and sustainable water management strategies. | ||||||||
| Traditional crops and climate change adaptation: insights from the Andean agricultural sector | Climate and Development | Arias Montevechio, E.; Crispin Cunya, M.; Fernández Jorquera, F.; Rendon, E.; Vásquez-Lavin, F.; Stehr, A.; Ponce Oliva, R. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1080/17565529.2022.2151307 | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17565529.2022.2151307 | 723-737 | Vol: 15 Issue: 9 | 1756-5529, 1756-5537 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | The growth of traditional crops could be a primary resource for adapting to climate change and strengthening agrosystems’ resilience. However, these crops tend to be replaced by non-traditional crops with higher productivity, higher market values, and higher short-term income. In this context, smallholders face trade-offs between maximizing short-term income and ensuring resilience to face likely future climate adversities. The economic assessment of such trade-offs has been commonly neglected in the literature. Most studies are conducted using agronomic or anthropological frameworks to recognize the value of traditional agriculture to increase adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability. This study fills this gap by assessing economic and agronomic trade-offs between traditional and non-traditional crops triggered by climate-induced changes in water availability. We also simulate the effectiveness of a water policy. Our results suggest that farmers growing traditional crops may get lower profits, but their portfolio is more resilient to climate change, whereas the water policy proves to be an effective adaptation strategy to climate change. However, the policy implementation could hinder the development of traditional crops. Based on our results, we suggest implementing smart agricultural policies to balance economic, cultural, and adaptation goals. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. | |
| On the time scale of meteorological, soil moisture, and snow drought indices to assess streamflow drought over catchments with different hydrological regime: a case study using a hundred Chilean catchments | Baez-Villanueva, O.; Zambrano-Bigiarini, M.; Miralles, D.; Beck, H.; Siegmund, J.; Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Verbist, K.; Garreaud, R.; Boisier, J.; Galleguillos, M. | 2023 | 10.5194/egusphere-2023-1911 | https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2023/egusphere-2023-1911/ | DOI.org (Crossref) | Abstract. A wide variety of drought indices exist today without consensus on suitable indices and temporal scales for monitoring streamflow drought across diverse hydrological settings. Considering the growing interest in spatially-distributed indices for ungauged areas, this study addresses the following questions: i) what temporal scales of precipitation-based indices are most adequate to assess streamflow drought in catchments with different hydrological regimes?, ii) do soil moisture indices outperform meteorological indices as proxies for streamflow drought?, iii) are snow indices more effective than meteorological indices for assessing streamflow drought in snow-influenced catchments? To answer these questions, we used one hundred near-natural catchments with four main types of hydrological regimes. The Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardised Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), Empirical Standardised Soil Moisture Index (ESSMI), and standardised Snow Water Equivalent Index (SWEI) were computed across various time scales over the catchments for 1979–2020. Cross-correlation and event coincidence analysis were applied between these indices and the Standardised Streamflow Index at a temporal scale of one month (SSI-1), as representative of streamflow drought events. Finally, the linear correlation values and precursor coincidence rates were analysed for all catchments simultaneously, and separated by the hydrological regime. Our results indicate that i) there is no single meteorological, soil moisture, or snow drought index and temporal scale that could be used to characterise all streamflow droughts across Chile, and ii) the greater the snow influence in a catchment, the larger the temporal scale of the drought index to be used as proxy of streamflow drought. Finally, to avoid considering the influence of non-drought periods when analysing time series of drought indices, we suggest that future studies use the event coincidence analysis to evaluate which meteorological, soil moisture, and/or snow drought indices can be used as proxies of streamflow drought events. | |||||||
| Sistema de simulación numérica para la costa de Chile central mediante el acoplamiento de modelos numéricos | Obras y Proyectos | Bahamóndez, S.; Aguirre, C. | 2023 | 10.21703/0718-281320233302 | https://revistas.ucsc.cl/index.php/oyp/article/view/2162/1463 | 1-8 | 07182805, 07182813 | SciELO; Dialnet; Latindex | Con la modelación numérica es posible anticipar condiciones de oleaje desfavorables para la actividad portuaria. Mediante modelos numéricos acoplados es factible incluir una mayor cantidad de variables, parámetros, procesos e interacciones con el objetivo de mejorar la representación y precisión de lo que ocurre en la realidad. En este trabajo se presenta un sistema de simulación numérica para la costa de Chile central mediante el acoplamiento del modelo de oleaje Wavewatch III (WW3) con el modelo hidrodinámico Coastal and Regional Ocean Community (CROCO) y el modelo atmosférico Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF). El sistema de modelación considera un acoplamiento unidireccional desde las variables de WRF que utilizan como entrada CROCO y WW3, además de un acoplamiento bidireccional entre los modelos CROCO y WW3. Este último se desarrolla a través de la implementación del software acoplador Ocean Atmosphere Sea Ice Soil (OASIS-MCT3) y el uso de las herramientas de acoplamiento facilitadas por CROCO. Los resultados son contrastados con observaciones instrumentales de oleaje realizadas por el Centro Nacional de Datos Hidrográficos y Oceanográficos de Chile (CENDHOC) a través de estadígrafos como el sesgo, error cuadrático medio y correlación. Las simulaciones acopladas hidrodinámicamente presentan un mejor grado de ajuste a las mediciones en comparación con las sin acoplamiento. En este sentido, los estadígrafos revelan un menor sesgo para las alturas significativas y direcciones medias acopladas. Asimismo, se obtienen mayores valores en los coeficientes de correlación de la altura de oleaje con acoplamiento hidrodinámico. | ||||
| Forest hydrology in Chile: Past, present, and future | Journal of Hydrology | Balocchi, F.; Galleguillos, M.; Rivera, D.; Stehr, A.; Arumi, J.; Pizarro, R.; Garcia-Chevesich, P.; Iroumé, A.; Armesto, J.; Hervé-Fernández, P.; Oyarzún, C.; Barría, P.; Little, C.; Mancilla, G.; Yépez, S.; Rodriguez, R.; White, D.; Silberstein, R.; Neary, D.; Ramírez de Arellano, P. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128681 | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169422012513 | 128681 | Vol: 616 | 00221694 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | This paper reviews the current knowledge of hydrological processes in Chilean temperate forests which extend along western South America from latitude 29° S to 56° S. This geographic region includes a diverse range of natural and planted forests and a broad sweep of vegetation, edaphic, topographic, geologic, and climatic settings which create a unique natural laboratory. Many local communities, endangered freshwater ecosystems, and downstream economic activities in Chile rely on water flows from forested catchments. This review aims to (i) provide a comprehensive overview of Chilean forest hydrology, to (ii) review prior research in forest hydrology in Chile, and to (iii) identify knowledge gaps and provide a vision for future research on forest hydrology in Chile. We reviewed the relation between native forests, commercial plantations, and other land uses on water yield and water quality from the plot to the catchment scale. Much of the global understanding of forests and their relationship with the water cycle is in line with the findings of the studies reviewed here. Streamflow from forested catchments increases after timber harvesting, native forests appear to use less water than plantations, and streams draining native forest yield less sediment than streams draining plantations or grassland/shrublands. We identified 20 key knowledge gaps such as forest groundwater systems, soil–plant-atmosphere interactions, native forest hydrology, and the effect of forest management and restoration on hydrology. Also, we found a paucity of research in the northern geographic areas and forest types (35-36°S); most forest hydrology studies in Chile (56%) have been conducted in the southern area (Los Rios Region around 39-40° S). There is limited knowledge of the geology and soils in many forested areas and how surface and groundwater are affected by changes in land cover. There is an opportunity to advance our understanding using process-based investigations linking field studies and modeling. Through the establishment of a forest hydrology science “society” to coordinate efforts, regional and national-scale land use planning might be supported. Our review ends with a vision to advance a cross-scale collaborative effort to use new nation-wide catchment-scale networks Long-term Ecosystem Research (LTER) sites, to promote common and complementary techniques in these studies, and to conduct transdisciplinary research to advance sound and integrated planning of forest lands in Chile. © 2022 The Author(s) |
| Effects of hydrogeochemistry on the microbial ecology of terrestrial hot springs | Microbiology Spectrum | Barbosa, C.; Tamayo-Leiva, J.; Alcorta, J.; Salgado, O.; Daniele, L.; Morata, D.; Díez, B. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1128/SPECTRUM.00249-23 | https://doi.org/10.1128/SPECTRUM.00249-23 | 1-23 | Vol: 11 Issue: 5 | 21650497 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Temperature, pH, and hydrochemistry of terrestrial hot springs play a critical role in shaping thermal microbial communities. However, the interactions of biotic and abiotic factors at this terrestrial-aquatic interface are still not well understood on a global scale, and the question of how underground events influence microbial communities remains open. To answer this, 11 new samples obtained from the El Tatio geothermal field were analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (V4 region), along with 191 samples from previous publications obtained from the Taupo Volcanic Zone, the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, and the Eastern Tibetan Plateau, with their temperature, pH, and major ion concentration. Microbial alpha diversity was lower in acid-sulfate waters, and no significant correlations were found with temperature. However, moderate correlations were observed between chemical parameters such as pH (mostly constrained to temperatures below 70°C), SO42− and abundances of members of the phyla Armatimonadota, Deinococcota, Chloroflexota, Campilobacterota, and Thermoplasmatota. pH and SO42− gradients were explained by phase separation of sulfur-rich hydrothermal fluids and oxidation of reduced sulfur in the steam phase, which were identified as key processes shaping these communities. Ordination and permutational analysis of variance showed that temperature, pH, and major element hydrochemistry explain only 24% of the microbial community structure. Therefore, most of the variance remained unexplained, suggesting that other environmental or biotic factors are also involved and highlighting the environmental complexity of the ecosystem and its great potential to test niche theory ecological associated questions. Copyright © 2023 Barbosa et al. |
| Governance of Pandemics: why was it so easy? A proposal for the study of COVID-19 and climate change; [Gobernanza de la Pandemia: ¿por qué fue tan fácil?: Una propuesta para el estudio del COVID-19 y del cambio climático] | Revista Mad | Billi, M. | 2023 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.5354/0719-0527.2023.73366 | https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-0527.2023.73366 | 1-18 | Issue: 49 | 07180527 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | Spanish | We propose to compare the pandemics and climate change from the point of view of the governance challenges that both imply, and the strategies that have been implemented to respond to it. Specifically, we seek to understand why facing the pandemic appears to have been ‘easier’ than what has been the case with climate change, that is, why the public response to the phenomenon has managed to be so fast and effective, in relative terms, compared to many other dilemmas facing our contemporary society. To that purpose, we advance a comparative analysis model, inspired by Niklas Luhmann's Theory of Social Systems, which we call ‘governance prism’, structured along three dimensions (who governs? what is governed? what for? –or where– is it governed?). We also propose that different specific governance strategies can be characterized based on how these questions are answered. From this, some findings and transversal reflections are derived that, we hope, can serve as a guide to design better governance arrangements that better prepare us both to face the climate and environmental crisis that we are experiencing, as well as to face new hypothetical epidemic outbreaks that may arise in the future. © 2023 Universidad de Chile. All rights reserved. | |
| White Paper #1 | Race to Resilience Metrics Framework | Billi, M.; Borquez, R. | 2023 | https://www.cr2.cl/white-paper-1-race-to-resilience-metrics-framework/ | 38 | cr2.cl | Spanish | a campaña mundial Race to Resilience (RtR) está liderada por los High-Level Climate Champions y cuenta con el apoyo de un Equipo de Resiliencia, que incluye a la Secretaría Técnica del Centro del Centro de Ciencia del Clima y la Resiliencia CR2. La campaña también cuenta con el apoyo de dos órganos asesores independientes: el Grupo Asesor Metodológico (MAG) y el Grupo de Revisión de Expertos (ERG). RtR busca promover un cambio radical en la ambición y la acción global para la resiliencia climática, movilizando a actores no estatales con el objetivo de lograr la resiliencia de cuatro mil millones de personas vulnerables a los impactos del cambio climático a 2030. El marco de métricas de resiliencia de RtR ofrece un conjunto de herramientas para monitorear y evaluar eficazmente las acciones destinadas a generar resiliencia, con un énfasis específico en los actores no estatales. Este White Paper es la primera presentación del marco de métricas y fue preparado por la Secretaría Técnica de RtR alojada en el CR2. |
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| Reporte 2022 de la secretaría técnica de Race to Resilience | Billi, M.; Borquez, R.; Aldunce, P. | 2023 | https://www.cr2.cl/reporte-2022-de-la-secretaria-tecnica-de-race-to-resilience/ | 27 | cr2.cl | English | Este documento presenta el trabajo desarrollado por la secretaría técnica de Race to Resilience durante el año 2022, periodo donde se consolidó la relación con los socios de la campaña, además de fortalecer el sistema de evaluación y monitoreo para la resiliencia. Race to Resilience es una campaña de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático que busca impulsar la resiliencia climática a nivel mundial. La secretaría técnica de la campaña es liderada por el (CR)2 desde 2021. |
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| Temporal and Spatial Trends of Adverse Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes in a Sample of Births from a Public Hospital in Chile | Journal of Urban Health | Blanco, E.; Ruiz-Rudolph, P.; Yohannessen, K.; Ayala, S.; Quinteros, M.; Delgado-Saborit, J.; Blazquez, C.; Iglesias, V.; Zapata, D.; Bartington, S.; Harrison, R.; Ossa, X. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1007/s11524-023-00733-y | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-023-00733-y | 513-524 | Vol: 100 | 1099-3460 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Understanding temporal and spatial trends in pregnancy and birth outcomes within an urban area is important for the monitoring of health indicators of a population. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all births in the public hospital of Temuco, a medium-sized city in Southern Chile between 2009 and 2016 (n = 17,237). Information on adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, as well as spatial and maternal characteristics (insurance type, employment, smoking, age, and overweight/obesity), was collected from medical charts. Home addresses were geocoded and assigned to neighborhood. We tested whether births and prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes changed over time, whether birth events were spatially clustered (Moran’s I statistic), and whether neighborhood deprivation was correlated to outcomes (Spearman’s rho). We observed decreases in eclampsia, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and small for gestational age, while gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and low birth weight increased over the study period (all p < 0.01 for trend), with little changes after adjusting for maternal characteristics. We observed neighborhood clusters for birth rate, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Neighborhood deprivation was negatively correlated with low birth weight and preterm birth, but not correlated with eclampsia, preeclampsia, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, small for gestational age, gestational diabetes, nor stillbirth. Several encouraging downward trends and some increases in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, which, overall, were not explained by changes in maternal characteristics were observed. Identified clusters of higher adverse birth outcomes may be used to evaluate preventive health coverage in this setting. © 2023, The New York Academy of Medicine. |
| Las Crisis Del Carbón Y La Central Termoeléctrica Bocamina En Chile: Un Caso De Transición Energética Inversa | Historia 396 | Blanco, G.; Folchi, M.; Meier, S. | 2023 | https://historia396.cl/index.php/historia396/article/view/654 | 31-62 | Vol: 12 Issue: 2 | 0719-0719 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | Spanish | El artículo explora un caso de transición energética inversa a partir de la instalación de la central termoeléctrica Bocamina en la zona carbonífera de la región de Concepción, Chile, durante la década de 1960. El caso demuestra cómo, en un contexto donde la hidroelectricidad experimentó un auge promovido por el Estado, se intentó revitalizar el carbón, luego de que el mineral fuera descartado como una opción viable para la producción eléctrica. La construcción de la Central Bocamina evidencia las complejas interacciones entre agentes políticos, laborales, geológicos y climáticos, posibilitando una comprensión no lineal de procesos de transición energética.Palabras clave: Coronel, transición energética, energía hidroeléctrica, carbón. | |||
| Engineering the catalytic activity of an Antarctic PET-degrading enzyme by loop exchange | Protein Science | Blázquez-Sánchez, P.; Vargas, J.; Furtado, A.; Griñen, A.; Leonardo, D.; Sculaccio, S.; Pereira, H.; Sonnendecker, C.; Zimmermann, W.; Díez, B.; Garratt, R.; Ramírez-Sarmiento, C. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1002/pro.4757 | https://doi.org/10.1002/pro.4757 | arte4757 | Vol: 32 Issue: 9 | 09618368 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Bronze Open Access | English | Several hydrolases have been described to degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at moderate temperatures ranging from 25°C to 40°C. These mesophilic PET hydrolases (PETases) are less efficient in degrading this plastic polymer than their thermophilic homologs and have, therefore, been the subject of many protein engineering campaigns. However, enhancing their enzymatic activity through rational design or directed evolution poses a formidable challenge due to the need for exploring a large number of mutations. Additionally, evaluating the improvements in both activity and stability requires screening numerous variants, either individually or using high-throughput screening methods. Here, we utilize instead the design of chimeras as a protein engineering strategy to increase the activity and stability of Mors1, an Antarctic PETase active at 25°C. First, we obtained the crystal structure of Mors1 at 1.6 Å resolution, which we used as a scaffold for structure- and sequence-based chimeric design. Then, we designed a Mors1 chimera via loop exchange of a highly divergent active site loop from the thermophilic leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC) into the equivalent region in Mors1. After restitution of an active site disulfide bond into this chimera, the enzyme exhibited a shift in optimal temperature for activity to 45°C and an increase in fivefold in PET hydrolysis when compared with wild-type Mors1 at 25°C. Our results serve as a proof of concept of the utility of chimeric design to further improve the activity and stability of PETases active at moderate temperatures. © 2023 The Protein Society. |
| CR2MET: A high-resolution precipitation and temperature dataset for the period 1960-2021 in continental Chile. | Boisier, J. | 2023 | 10.5281/zenodo.7529682 | https://zenodo.org/record/7529682 | Zenodo | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International, Open Access | The Center for Climate and Resilience Research Meteorological dataset (CR2MET) includes two spatially-distributed products of daily precipitation and maximum/minimum near surface temperatures. The dataset covers the domain of continental Chile over a regular 0.05 degree latitude-longitude grid, and spans the period 1960-2021. Both a products are built on statistical models of the corresponding variables, calibrated against quality-controlled observational records. The CR2MET models are nurtured with a combination of data that includes different variables from ECMWF reanalysis ERA5, topographic parameters and land-surface temperature estimates from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite sensor. | ||||||
| ENSO-Related Precipitation Variability in Central Chile: The Role of Large Scale Moisture Transport | Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres | Campos, D.; Rondanelli, R. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1029/2023JD038671 | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD038671 | arte2023JD038671 | Vol: 128 Issue: 17 | 2169897X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Interannual variability of precipitation in Central Chile has long been associated with changes in the dry atmospheric dynamics of the Southern Pacific. This is due to the interaction between the extratropical storm track and the polar anticyclonic circulations established by the Pacific South American (PSA) teleconnection mode, which results from changes in tropical convection. Here, we show that an enhanced subtropical moisture transport during the warm ENSO phase leads to an increase in the frequency of atmospheric rivers, larger values of precipitable water, and heightened zonal integrated water vapor transport. This occurs in a region of the Southern Pacific situated between the tropical high and the subtropical low of the PSA mode. These increases in zonal water vapor transport result in greater precipitation and moister, long-lived atmospheric rivers making landfall in Central Chile. © 2023. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. |
| Coastal territorialities and ontologies in friction: a review of multiple coastal settlements in the context of climate change | Journal of Coastal Conservation | Carrasco Henríquez, N.; Vergara-Pinto, F. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1007/s11852-023-00947-x | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-023-00947-x | art: 17 | Vol: 27 Issue: 3 | 1400-0350 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Co-existence among multiple coastal settlements (MCS) following diverse ecological, economic, and cultural traditions drives to examine the territorial and ontological dimensions underlying the development of heterogeneous worldviews within common coastal geographies. In the case of the coastal zone in Chile, cultural diversity is evident as a historical field of dispute, which in the current context of adaptation to climate change may be reproducing or moving to other new trajectories. Using a literature review specifically on the case of the Arauco province in Chile, this article aims to identify a typology of multiple territorialities and ontologies interacting and being sustained by common coastal environments, although embedded in frictions and both structural and historical inequalities. Through thematic analysis framed in poststructuralist political ecology, this review identified three categories of territorialities that develop in the study area (i.e. colonial, intercultural, and interstitial). Each one leads to recognising the power dynamics that underlie the interactions of practices and discourses on the territory, the sea, and the conservation of nature. Results show that the historical predominance of modern ontology has produced permissible ways of being and moving through this geography. In contrast, resistance has been generated by other ways of living based on relational, traditional, and contemporaneous ontologies with discourses aimed at socio-ecological equilibrium. The current challenge is understanding these ontological frictions and interstices wherein multiple territorialities configured in a common coastal geography can co-exist and co-participate in climate change governance. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. | |
| Main drivers of marine heat waves in the eastern South Pacific | Frontiers in Marine Science | Carrasco, D.; Pizarro, O.; Jacques-Coper, M.; Narváez, D. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3389/fmars.2023.1129276 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1129276 | art: 1129276 | Vol: 10 | 2296-7745 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | During the last decades, marine heat waves (MHWs) have increased in frequency and duration, with important impacts on marine ecosystems. This trend has been related to rising global sea surface temperatures, which are expected to continue in the future. Here, we analyze the main characteristics and possible drivers of MHWs in the eastern South Pacific off Chile. Our results show that MHWs usually exhibit spatial extensions on the order of 103-104 km2, temperature anomalies in the mixing layer between 1 and 1.3°C, and durations of 10 to 40 days, with exceptional events lasting several months. In this region, MHW are closely related to the ENSO cycles, in such a way that El Niño and, to a lesser extent, La Niña events increase the probability of high intensity and extreme duration MHWs. To analyze the MHW drivers, we use the global ocean reanalysis GLORYS2 to perform a heat budget in the surface mixed layer. We find that most events are dominated by diminished heat loss –associated with reduced evaporation– and enhanced insolation; thus, this group is called ASHF (for air-sea heat fluxes). The second type of MHWs is driven by heat advection, predominantly forced by anomalous eastward surface currents superimposed on a mean westward temperature gradient. The third type of MHWs results from a combination of positive (seaward) anomalies of air-sea heat fluxes and heat advection; this group exhibits the greatest values of spatial extension, intensity, and duration. Copyright © 2023 Carrasco, Pizarro, Jacques-Coper and Narváez. |
| A firebreak placement model for optimizing biodiversity protection at landscape scale | Journal of Environmental Management | Carrasco, J.; Mahaluf, R.; Lisón, F.; Pais, C.; Miranda, A.; de la Barra, F.; Palacios, D.; Weintraub, A. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118087 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118087 | art: 118087 | Vol: 342 | 0301-4797 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | A solution approach is proposed to optimize the selection of landscape cells for inclusion in firebreaks. It involves linking spatially explicit information on a landscape's ecological values, historical ignition patterns and fire spread behavior. A firebreak placement optimization model is formulated that captures the tradeoff between the direct loss of biodiversity due to the elimination of vegetation in areas designated for placement of firebreaks and the protection provided by the firebreaks from losses due to future forest fires. The optimal solution generated by the model reduced expected losses from wildfires on a biodiversity combined index due to wildfires by 30% relative to a landscape without any treatment. It also reduced expected losses by 16% compared to a randomly chosen solution. These results suggest that biodiversity loss resulting from the removal of vegetation in areas where firebreaks are placed can be offset by the reduction in biodiversity loss due to the firebreaks’ protective function. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Climatic control of the surface mass balance of the Patagonian Icefields | Cryosphere | Carrasco-Escaff, T.; Rojas, M.; Garreaud, R.; Bozkurt, D.; Schaefer, M. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Zonas Costeras; l | 10.5194/tc-17-1127-2023 | https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1127-2023 | 1127-1149 | Vol: 17 Issue: 3 | 1994-0416 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The Patagonian Icefields (Northern and Southern Patagonian Icefield) are the largest ice masses in the Andes Cordillera. Despite its importance, little is known about the main mechanisms that underpin the interaction between these ice masses and climate. Furthermore, the nature of large-scale climatic control over the surface mass variations of the Patagonian Icefields still remains unclear. The main aim of this study is to understand the present-day climatic control of the surface mass balance (SMB) of the Patagonian Icefields at interannual timescales, especially considering large-scale processes. We modeled the present-day (1980-2015) glacioclimatic surface conditions for the southern Andes Cordillera by statistically downscaling the output from a regional climate model (RegCMv4) from a 10km spatial resolution to a 450m resolution grid and then using the downscaled fields as input for a simplified SMB model. Series of spatially averaged modeled fields over the Patagonian Icefields were used to derive regression and correlation maps against fields of climate variables from the ERA-Interim reanalysis. Years of relatively high SMB are associated with the establishment of an anomalous low-pressure center near the Drake Passage, the Drake low, that induces an anomalous cyclonic circulation accompanied with enhanced westerlies impinging on the Patagonian Icefields, which in turn leads to increases in the precipitation and the accumulation over the icefields. Also, the Drake low is thermodynamically maintained by a core of cold air that tends to reduce the ablation. Years of relatively low SMB are associated with the opposite conditions. We found low dependence of the SMB on main atmospheric modes of variability (El Niño-Southern Oscillation, Southern Annular Mode), revealing a poor ability of the associated indices to reproduce the interannual variability of the SMB. Instead, this study highlights the Drake Passage as a key region that has the potential to influence the SMB variability of the Patagonian Icefields. © 2023 The Author(s). | |
| Seasonal and Spatially Distributed Viral Metagenomes from Comau Fjord (42°S), Patagonia | Microbiology Resource Announcements | Castro-Nallar, E.; Berríos-Farías, V.; Díez, B.; Guajardo-Leiva, S. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1128/mra.00082-23 | https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00082-23 | 1-5 | Vol: 12 Issue: 4 | 2576-098X | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Viruses are key players in marine environments, affecting food webs and biogeochemical cycles. We present 48 viral metagenomes and 5,656 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) from Comau Fjord, Patagonia (42°S), to understand viral-mediated processes in coastal and estuarine waters. These data represent a spatial (35-km transect, two depths) and seasonal (winter and fall) data set. Copyright © 2023 Castro-Nallar et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. |
| Spatially and Temporally Explicit Metagenomes and Metagenome-Assembled Genomes from the Comau Fjord (42°S), Patagonia | Microbiology Resource Announcements | Castro-Nallar, E.; Berríos-Farías, V.; Díez, B.; Guajardo-Leiva, S. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1128/mra.00059-23 | https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00059-23 | 1-3 | Vol: 12 Issue: 6 | 2576098X | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Microbes play an important role in coastal and estuarine waters. We present 93 metagenomes and 677 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from Comau Fjord, Patagonia (42°S), to further understand the microbial dynamics and their response to anthropogenic disturbances. These data represent a spatially (35-km transect) and temporally (2016 to 2019) explicit data set. © 2023 Castro-Nallar et al. |
| Andean peatlands at risk? Spatiotemporal patterns of extreme NDVI anomalies, water extraction and drought severity in a large-scale mining area of Atacama, northern Chile | International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation | Chávez, R.; Meseguer-Ruiz, O.; Olea, M.; Calderón-Seguel, M.; Yager, K.; Isela Meneses, R.; Lastra, J.; Núñez-Hidalgo, I.; Sarricolea, P.; Serrano-Notivoli, R.; Prieto, M. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.jag.2022.103138 | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843222003260 | 103138 | Vol: 116 | 15698432 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | In the Andes, multiple human and climatic factors threaten the conservation of bofedales, a type of high altitude peat forming wetland widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical Andes. In northern Chile, climate change and water extraction for industrial activities are among the most significant threats to these relevant socio-hydrological systems hosting indigenous pastoral communities. In this study, we present an integrated analysis of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) anomalies, drought severity and water rights granted to industry to provide insight on the conservation status of bofedales, historical drivers of their transformation, and current threats. Using Landsat satellite imagery from 1986 to 2018, we identify spatio-temporal NDVI changes of 442 bofedales in one of the leading copper producing regions of the world. The NDVI time series analysis over 32 growing seasons was used to detect extreme anomalies, i.e. values outside the 95 % of the reference frequency distribution, indicating periods of extreme changes in the productivity of these high Andes wetlands. To evaluate the relationship between bofedales NDVI extreme periods to drought and continued water extraction activities, we combine a climate-based multi-temporal-scale drought index (SPEI) with the geospatial latitudinal distribution of water rights granted for extractive industries in the study area. Over the time period of analysis, the total amount of granted water rights increased 465 % from 1,201 l/s recorded before 1985 to 5,584 l/s in 2018. In the areas where the highest amount of water rights are concentrated, i.e. between 21.3°S and 22.1°S, “green” bofedales (NDVI>=0.23) are practically absent. NDVI of the austral summer (JFM) was highly correlated with the severity of drought occurring during the three months of the growing season peak. While our findings show bofedal productivity is mostly influenced by precipitation and temperature of the wet season (JFM) during the study period, results also raise questions regarding possible bofedal loss occurring over the previous 80 years prior to the satellite record, wherein water extraction activities have significantly increased according to official records. © 2022 |
| Antarctica and the Southern Ocean | Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society | Clem, K.; Adusumilli, S.; Baiman, R.; Banwell, A.; Barreira, S.; Beadling, R.; Bozkurt, D.; Colwell, S.; Coy, L.; Datta, R.; De Laat, J.; Du Plessis, M.; Dunmire, D.; Fogt, R.; Freeman, N.; Fricker, H.; Gardner, A.; Gille, S.; Johnson, B.; Josey, S.; Keller, L.; Kramarova, N.; Lazzara, M.; Lieser, J... | 2023 | 10.1175/BAMS-D-23-0077.1 | https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/104/9/BAMS-D-23-0077.1.xml | S322-S365 | Vol: 104 Issue: 9 | 0003-0007, 1520-0477 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | ||||
| Assessment of the RegCM4-CORDEX-CORE performance in simulating cyclones affecting the western coast of South America | Climate Dynamics | Crespo, N.; Reboita, M.; Gozzo, L.; de Jesus, E.; Torres-Alavez, J.; Lagos-Zúñiga, M.; Torrez-Rodriguez, L.; Reale, M.; da Rocha, R. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1007/s00382-022-06419-6 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-022-06419-6 | 2041-2059 | Vol: 60 Issue: 7-8 | 0930-7575 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | In this study, we assess the performance of the Regional Climate Model version 4 (RegCM4) in simulating the climatology of the cyclones near the west coast of South America. The synoptic evolution and seasonality of these systems are thoroughly investigated. The analyses are based on four simulations from the CORDEX-CORE Southern America (SA) domain, at 0.25° of horizontal resolution: one driven by ERA-Interim and three driven by different GCMs. The reference dataset is represented by ERA5. Cyclones were detected by an objective scheme in the period 1995–2005 and classified in three different classes: (i) Coastal Lows (CLs) and cyclones affecting the coast (CAC) (ii) crossing and (iii) not crossing the Andes. In general, RegCM4 is able to reproduce the climatology of cyclones affecting the western coast of SA. In particular: (i) CLs are shown to be more frequent in austral summer although their frequency is underestimated by the simulations in this season; (ii) CAC not crossing the Andes represent 76% of all CAC and are more frequent in winter, with simulation underestimating their frequency by ~ 22% due to the differences in the simulated upper-level jets, which tend to get weaker (by ~ 5–10 m s− 1) northwards of 30°S; (iii) the frequency of CAC crossing the Andes tends to be overestimated mainly in winter, which is associated with the combination of the stronger upper-level jets and weaker SLP in the simulations, especially southwards of 40°S. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. | |
| A regularization method based on level-sets for the problem of crack detection from electrical measurements | Inverse Problems | De Cezaro, A.; Hafemann, E.; Leitão, A.; Osses, A. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1088/1361-6420/acb681 | https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6420/acb681 | art: 035009 | Vol: 39 Issue: 3 | 0266-5611 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We investigate regularization methods for solving the problem of crack detection in bounded planar domains from electrical measurements on the boundary. Based on the multiple level-set approach introduced in Álvarez et al (2009 J. Comput. Phys. 228 5710-21) and on the regularization strategy devised in De Cezaro et al (2009 Inverse Problems 25 035004), we propose a Tikhonov type method for stabilizing the inverse problem. Convergence and stability results for this Tikhonov method are proven. An iterative method of (multiple) level-set type is derived from the optimality conditions for the Tikhonov functional, and a relation between this method and the iterated Tikhonov method is established. The proposed level-set method is tested on the same benchmark problem considered in Álvarez et al (2009 J. Comput. Phys. 228 5710-21). The numerical experiments demonstrate its ability to identify cracks in different scenarios with high accuracy even in the presence of noise. © 2023 IOP Publishing Ltd. | |
| The intensification of coastal hypoxia off central Chile: Long term and high frequency variability | Frontiers in Earth Science | De La Maza, L.; Farías, L. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3389/feart.2022.929271 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.929271/full | 929271 | Vol: 10 | 2296-6463 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Hypoxia is a phenomenon where dissolved oxygen (DO) is reduced to levels that are low enough to strongly affect ecological and biogeochemical processes. This occurs within the continental shelf off central Chile (36°S), influenced by seasonal coastal upwelling (Spring-Summer). Monthly measurements of DO and other oceanographic variables in the water column (1997−2021) over the 92 m isobath along with high-resolution and near-surface observations (POSAR buoy), are analyzed to examine incidences of hypoxia and understand the physical and biogeochemical processes modulating DO vertical distribution and its temporal variability. On average, the percentage of the water column with DO levels below 89 (hypoxia) and 22 (severe hypoxia) μmol L −1 reaches 68% (i.e., hypoxic waters are found below 30 m) and 44% (below 50 m depth), respectively, but during the upwelling season, as much as 87% (below 12 m depth) and 81% (below 17 m depth) of the water column exhibits these levels. On the sub-seasonal scale during upwelling season six hypoxic events lasting at least 2 days occur at 10 m depth. There is a strong seasonal correlation between the volume of the seawater presenting hypoxia and upwelling favorable winds. Furthermore, there is a high DO interannual variability partially related to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Over 2 decades, it is estimated that DO concentration in surface and subsurface layers decreases (up to 21 μmol L −1 decade −1 ) as waters get colder (up to 0.29°C decade −1 ). Remarkably, the volume of hypoxic and severe hypoxic waters over the shelf has increased more than 2 times since 1997 and shows a significant positive correlation with the upwelling index. These preliminary findings indicate that the increase in local DO consumption is partially associated with upwelling intensification. Given the clear evidence of wind intensification in coastal upwelling ecosystems and thus the increase in hypoxic events, the coastal zone may be highly vulnerable to hypoxia, impacting biological resources and biogeochemical cycles. |
| A machine learning approach to address air quality changes during the COVID-19 lockdown in Buenos Aires, Argentina | Earth System Science Data | Diaz Resquin, M.; Lichtig, P.; Alessandrello, D.; De Oto, M.; Gómez, D.; Rössler, C.; Castesana, P.; Dawidowski, L. | 2023 | ; C; R; a; d; e; i; l; n; s; t; u | 10.5194/essd-15-189-2023 | https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-189-2023 | 189-209 | Vol: 15 Issue: 1 | 1866-3508 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Having a prediction model for air quality at a low computational cost can be useful for research, forecasting, regulatory, and monitoring applications. This is of particular importance for Latin America, where rapid urbanization has imposed increasing stress on the air quality of almost all cities. In recent years, machine learning techniques have been increasingly accepted as a useful tool for air quality forecasting. Out of these, random forest has proven to be an approach that is both well-performing and computationally efficient while still providing key components reflecting the nonlinear relationships among emissions, chemical reactions, and meteorological effects. In this work, we employed the random forest methodology to build and test a forecasting model for the city of Buenos Aires. We used this model to study the deep decline in most pollutants during the lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019) pandemic by analyzing the effects of the change in emissions, while taking into account the changes in the meteorology, using two different approaches. First, we built random forest models trained with the data from before the beginning of the lockdown periods. We used the data to make predictions of the business-as-usual scenario during the lockdown periods and estimated the changes in concentrations by comparing the model results with the observations. This allowed us to assess the combined effects of the particular weather conditions and the reduction in emissions during the period when restrictions were in place. Second, we used random forest with meteorological normalization to compare the observational data from the lockdown periods with the data from the same dates in 2019, thus decoupling the effects of the meteorology from short-term emission changes. This allowed us to analyze the general effect that restrictions similar to those imposed during the pandemic could have on pollutant concentrations, and this information could be useful to design mitigation strategies. The results during testing showed that the model captured the observed hourly variations and the diurnal cycles of these pollutants with a normalized mean bias of less than 6% and Pearson correlation coefficients of the diurnal variations between 0.64 and 0.91 for all the pollutants considered. Based on the random forest results, we estimated that the lockdown implied relative changes in concentration of up to -45% for CO, -75% for NO, -46% for NO2, -12% for SO2, and -33% for PM10 during the strictest mobility restrictions. O3 had a positive relative change in concentration (up to an 80%) that is consistent with the response in a volatile-organic-compound-limited chemical regime to the decline in NOx emissions. The relative changes estimated using the meteorological normalization technique show mostly smaller changes than those obtained by the random forest predictive model. The relative changes were up to -26% for CO, up to -47% for NO, -36% for NO2, -20% for PM10, and up to 27% for O3. SO2 is the only species that had a larger relative change when the meteorology was normalized (up to 20%). This points out the need for accounting not only for differences in emissions but also in meteorological variables in order to evaluate the lockdown effects on air quality. The findings of this study may be valuable for formulating emission control strategies that do not disregard their implication on secondary pollutants. We believe that the model itself can also be a valuable contribution to a forecasting system in the city and that the general methodology could also be easily applied to other Latin American cities as well. We also provide the first O3 and SO2 observational dataset in more that a decade for a residential area in Buenos Aires, and it is openly available at 10.17632/h9y4hb8sf8.1 . © 2023 Melisa Diaz Resquin et al. |
| CLSoilMaps: A national soil gridded database of physical and hydraulic soil properties for Chile | Scientific Data | Dinamarca, D.; Galleguillos, M.; Seguel, O.; Faúndez Urbina, C. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1038/s41597-023-02536-x | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02536-x | art630 | Vol: 10 Issue: 1 | 20524463 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Spatially explicit soil information is crucial for comprehending and managing many of Earth´s processes related to carbon, water, and other biogeochemical cycles. We introduced a gridded database of soil physical properties and hydraulic parameters at 100 meters spatial resolution. It covers the continental area of Chile and binational basins shared with Argentina for six standardized depths following the specifications of the GlobalSoilMap project. We generated soil maps based on digital soil mapping techniques based on more than 4000 observations, including unpublished data from remote areas. These maps were used as input for the pedotransfer function Rosetta V3 to obtain predictions of soil hydraulic properties, such as field capacity, permanent wilting point, total available water capacity, and other parameters of the water retention curve. The trained models outperformed several other DSM studies applied at the national and regional scale for soil physical properties (nRMSE ranging from 6.93% to 15.7%) and delivered acceptable predictions (nRMSE ranging from 10.4% to 15.6%) for soil hydraulic properties, making them suitable for countless environmental studies. © 2023, Springer Nature Limited. |
| Assessing the conditions of Rationality and Plausibility in the valuation of biodiversity conservation in a mega-biodiverse country. The case of Manu in Perú; [Evaluando las condiciones de racionalidad y plausibilidad en la valoración de conservar la biodiversidad de un país megabiodiverso El caso del Manu en Perú] | Economia Agraria y Recursos Naturales | Dávila, J.; Vásquez-Lavín, F.; Orihuela, C.; Oliva, R.; Lavado-Solis, K.; Paredes-Vilca, O.; Ñañez, R.; Díaz, S. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.7201/earn.2023.01.02 | https://doi.org/10.7201/earn.2023.01.02 | 35-54 | Vol: 23 Issue: 1 | 15780732 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | According to NOAA, the results of an economic valuation are applicable as public policy if they fulfill two conditions: rationality and plausibility. In this study, we carried out the valuation of biodiversity conservation in Manu National Park in Peru (a megabiodiverse country), based on three representations: species, habitat and functionality. We identify sensitivity to scope in most of the attributes used. When we add socioeconomic characteristics, we identify that gender and salary levels affect preferences. Our total analysis shows that number of threatened plant species and functionality better fulfill both conditions. © (2023), All Rights Reserved. |
| Freshwater diatom evidence for Southern Westerly Wind evolution since ∼18 ka in northwestern Patagonia | Quaternary Science Reviews | Díaz, C.; Moreno, P.; Villacís, L.; Sepúlveda-Zúñiga, E.; Maidana, N. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108231 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108231 | art108231 | Vol: 316 | 02773791 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We report a fossil diatom record from small closed-basin Lago Lepué (43°S) to examine past changes in freshwater ecosystems and hydrologic balance in northwestern Patagonia since ∼18 ka. The record starts with abundant staurosiroids and the heavily silicified Aulacoseira granulata suggesting deep turbulent mixing during a low lake level stand between ∼18- 16.4 ka. A. distans increased shortly after ∼16.4 ka and achieved maximum abundance between ∼15.4-13.6 ka, while A. granulata disappeared at ∼15.8 ka and A. alpigena rose at ∼14.9 ka to its maximum between ∼13-12 ka. We infer turbulent, cold, and circumneutral to slightly acid lake conditions contemporaneous with a steady lake level rise that started at ∼16.4 ka and culminated between ∼13-12 ka. These trends reversed between ∼11-7.8 ka with the dominance of Discostella stelligera and staurosiroids, suggesting warmer lake conditions and shallower mixing. Subsequent changes include increases of A. distans with D. stelligera between ∼7.8-5.8 ka, dominance of the former between ∼5.8-3.3 ka, a rapid increase in A. perglabra at ∼3.3 ka, and ensuing diversification of benthic acidophilous species. We infer a rapid lake-level decline between ∼11-7.8 ka, with subsequent rising pulses at ∼7.8 ka and ∼5.8 ka, a multimillennial-scale lake acidification trend, and overall high lake levels with centennial-scale reversals between ∼6-0 ka. Coherent variations in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem changes recorded in the same core suggest negative hydrologic balance between ∼18-16.4 ka and ∼11–7.8 ka, positive balance between ∼14.9-12 ka and ∼6–0 ka, with transitional conditions in the interim, overprinted by millennial-scale changes and enhanced variability since ∼6 ka. Covariation with paleoclimate records at regional, pan-Patagonian, and hemispheric scale suggests millennial to centennial-scale variability superimposed upon a multi-millennial pacing of Southern Westerly Wind evolution since ∼18 ka. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd | |
| The impact of local and climate change drivers on the formation, dynamics, and potential recurrence of a massive fish-killing microalgal bloom in Patagonian fjord | Science of The Total Environment | Díaz, P.; Pérez-Santos, I.; Basti, L.; Garreaud, R.; Pinilla, E.; Barrera, F.; Tello, A.; Schwerter, C.; Arenas-Uribe, S.; Soto-Riquelme, C.; Navarro, P.; Díaz, M.; Álvarez, G.; Linford, P.; Altamirano, R.; Mancilla-Gutiérrez, G.; Rodríguez-Villegas, C.; Figueroa, R. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161288 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969722083929 | 161288 | Vol: 865 | 00489697 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Bronze Open Access | English | Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in southern Chile are a serious threat to public health, tourism, artisanal fisheries, and aquaculture in this region. Ichthyotoxic HAB species have recently become a major annual threat to the Chilean salmon farming industry, due to their severe economic impacts. In early austral autumn 2021, an intense bloom of the raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo was detected in Comau Fjord, Chilean Patagonia, resulting in a high mortality of farmed salmon (nearly 6000 tons of biomass) within 15 days. H. akashiwo cells were first detected at the head of the fjord on March 16, 2021 (up to 478 cells mL−1). On March 31, the cell density at the surface had reached a maximum of 2 × 105 cells mL−1, with intense brown spots visible on the water surface. Strong and persistent high-pressure anomalies over the southern tip of South America, consistent with the positive phase of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), resulted in extremely dry conditions, high solar radiation, and strong southerly winds. A coupling of these features with the high water retention times inside the fjord can explain the spatial-temporal dynamics of this bloom event. Other factors, such as the internal local physical uplift process (favored by the north-to-south orientation of the fjord), salt-fingering events, and the uplift of subantarctic deep-water renewal, likely resulted in the injection of nutrients into the euphotic layer, which in turn could have promoted cell growth and thus high microalgal cell densities, such as reached by the bloom. © 2022 Elsevier B.V. |
| From lipophilic to hydrophilic toxin producers: Phytoplankton succession driven by an atmospheric river in western Patagonia | Marine Pollution Bulletin | Díaz, P.; Álvarez, G.; Figueroa, R.; Garreaud, R.; Pérez-Santos, I.; Schwerter, C.; Díaz, M.; López, L.; Pinto-Torres, M.; Krock, B. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115214 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115214 | art: 115214 | Vol: 193 | 0025-326X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Phytoplankton succession is related to hydroclimatic conditions. In this study we provide the first description of a toxic phytoplankton succession in the Patagonian Fjord System. The shift was modulated by atmospheric-oceanographic forcing and consisted of the replacement of the marine dinoflagellate Dinophysis acuta in a highly stratified water column during austral summer by the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia calliantha in a mixed water column during late summer and early autumn. This transition, accompanied by a change in the biotoxin profiles (from lipophilic dinophysis toxins to hydrophilic domoic acid), was induced by the arrival of an intense atmospheric river. The winds in Magdalena Sound may have been further amplified, due to its west-east orientation and its location within a tall, narrow mountain canyon. This work also documents the first known appearance of toxic P. calliantha in Northern Patagonian. The potential impacts of the biotoxins of this species on higher trophic levels are discussed. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Estimating soil water content in a thorny forest ecosystem by time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and HYDRUS 2D/3D simulations | Hydrological Processes | Faúndez Urbina, C.; Alanís, D.; Ramírez, E.; Seguel, O.; Fustos, I.; Donoso, P.; de Miranda, J.; Rakonjac, N.; Palma, S.; Galleguillos, M. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1002/hyp.15002 | https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.15002 | arte15002 | Vol: 37 Issue: 10 | 08856087 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Bronze Open Access | English | Determination of soil volumetric water content (Figure presented.) in forest ecosystems is particularly challenging due to deep rooting systems and unknown soil vertical and spatial heterogeneity. This research aims to test two undisturbed methods, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and HYDRUS 2D/3D, for 2D (Figure presented.) determination in a thorny forest ecosystem. The experiment consisted of infiltrating 10 L of water lasting 60 min. During infiltration, ERT measured apparent resistivity by time-lapse measurements, and (Figure presented.) was measured with an FDR probe (EnviroSCAN) at 33, 63, 83, 97, and 163 cm depth close to the infiltration site. At the end of infiltration, a soil pit was dug, and 100 measurements of (Figure presented.) were performed with a TDR in a 10 × 10 cm regular grid. Archie law transformed soil resistivity (ERT) into (Figure presented.) using manual calibration, verified by an independent dataset. The 2D (Figure presented.) profile obtained by ERT was qualitatively compared with the HYDRUS 2D/3D one. HYDRUS 2D/3D was parametrized with calibrated parameters obtained with HYDRUS 1D using 106 days of (Figure presented.) obtained with EnviroSCAN. The results of HYDRUS 1D calibration and verification were satisfactory, with RMSE and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients ranging from 0.021 to 0.034 cm3 cm−3 and 0.11 to 0.77, respectively. The forward HYDRUS 2D/3D (Figure presented.) simulation disagrees with EnviroSCAN data for 33 cm depth. However, it follows the trend with near to zero variation of water content at 63 cm depth. Water content determination by ERT was satisfactory with RMSE for calibration and verification of 0.017 and 0.021 cm3 cm−3. HYDRUS 2D/3D and ERT comparisons were not equal, with a shallower wetting front by ERT and a deeper one for HYDRUS. Still, both wetting fronts agree with the wetting depth estimated by EnviroSCAN. We conclude that both methods are an alternative for (Figure presented.) determination in heterogeneous and deep soils of forest ecosystems. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
| The economics impacts of long-run droughts: Challenges, gaps, and way forward | Journal of Environmental Management | Fernández, F.; Vásquez-Lavín, F.; Ponce, R.; Garreaud, R.; Hernández, F.; Link, O.; Zambrano, F.; Hanemann, M. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118726 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118726 | art118726 | Vol: 344 | 03014797 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | Quantifying drought's economic impacts has been key for decision-making to build future strategies and improve the development and implementation of proactive plans. However, climate change is changing drought frequency, intensity, and durability. These changes imply modifications of their economic impact, as longer droughts result in greater cumulative economic losses for water users. Though the longer the drought lasts, other factors also play a crucial role in its economic outcomes, such as Infrastructure capacity (IC), the Amount of Water in Storage (AWS) in reservoirs and aquifers, and short- and long-term responses to it. This study proposes and applies an analytical framework for the economic assessment of long-run droughts, assessing and explaining central Chile megadrought economic effects through the factors that begin to influence the economic impact level in this setting. High levels of both IC and the AWS, as well as short- and long-term responses of water users, allow for high resilience to long-run droughts, tolerating extraordinary water disruption in its society with relatively low total economic impacts. Despite this adaptability, long-term droughts bring places to a water-critical threshold where long-term adaptation strategies may be less flexible than short-term strategies, escalating the adverse economic effects. This fact suggests that the economic evaluation of megadrought needs to focus on future tipping points (substantial water scarcity). The tipping point depends on the IC, how water users manage the AWS, and adaptation strategies. Establishing the tipping point should be a priority for future interdisciplinary research. © 2023 |
| Chilean long-term Socio-Ecological Research Network: progresses and challenges towards improving stewardship of unique ecosystems: Red Chilena de Investigación Socio-Ecológica de Largo Plazo: Avances y desafíos para el manejo responsable de ecosistemas únicos | Revista Chilena de Historia Natural | Frêne, C.; Armesto, J.; Nespolo, R.; Gaxiola, A.; Navarrete, S.; Troncoso, A.; Muñoz, A.; Corcuera, L. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1186/s40693-023-00114-4 | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-023-00114-4 | art: 1 | Vol: 96 Issue: 1 | 0716-078X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Ecosystems provide a variety of benefits to human society and humanity’s utilization of ecosystems affects their composition, structure, and functions. Global change drivers demand us to study the interactions between ecological and social systems, and advise strategies to protect the large fraction of Chilean unique ecosystems. Long-term research and monitoring are vital for meaningful understanding of human impacts and socio-ecological feedback, which occur over multiple spatial and time-scales and can be invisible to traditional grant-sponsored short-term studies. Despite the large fraction of unique ecosystems, Chilean government agencies have not established long-term monitoring programs to inform and guide management decisions for use, conservation, and adaptation to climate change. Responding to this void, the Chilean Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research Network (LTSER-Chile) was created, comprising nine study sites funded by a variety of private and public institutions, that broadly seeks to understand how global change is altering biodiversity and ecosystem functions. The LTSER-Chile is currently in a phase of institutional consolidation to achieve its objectives of alignment with international efforts, fill the need for high-quality, long-term data on social, biological and physical components of Chilean ecosystems, and develop itself as an open research platform for the world. Despite the wide diversity of ecosystems ecncompased by LTSER-Chile sites, several common variables are monitored, especially climatic and hydrographic variables and many ecological indicator variables that consider temporal fluctuations, population and community dynamics. The main challenges currently facing the LTSER-Chile are to secure funding to maintain existing long-term monitoring programs, to persuade public and private decision-makers about its central role in informing and anticipating socio-ecological problems, and to achieve greater ecosystem representation by integrating new long-term study sites. This will require a more decisive political commitment of the State, to improve the stewardship of our unique terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and the realization that sound ecologically-sustainable policies will never be possible without a national monitoring network. We argue that the State should build on LTSER and several other private and university initiatives to provide the country with a monitoring network. In the absence of this commitment, the LTSER system is subject to discontinuity and frequent interruptions, which jeopardizes the long-term effort to understand the functioning of nature and its biodiversity. © 2023, The Author(s). |
| Memoria institucional 10 años CR2: 201 | Garreaud, R. | 2023 | https://www.cr2.cl/memoria2013-2022/ | 50 | cr2.cl | ||||||||
| Cooling the Coldest Continent The 4 December 2021 Total Solar Eclipse over Antarctica | Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society | Garreaud, R.; Bozkurt, D.; Spangrude, C.; Carrasco-Escaff, T.; Rondanelli, R.; Muñoz, R.; Jubier, X.; Lazzara, M.; Keller, L.; Rojo, P. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Zonas Costeras | 10.1175/BAMS-D-22-0272.1 | https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-22-0272.1 | E2265-E2285 | Vol: 104 Issue: 12 | 00030007 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Bronze Open Access | English | Total solar eclipses (TSEs) are impressive astronomical events that have attracted people’s curiosity since ancient times. Their abrupt alterations to the radiation balance have stimulated studies on “eclipse meteorology,” most of them documenting events in the Northern Hemisphere while only one TSE (23 November 2003) has been described over Antarctica. On 4 December 2021—just a few days before the austral summer solstice—the moon blocked the sun over the austral high latitudes, with the path of totality arching from the Weddell Sea to the Amundsen Sea, thus producing a ∼2-min central TSE. In this work we present high-resolution meteorological observations from Union Glacier Camp (80°S, 83°W), the only location with a working station under totality, and South Pole station. These observations were complemented with meteorological records from 37 surface stations across Antarctica. Notably, the largest cooling (∼5°C) was observed over the East Antarctic dome, where obscurity was ∼85% while many sectors experienced insignificant temperature changes. This heterogenous cooling distribution, at odds with the seemingly homogeneous land surface of Antarctica, is partially captured by a simple radiative model. To further diagnose the effect of the eclipse on the surface meteorology, we ran multiple pairs of simulations (eclipse enabled and disabled) using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. The overall pattern and magnitude of the simulated cooling agree well with the observations and reveal that, in addition to the solar radiation deficit and cloud cover, low-level winds and the height of the planetary boundary layer are key determinants of the temperature changes and their spatial variability. © 2023 American Meteorological Society. This published article is licensed under the terms of the default AMS reuse license. For information regarding reuse of this content and general copyright information, consult the AMS Copyright Policy (www.ametsoc.org/PUBSReuseLicenses). |
| Evolution of heatwaves in Chile since 1980 | Weather and Climate Extremes | González-Reyes, Á.; Jacques-Coper, M.; Bravo, C.; Rojas, M.; Garreaud, R. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Zonas Costeras; l | 10.1016/j.wace.2023.100588 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wace.2023.100588 | art100588 | Vol: 41 | 22120947 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Heatwaves (HWs) are highly dangerous threats to human and ecosystem health, as well as to many economic sectors around the world. In the present work focused on Chile, we use a high-resolution (∼5 km) gridded product (CR2Met v2.0) to evaluate the spatiotemporal distribution and trends of HWs. We analyze daily maximum temperatures (Tx) from late austral spring to early autumn (November to March) to evaluate the HWs behavior during 1980–2020, using three criteria: i) three consecutive days with Tx > 30°C, ii) three consecutive days with Tx > 90th percentile (P90), and iii) three consecutive days with Tx > 95th percentile (P95). We validated our results using HWs statistics based on eighteen official meteorological stations; this procedure revealed a coherence with gridded data mainly over the Central Valley and the Andes. Using the P90 threshold, we found upward trends across the Andes between 20° and 36°S (>1 events per decade), and in the Central Valley between 34° - 43°S (>0.75 events per decade). In addition, using the P90 and P95 thresholds, HWs exhibit upward trends (>1 and 0.5 events per decade, respectively) throughout most of Chile, including Andes and Patagonia. Moreover, using all thresholds, we found an increase in HW frequency during the 2011–2020 megadrought period (ranging from 1 to 4 HWs events/decade) in comparison to the previous period (1980–2010). Meteorological factors such as an increase in the frequency of Puelche (Föhn-like) winds are proposed as an amplifying mechanism of HWs in South-Central Chile. © 2023 |
| A First Insight into the Microbial and Viral Communities of Comau Fjord—A Unique Human-Impacted Ecosystem in Patagonia (42° S) | Microorganisms | Guajardo-Leiva, S.; Mendez, K.; Meneses, C.; Díez, B.; Castro-Nallar, E. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3390/microorganisms11040904 | https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11040904 | art: 904 | Vol: 11 Issue: 4 | 2076-2607 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | While progress has been made in surveying the oceans to understand microbial and viral communities, the coastal ocean and, specifically, estuarine waters, where the effects of anthropogenic activity are greatest, remain partially understudied. The coastal waters of Northern Patagonia are of interest since this region experiences high-density salmon farming as well as other disturbances such as maritime transport of humans and cargo. Here, we hypothesized that viral and microbial communities from the Comau Fjord would be distinct from those collected in global surveys yet would have the distinctive features of microbes from coastal and temperate regions. We further hypothesized that microbial communities will be functionally enriched in antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in general and in those related to salmon farming in particular. Here, the analysis of metagenomes and viromes obtained for three surface water sites showed that the structure of the microbial communities was distinct in comparison to global surveys such as the Tara Ocean, though their composition converges with that of cosmopolitan marine microbes belonging to Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. Similarly, viral communities were also divergent in structure and composition but matched known viral members from North America and the southern oceans. Microbial communities were functionally enriched in ARGs dominated by beta-lactams and tetracyclines, bacitracin, and the group macrolide–lincosamide–streptogramin (MLS) but were not different from other communities from the South Atlantic, South Pacific, and Southern Oceans. Similarly, viral communities were characterized by exhibiting protein clusters similar to those described globally (Tara Oceans Virome); however, Comau Fjord viromes displayed up to 50% uniqueness in their protein content. Altogether, our results indicate that microbial and viral communities from the Comau Fjord are a reservoir of untapped diversity and that, given the increasing anthropogenic impacts in the region, they warrant further study, specifically regarding resilience and resistance against antimicrobials and hydrocarbons. © 2023 by the authors. |
| Earth system justice needed to identify and live within Earth system boundaries | Nature Sustainability | Gupta, J.; Liverman, D.; Prodani, K.; Aldunce, P.; Bai, X.; Broadgate, W.; Ciobanu, D.; Gifford, L.; Gordon, C.; Hurlbert, M.; Inoue, C.; Jacobson, L.; Kanie, N.; Lade, S.; Lenton, T.; Obura, D.; Okereke, C.; Otto, I.; Pereira, L.; Rockström, J.; Scholtens, J.; Rocha, J.; Stewart-Koster, B.; David T... | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1038/s41893-023-01064-1 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-023-01064-1 | 630-638 | Vol: 6 | 2398-9629 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | Living within planetary limits requires attention to justice as biophysical boundaries are not inherently just. Through collaboration between natural and social scientists, the Earth Commission defines and operationalizes Earth system justice to ensure that boundaries reduce harm, increase well-being, and reflect substantive and procedural justice. Such stringent boundaries may also affect ‘just access’ to food, water, energy and infrastructure. We show how boundaries may need to be adjusted to reduce harm and increase access, and challenge inequality to ensure a safe and just future for people, other species and the planet. Earth system justice may enable living justly within boundaries. © 2023, Springer Nature Limited. | |
| Facilitation by pioneer trees and herbivore exclusion allow regeneration of woody species in the semiarid ecosystem of central Chile | Applied Vegetation Science | Gómez-Fernández, N.; Smith-Ramírez, C.; Delpiano, C.; Miranda, A.; Vásquez, I.; Becerra, P. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1111/avsc.12741 | https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12741 | arte12741 | Vol: 26 Issue: 3 | 14022001 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Questions: Facilitation by pioneer plants and herbivore exclusion may contribute to plant regeneration and restoration of degraded semiarid ecosystems. In this study we evaluated the main and interactive effects of the exclusion of large and medium-sized mammal herbivores and the presence of the pioneer tree Vachellia caven on natural regeneration of woody species in degraded savannas. Location: Two localities of the native sclerophyllous forest of central Chile. Methods: Twelve 30 × 40 m exclosures and twelve non-exclosure areas located near native forests were established in savannas of V. caven in each locality. Regeneration coming from seeds and resprouts was sampled both under the canopy of V. caven and without canopy in each exclosure and non-excluded area. Results: After seven years, species richness and density of older regeneration (0.5–2 m high) were positively affected by herbivore exclusion and the presence of V. caven. No significant interaction between herbivore exclusion and V. caven was observed. Younger regeneration (<0.5 m high) was positively affected by herbivore exclusion and the presence of V. caven only in some years with almost no interactive effect. Conclusions: The exclusion of large and medium-sized exotic herbivores and facilitation by pioneer trees are complementary for regeneration. The variable but permanent presence of younger and older regeneration within exclosures and under V. caven during the experiment may lead to an increase of density and diversity of adult plants and recovery of the native forest. However, this process may be slow due to other limiting factors, for instance, reduced precipitation associated with climate change. © 2023 International Association for Vegetation Science. | |
| Afforestation and climate mitigation: lessons from Chile | Trends in Ecology and Evolution | Gómez-González, S.; Miranda, A.; Hoyos-Santillan, J.; Lara, A.; Moraga, P.; Pausas, J. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.014 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.014 | 5-8 | Vol: 39 Issue: 1 | 01695347 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The Chilean Climate Change Law excludes tree monocultures as a solution to the climate crisis, offering an opportunity for resilience and climate mitigation in Latin America. The Chilean experience with mega-fires in extensive, homogeneous forest plantations provides important lessons that could inform climate policies in other countries. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Forest landscape dynamics after intentional large-scale fires in western Patagonia reveal unusual temperate forest recovery trends | Landscape Ecology | Hernández-Moreno, Á.; Soto, D.; Miranda, A.; Holz, A.; Armenteras-Pascual, D. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1007/s10980-023-01687-x | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-023-01687-x | 2207-2225 | Vol: 38 Issue: 9 | 0921-2973 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Context: Western Chilean Patagonia is an isolated temperate region with an important proportion of intact forest landscapes (IFL) that was subjected to large-scale fires over 60 years ago. However, there is no empirical evaluation of the land cover dynamics to establish the forest loss and recovery, and the effect on the landscape structure and function, and remnant IFL following the fires. Objectives: The present study addressed the following questions: (1) What have been the main trends of the land cover dynamics between 1984 and 2018 following earlier fires, and how have these trends shaped the spatial patterns and potential carbon stock of forests in western Patagonia? (2) What proportion of forest landscape remains intact following fires in this region? Methods: We selected the Coyhaique Province (1,231,910 ha) in western Chilean Patagonia as the study area. Land cover maps for three dates (1984, 2000, 2018) were used to evaluate landscape dynamics after fires. A map of persistence and change occurrence was made to estimate the IFL area over the 1984–2018 period. Landscape metrics were used to assess landscape structure change, and potential carbon stock was estimated based on a literature review. Results: Following fires, the main land cover changes between 1984 and 2018 were loss of ~ 32,600 ha of old-growth forest and a recovery of ~ 69,000 ha of second-growth forest. The increase in second-growth forest area mainly resulted from loss of agricultural cover (~ 41% of the area). Despite these changes, ~ 61% of the area could potentially remain as IFL after fires. Over the 1984–2018 period, a slight increase in fragmentation of old-growth forest, and a decline in second-growth forest were observed. Coyhaique Province experienced a slight increase (3.6%) in overall potential carbon stock, likely as a result of second-growth forest recovery. Conclusions: Our study provides the first evidence of the western Patagonia landscape state after more than six decades since the large-scale fires. The results provide baseline information on landscape structure and function that could help to make conservation and forest management decisions on specific territory areas. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. |
| Panama must protect mangroves and peatlands | Science (New York, N.Y.) | Hoyos-Santillan, J.; Miranda, A.; Castro de Doens, L.; González-Mahecha, E.; Cifuentes-Jara, M.; Worthington, T. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1126/science.adl3048 | https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adl3048 | 654 | Vol: 382 Issue: 6671 | 10959203 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | ||
| Synoptic-to-intraseasonal atmospheric modulation of phytoplankton biomass in the inner sea of Chiloé, Northwest Patagonia (42.5°-43.5°S, 72.5°-74°W), Chile | Frontiers in Marine Science | Jacques-Coper, M.; Segura, C.; De La Torre, M.; Valdebenito Muñoz, P.; Vásquez, S.; Narváez, D. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3389/fmars.2023.1160230 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1160230 | 1160230 | Vol: 10 | 2296-7745 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | The Inner Sea of Chiloé (ISC) in northwestern Patagonia has experienced large harmful algal blooms in the past decade, impacting human health and affecting the large aquaculture industry of the region. Thus, the investigation of factors favouring regional phytoplankton growth are of particular interest. Analysing the synoptic-to-intraseasonal variability, we explore changes in phytoplankton biomass in southern ISC (S-ISC, 42.5°-43.5°S, 72.5°-74°W) and their concurrent mesoscale and large-scale meteorological and oceanographic conditions. We use high-resolution satellite normalized fluorescence line height (nFLH) and chlorophyll-a (CHL-A) from the MODIS-Aqua sensor as proxies for phytoplankton biomass, besides oceanic and atmospheric variables derived from various remote-sensing sources and atmospheric fields from the ERA5 reanalysis. Specifically, we focus on high phytoplankton biomass events HBEs, which are defined as those cases when intraseasonal nFLH anomaly (nFLH’) exceeds the 95th percentile threshold. Each event was characterised by its first date of occurrence (called day 0). We detected 16 HBE between 2003 and 2019 in S-ISC. HBEs tend to occur under the influence of a mid-latitude migratory anticyclone that induce persistent cloudless conditions preceding day 0, leading to enhanced photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) starting around day -8, and positive sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies between days -4 and +4. We hypothesise that HBEs are mainly modulated by i) mixing and advection that could contribute to a greater availability of nutrients in the upper sea layers before the onset of the anticyclonic anomalies; and ii) increased thermal stratification related to positive PAR and SST anomalies that would promote phytoplankton growth during the anticyclonic regime. Furthermore, we show that the Madden-Julian Oscillation modulates the frequency of nFLH’ and thus of HBEs, a result that suggests an enhanced predictability of these cases. |
| Distribution and Activity of Sulfur-Metabolizing Bacteria along the Temperature Gradient in Phototrophic Mats of the Chilean Hot Spring Porcelana | Microorganisms | Konrad, R.; Vergara-Barros, P.; Alcorta, J.; Alcamán-Arias, M.; Levicán, G.; Ridley, C.; Díez, B. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3390/microorganisms11071803 | https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11071803 | art1803 | Vol: 11 Issue: 7 | 2076-2607 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | In terrestrial hot springs, some members of the microbial mat community utilize sulfur chemical species for reduction and oxidization metabolism. In this study, the diversity and activity of sulfur-metabolizing bacteria were evaluated along a temperature gradient (48–69 °C) in non-acidic phototrophic mats of the Porcelana hot spring (Northern Patagonia, Chile) using complementary meta-omic methodologies and specific amplification of the aprA (APS reductase) and soxB (thiosulfohydrolase) genes. Overall, the key players in sulfur metabolism varied mostly in abundance along the temperature gradient, which is relevant for evaluating the possible implications of microorganisms associated with sulfur cycling under the current global climate change scenario. Our results strongly suggest that sulfate reduction occurs throughout the whole temperature gradient, being supported by different taxa depending on temperature. Assimilative sulfate reduction is the most relevant pathway in terms of taxonomic abundance and activity, whereas the sulfur-oxidizing system (Sox) is likely to be more diverse at low rather than at high temperatures. Members of the phylum Chloroflexota showed higher sulfur cycle-related transcriptional activity at 66 °C, with a potential contribution to sulfate reduction and oxidation to thiosulfate. In contrast, at the lowest temperature (48 °C), Burkholderiales and Acetobacterales (both Pseudomonadota, also known as Proteobacteria) showed a higher contribution to dissimilative sulfate reduction/oxidation as well as to thiosulfate metabolism. Cyanobacteriota and Planctomycetota were especially active in assimilatory sulfate reduction. Analysis of the aprA and soxB genes pointed to members of the order Burkholderiales (Gammaproteobacteria) as the most dominant and active along the temperature gradient for these genes. Changes in the diversity and activity of different sulfur-metabolizing bacteria in photoautotrophic microbial mats along a temperature gradient revealed their important role in hot spring environments, especially the main primary producers (Chloroflexota/Cyanobacteriota) and diazotrophs (Cyanobacteriota), showing that carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles are highly linked in these extreme systems. © 2023 by the authors. |
| Panta Rhei benchmark dataset: socio-hydrological data of paired events of floods and droughts | Earth System Science Data | Kreibich, H.; Schröter, K.; Di Baldassarre, G.; Van Loon, A.; Mazzoleni, M.; Abeshu, G.; Agafonova, S.; Aghakouchak, A.; Aksoy, H.; Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Aznar, B.; Balkhi, L.; Barendrecht, M.; Biancamaria, S.; Bos-Burgering, L.; Bradley, C.; Budiyono, Y.; Buytaert, W.; Capewell, L.; Carlson, H.; Ca... | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.5194/essd-15-2009-2023 | https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-2009-2023 | 2009-2023 | Vol: 15 Issue: 5 | 1866-3508 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | As the adverse impacts of hydrological extremes increase in many regions of the world, a better understanding of the drivers of changes in risk and impacts is essential for effective flood and drought risk management and climate adaptation. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive, empirical data about the processes, interactions, and feedbacks in complex human-water systems leading to flood and drought impacts. Here we present a benchmark dataset containing socio-hydrological data of paired events, i.e. two floods or two droughts that occurred in the same area. The 45 paired events occurred in 42 different study areas and cover a wide range of socio-economic and hydro-climatic conditions. The dataset is unique in covering both floods and droughts, in the number of cases assessed and in the quantity of socio-hydrological data. The benchmark dataset comprises (1) detailed review-style reports about the events and key processes between the two events of a pair; (2) the key data table containing variables that assess the indicators which characterize management shortcomings, hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and impacts of all events; and (3) a table of the indicators of change that indicate the differences between the first and second event of a pair. The advantages of the dataset are that it enables comparative analyses across all the paired events based on the indicators of change and allows for detailed context- and location-specific assessments based on the extensive data and reports of the individual study areas. The dataset can be used by the scientific community for exploratory data analyses, e.g. focused on causal links between risk management; changes in hazard, exposure and vulnerability; and flood or drought impacts. The data can also be used for the development, calibration, and validation of socio-hydrological models. The dataset is available to the public through the GFZ Data Services (Kreibich et al., 2023, 10.5880/GFZ.4.4.2023.001). © 2023 Heidi Kreibich et al. |
| A large diffusion and small amplification dynamics for density classification on graphs | International Journal of Modern Physics C | Leal, L.; Montealegre, P.; Osses, A.; Rapaport, I. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1142/S0129183123500560 | https://doi.org/10.1142/S0129183123500560 | art: 2350056 | Vol: 34 Issue: 5 | 0129-1831 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The density classification problem on graphs consists in finding a local dynamics such that, given a graph and an initial configuration of 0's and 1's assigned to the nodes of the graph, the dynamics converge to the fixed point configuration of all 1's if the fraction of 1's is greater than the critical density (typically 1/2) and, otherwise, it converges to the all 0's fixed point configuration. To solve this problem, we follow the idea proposed in [R. Briceño, P. M. de Espanés, A. Osses and I. Rapaport, Physica D 261, 70 (2013)], where the authors designed a cellular automaton inspired by two mechanisms: diffusion and amplification. We apply this approach to different well-known graph classes: complete, regular, star, Erdös-Rényi and Barabási-Albert graphs. © 2023 World Scientific Publishing Company. | |
| 1000 years of population, warfare, and climate change in pre-Columbian societies of the Central Andes | PLoS ONE | Lima, M.; Gayó, E.; Gurruchaga, A.; Estay, S.; Santoro, C. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1371/journal.pone.0278730 | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278730 | arte0278730 | Vol: 18 Issue: 11 November | 19326203 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Different Andean societies underwent processes of expansion and collapse during propitious or adverse climate conditions, resource boost or depletion along with population variations. Previous studies have emphasized that demographic collapses of polities in the Central Andes Area were triggered by warfare and the negative impacts of fluctuating climate (droughts) on crop productivity. Nevertheless, the interactions between climatic variability, demography and warfare have been less thoroughly evaluated. We develop population dynamic models to test feedback relationships between population growth, climate change and warfare in the Central Andes, where considerable regional hydroclimate variations have occurred over a millennium. Through population models, we found out that the rise and demise of social polities in the northern coast of the Central Andes appear to be a consequence of climate change. In contrast, for the highlands of Peru and the Titicaca basin, population models suggest that warfare intensity has a negative effect on population growth rates. Copyright: © 2023 Lima et al. |
| Recent Deoxygenation of Patagonian Fjord Subsurface Waters Connected to the Peru–Chile Undercurrent and Equatorial Subsurface Water Variability | Global Biogeochemical Cycles | Linford, P.; Pérez‐Santos, I.; Montes, I.; Dewitte, B.; Buchan, S.; Narváez, D.; Saldías, G.; Pinilla, E.; Garreaud, R.; Díaz, P.; Schwerter, C.; Montero, P.; Rodríguez‐Villegas, C.; Cáceres‐Soto, M.; Mancilla‐Gutiérrez, G.; Altamirano, R. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1029/2022GB007688 | https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022GB007688 | e2022GB007688 | Vol: 37 Issue: 6 | 0886-6236, 1944-9224 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | In recent decades, global dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements have registered a decrease of ∼1%–2% in oxygen content, raising concerns regarding the negative impacts of ocean deoxygenation on marine life and the greenhouse gas cycle. By combining in situ data from 2016 to 2022, satellite remote sensing, and outputs from a physical-biogeochemical model, we revealed the deoxygenation process in the Patagonian fjords for the first time. Deoxygenation was associated with the advection of equatorial subsurface water (ESSW) mass into the northern region of Patagonia. An analysis of the circulation regime using the Mercator-Ocean global high-resolution model confirmed the importance of the Peru–Chile undercurrent (PCUC) in transporting the ESSW poleward, contributing to the entrance of ESSW into the northern Patagonian fjords. A mooring system installed in the water interchange area between the Pacific Ocean and Patagonian fjords detected a decreasing DO of −21.66 μmol L−1 over 7 years, which was explained by the increase in PCUC transport of 1.46 Sv. Inside the Puyuhuapi fjord system, a second DO time series exhibited more marked deoxygenation with −88.6 μmol L−1 over 3 years linked with the influence of ESSW and local processes, such as DO consumption by the organic matter degradation. The recent deoxygenation registered in the northern Patagonian fjords demonstrates the significance of studying DO in the context of reducing the global oxygen content, further warranting the quantification of the impacts of deoxygenation on life cycles of marine organisms that inhabit the Patagonian fjords and channels and the Humboldt current system. © 2023. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. | |
| Dormancy-break and germination requirements for seeds of the threatened Austral papaya (Carica chilensis) | Scientific Reports | Loayza, A.; García-Guzmán, P.; Carozzi-Figueroa, G.; Carvajal, D. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1038/s41598-023-44386-y | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44386-y | art17358 | Vol: 13 Issue: 1 | 20452322 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Seed dormancy is one of the most important adaptive mechanisms in plants, optimizing germination, seedling emergence, and establishment to ensure these processes occur when environmental conditions are favorable for plant survival and growth. Endemic to rocky environments of the southern Atacama Desert, the Austral papaya (Carica chilensis) is the papaya species with the southernmost distribution within the Caricaceae, thriving in the most extreme environmental conditions. This threatened plant exhibits low natural regeneration, primarily attributed to low germination, yet no information regarding seed dormancy release is available. In this study, we investigated the dormancy-break and germination requirements of C. chilensis. We hypothesized that if C. chilensis seeds exhibit physiological dormancy, then seeds with reduced moisture content and those treated with chemicals or growth hormones would exhibit higher germination percentages and faster germination than control seeds akin to other members of Caricacea. Our results confirmed this prediction and revealed that ultra-drying (< 3% moisture content) and treating seeds with sulfuric acid, gibberellic acid, or potassium nitrate are the most effective methods for germinating C. chilensis. Consequently, we suggest using these treatments to propagate this threatened papaya species. © 2023, Springer Nature Limited. |
| Levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Antarctic atmosphere over time (1980 to 2021) and estimation of their atmospheric half-lives | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics | Luarte, T.; Gómez-Aburto, V.; Poblete-Castro, I.; Castro-Nallar, E.; Hunneus, N.; Molina-Montenegro, M.; Egas, C.; Azcune, G.; Pérez-Parada, A.; Lohmann, R.; Bohlin-Nizzetto, P.; Dachs, J.; Bengtson-Nash, S.; Chiang, G.; Pozo, K.; Galbán-Malagón, C. | 2023 | ; C; R; a; d; e; i; l; n; s; t; u | 10.5194/acp-23-8103-2023 | https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8103-2023 | 8103-8118 | Vol: 23 Issue: 14 | 16807316 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are synthetic compounds that were intentionally produced in large quantities and have been distributed in the global environment, originating a threat due to their persistence, bioaccumulative potential, and toxicity. POPs reach the Antarctic continent through long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT). In these areas, low temperatures play a significant role in the environmental fate of POPs, retaining them for a long time due to cold trapping by diffusion and wet deposition, acting as a net sink for many POPs. However, in the current context of climate change, the remobilization of POPs that were trapped in water, ice, and soil for decades is happening. Therefore, continuous monitoring of POPs in polar air is necessary to assess whether there is a recent re-release of historical pollutants back to the environment. We reviewed the scientific literature on atmospheric levels of several POP families (polychlorinated biphenyls - PCBs, hexachlorobenzene - HCB, hexachlorocyclohexanes - HCHs, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane - DDT) from 1980 to 2021. We estimated the atmospheric half-life using characteristic decreasing times (TD). We observed that HCB levels in the Antarctic atmosphere were higher than the other target organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), but HCB also displayed higher fluctuations and did not show a significant decrease over time. Conversely, the atmospheric levels of HCHs, some DDTs, and PCBs have decreased significantly. The estimated atmospheric half-lives for POPs decreased in the following order: 4,4' DDE (13.5 years) > 4,4' DDD (12.8 years) > 4,4' DDT (7.4 years) > 2,4' DDE (6.4 years) > 2,4' DDT (6.3 years) > α-HCH (6 years) > HCB (6 years) > 3-HCH (4.2 years). For PCB congeners, they decreased in the following order: PCB 153 (7.6 years) > PCB 138 (6.5 years) > PCB 101 (4.7 years) > PCB 180 (4.6 years) > PCB 28 (4 years) > PCB 52 (3.7 years) > PCB 118 (3.6 years). For HCH isomers and PCBs, the Stockholm Convention (SC) ban on POPs did have an impact on decreasing their levels during the last decades. Nevertheless, their ubiquity in the Antarctic atmosphere shows the problematic issues related to highly persistent synthetic chemicals. © 2023 Thais Luarte et al. |
| A synergistic ozone-climate control to address emerging ozone pollution challenges | One Earth | Lyu, X.; Li, K.; Guo, H.; Morawska, L.; Zhou, B.; Zeren, Y.; Jiang, F.; Chen, C.; Goldstein, A.; Xu, X.; Wang, T.; Lu, X.; Zhu, T.; Querol, X.; Chatani, S.; Latif, M.; Schuch, D.; Sinha, V.; Kumar, P.; Mullins, B.; Seguel, R.; Shao, M.; Xue, L.; Wang, N.; Chen, J.; Gao, J.; Chai, F.; Simpson, I.; Si... | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.07.004 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.07.004 | 964-977 | Vol: 6 Issue: 8 | 25903330 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | Tropospheric ozone threatens human health and crop yields, exacerbates global warming, and fundamentally changes atmospheric chemistry. Evidence has pointed toward widespread ozone increases in the troposphere, and particularly surface ozone is chemically complex and difficult to abate. Despite past successes in some regions, a solution to new challenges of ozone pollution in a warming climate remains unexplored. In this perspective, by compiling surface measurements at ∼4,300 sites worldwide between 2014 and 2019, we show the emerging global challenge of ozone pollution, featuring the unintentional rise in ozone due to the uncoordinated emissions reduction and increasing climate penalty. On the basis of shared emission sources, interactive chemical mechanisms, and synergistic health effects between ozone pollution and climate warming, we propose a synergistic ozone-climate control strategy incorporating joint control of ozone and fine particulate matter. This new solution presents an opportunity to alleviate tropospheric ozone pollution in the forthcoming low-carbon transition. © 2023 The Authors |
| The expressions of environmentalism in electoral competition: the case of Chile; [Las expresiones del ambientalismo en la competencia electoral: el caso de Chile] | Revista Chilena de Derecho y Ciencia Politica | Maillet, A.; Muñoz, N. | 2023 | 10.7770/rchdcp-V14N1-art62 | https://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?pid=S0719-21502023000100209&script=sci_arttext | 1-28 | Vol: 14 Issue: 1 | 07189389 | SciELO | Spanish | There are few political science studies that address the participation in the electoral arena of environmental demands in Latin America. To fill this gap, we analyze in this exploratory work the electoral expressions of environ¬mentalism in Chile from 1993 to 2021. During this period, environmentalism has been expressed in the electoral arena through two options, sometimes complementary and at other times in competition. On the one hand, specific politi¬cal parties have been formed, and on the other, environmental mobilization activists have participated directly. Regardless of the approach adopted, the electoral re¬sults have been low until 2021, when environmen-talist candidates achieved good results in the elections for regional governors and conventional constituents. However, in the legislative elections of 2022 the result was again low, but at the same time environmental demands have been given exposure by actors such as candidate, and subsequently President, Gabriel Boric. Thus, it remains to be seen whether an electoral expression of environmentalism will become consolidated in Chile. © 2023, Catholic University of Temuco Faculty of Law Economics and Administrative Sciences. All rights reserved. | ||
| Spatio-temporal multidisciplinary analysis of socio-environmental conditions to explore the COVID-19 early evolution in urban sites in South America | Heliyon | Mantilla Caicedo, G.; Rusticucci, M.; Suli, S.; Dankiewicz, V.; Ayala, S.; Caiman Peñarete, A.; Díaz, M.; Fontán, S.; Chesini, F.; Jiménez-Buitrago, D.; Barreto Pedraza, L.; Barrera, F. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16056 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16056 | art: e16056 | Vol: 9 Issue: 5 | 2405-8440 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access | English | This study aimed to analyse how socio-environmental conditions affected the early evolution of COVID-19 in 14 urban sites in South America based on a spatio-temporal multidisciplinary approach. The daily incidence rate of new COVID-19 cases with symptoms as the dependent variable and meteorological-climatic data (mean, maximum, and minimum temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity) as the independent variables were analysed. The study period was from March to November of 2020. We inquired associations of these variables with COVID-19 data using Spearman's non-parametric correlation test, and a principal component analysis considering socio economic and demographic variables, new cases, and rates of COVID-19 new cases. Finally, an analysis using non-metric multidimensional scale ordering by the Bray-Curtis similarity matrix of meteorological data, socio economic and demographic variables, and COVID-19 was performed. Our findings revealed that the average, maximum, and minimum temperatures and relative humidity were significantly associated with rates of COVID-19 new cases in most of the sites, while precipitation was significantly associated only in four sites. Additionally, demographic variables such as the number of inhabitants, the percentage of the population aged 60 years and above, the masculinity index, and the GINI index showed a significant correlation with COVID-19 cases. Due to the rapid evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, these findings provide strong evidence that biomedical, social, and physical sciences should join forces in truly multidisciplinary research that is critically needed in the current state of our region. © 2023 |
| Extreme harmful algal blooms, climate change, and potential risk of eutrophication in Patagonian fjords: Insights from an exceptional Heterosigma akashiwo fish-killing event | Progress in Oceanography | Mardones, J.; Paredes-Mella, J.; Flores-Leñero, A.; Yarimizu, K.; Godoy, M.; Artal, O.; Corredor-Acosta, A.; Marcus, L.; Cascales, E.; Pablo Espinoza, J.; Norambuena, L.; Garreaud, R.; González, H.; Iriarte, J. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.pocean.2022.102921 | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S007966112200180X | 102921 | Vol: 210 | 00796611 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The Patagonian fjords have experienced intense harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the last decade, affecting important aquaculture areas in southern Chile. Climatic anomalies have recently triggered ‘super blooms’ of opportunistic toxic microalgal genera, especially due to persistent thermal stratification which likely provides an optimal niche for HABs development in fjord systems. In March-April 2021, an intense and widespread bloom of the raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo caused high salmon mortalities (>6,000 t) in the Comau fjord, Los Lagos Region. A climate variability analysis showed the effects of the positive phase of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM > 1.2 hPa) overcame those of La Niña (Niño3.4 = -0.9 °C) leading to an intense drought on the northern part of Patagonia with record low rainfall (the 2nd driest summer in the last 70 years) and increased water temperature. A regional satellite analysis revealed an extreme and persistent shallow Mixed Layer Depth (MLD) during summer periods since 2019 within the inland seas. In situ vertical fine-resolution measurements during the bloom event showed high cell abundances in the first 3 m of the water column (max. ∼ 70,000 cells mL−1), associated with warmer water temperature (∼15.5 – 17.5 °C), low salinity (∼25–30 psu), moderate to high dissolved oxygen (5 – 8.5 mg/L) and extremely high fluorescence signals in dense superficial cell aggregations (max. 74.9 µg/L). A 18S rRNA metabarcoding analysis formally confirmed the presence of H. akashiwo and its almost monospecific bloom development at the water surface. HPLC pigment analysis showed the carotenoid fucoxanthin in high proportion (48.8 %) compared to other photosynthetic pigments, becoming a potential pigment biomarker for early satellite H. akashiwo detection. Cell growth and cytotoxic in vitro experiments revealed high phenotypic plasticity of Chilean H. akashiwo against sudden changes in salinity. An RTgill-W1 gill cell assay revealed high cytotoxic activity (viability down to ∼ 50 – 30 % of controls) only at high cell abundances (>40,000H. akashiwo cells mL−1), which was in accordance with histological examination of moribund salmon that showed gill damage and circulatory disorders mainly due to long-term exposure to hypoxic conditions and not to potent cytotoxic effects. The Party-MOSA particles dispersion model revealed a high retention of water masses within the Comau fjord during the H. akashiwo outbreak, a scenario that may have boosted fish kills due to enhanced cells patchiness, ichthyotoxins persistence and hypoxic conditions. A historical dissolved inorganic nutrient data analysis showed that inner Patagonian fjords maintain low N and P concentrations including those environments considered of high eutrophication risk. Low N:P (<16:1) ratios measured at Comau fjord during the 2021 suggests that toxic flagellates growth could be favored over diatoms; however, low N:Si (<1:1 – N deficiency) evidences a clear need for better understanding of the role of mixotrophy in the persistence of the 2021H. akashiwo bloom for several weeks. These results highlight the fact that HABs responses against climate drivers and potential eutrophication are not universal and need to be assessed yearly and locally, particularly because extreme droughts and intensive aquaculture in northern Patagonia are expected to continue throughout the 21st century. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Equivalent impacts of logging and beaver activities on aboveground carbon stock loss in the southernmost forest on Earth | Scientific Reports | Miranda, A.; Hoyos-Santillan, J.; Lara, A.; Mentler, R.; Huertas-Herrera, A.; Toro-Manríquez, M.; Sepulveda-Jauregui, A. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1038/s41598-023-45657-4 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45657-4 | art18350 | Vol: 13 Issue: 1 | 20452322 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | The conservation of forest landscapes is crucial for global climate strategies, and the forest in Tierra del Fuego, located in Patagonia, represents the southernmost example on Earth. These ecosystems are critical for Chile’s roadmap toward carbon neutrality. Unfortunately, these ecosystems have been impacted by logging and beaver activities. Currently, the precise contribution of each driver to forest cover and carbon stock loss remains insufficiently quantified, impeding effective policymaking and the implementation of strategies to safeguard and enhance carbon stocks in these ecosystems. In this study, we conducted an assessment of forest carbon stock loss resulting from both logging and beaver activities in Chilean Tierra del Fuego from 1986 to 2019. While beavers have received significant attention for their substantial contribution to forest cover loss (56.1% forest cover, ≈ 1.4 MtC), our findings suggest that logging has nearly equally contributed to carbon stock depletion (43.8% forest cover, ≈ 1.2 MtC). Consequently, the prevailing focus on beavers has obscured the ongoing logging-induced carbon stock loss. The implications of our study highlight the urgency for comprehensive consideration of both drivers in Chile’s climate strategy to fulfill the country’s mitigation commitments. © 2023, The Author(s). |
| Widespread synchronous decline of Mediterranean-type forest driven by accelerated aridity | Nature Plants | Miranda, A.; Syphard, A.; Berdugo, M.; Carrasco, J.; Gómez-González, S.; Ovalle, J.; Delpiano, C.; Vargas, S.; Squeo, F.; Miranda, M.; Dobbs, C.; Mentler, R.; Lara, A.; Garreaud, R. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1038/s41477-023-01541-7 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-023-01541-7 | 1810-1817 | Vol: 9 Issue: 11 | 20550278 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Large-scale, abrupt ecosystem change in direct response to climate extremes is a critical but poorly documented phenomenon1. Yet, recent increases in climate-induced tree mortality raise concern that some forest ecosystems are on the brink of collapse across wide environmental gradients2,3. Here we assessed climatic and productivity trends across the world’s five Mediterranean forest ecosystems from 2000 to 2021 and detected a large-scale, abrupt forest browning and productivity decline in Chile (>90% of the forest in <100 days), responding to a sustained, acute drought. The extreme dry and warm conditions in Chile, unprecedented in the recent history of all Mediterranean-type ecosystems, are akin to those projected to arise in the second half of the century4. Long-term recovery of this forest is uncertain given an ongoing decline in regional water balance. This dramatic plummet of forest productivity may be a spyglass to the future for other Mediterranean ecosystems. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited. | |
| Kanamycin treatment in the pre-symptomatic stage of a Drosophila PD model prevents the onset of non-motor alterations | Neuropharmacology | Molina-Mateo, D.; Valderrama, B.; Zárate, R.; Hidalgo, S.; Tamayo-Leiva, J.; Soto-González, A.; Guerra-Ayala, S.; Arriagada-Vera, V.; Oliva, C.; Diez, B.; Campusano, J. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109573 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109573 | art: 109573 | Vol: 236 | 0028-3908 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor alterations, which is preceded by a prodromal stage where non-motor symptoms are observed. Over recent years, it has become evident that this disorder involves other organs that communicate with the brain like the gut. Importantly, the microbial community that lives in the gut plays a key role in this communication, the so-called microbiota-gut-brain axis. Alterations in this axis have been associated to several disorders including PD. Here we proposed that the gut microbiota is different in the presymptomatic stage of a Drosophila model for PD, the Pink1B9 mutant fly, as compared to that observed in control animals. Our results show this is the case: there is basal dysbiosis in mutant animals evidenced by substantial difference in the composition of midgut microbiota in 8–9 days old Pink1B9 mutant flies as compared with control animals. Further, we fed young adult control and mutant flies kanamycin and analyzed motor and non-motor behavioral parameters in these animals. Data show that kanamycin treatment induces the recovery of some of the non-motor parameters altered in the pre-motor stage of the PD fly model, while there is no substantial change in locomotor parameters recorded at this stage. On the other hand, our results show that feeding young animals the antibiotic, results in a long-lasting improvement of locomotion in control flies. Our data support that manipulations of gut microbiota in young animals could have beneficial effects on PD progression and age-dependent motor impairments. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Nuevo proceso constituyente y cambio climático: Aspectos a considerar en la redacción de la Nueva Constitución | Moraga Sariego, P.; Borquez, R.; Hervé, D.; Alonso, C. | 2023 | https://www.cr2.cl/nuevo-proceso-constituyente-cambio-climatico/ | cr2.cl | |||||||||
| Memoria Ambiental. La Historia de la Institucionalidad Ambiental, a 50 años del Golpe Militar | Revista de Derecho Ambiental | Moraga Sariego, P.; Ossandón Rosales, J.; Chahuán, F.; Sameshima, S. | 2023 | 10.5354/0719-4633.2023.73355 | https://revistaderechoambiental.uchile.cl/index.php/RDA/article/view/73355 | 1-30 | Vol: 2 Issue: 20 | 0719-4633, 0718-0101 | |||||
| ¿Falta de certeza jurídica frente a la emergencia climática? o ¿necesidad de recordar cuáles son los deberes de los Estados? | Revista de Derecho Ambiental | Moraga, P. | 2023 | 10.5354/0719-4633.2023.71186 | https://revistaderechoambiental.uchile.cl/index.php/RDA/article/view/71186 | 1-7 | Vol: 1 Issue: 19 | 0719-4633, 0718-0101 | |||||
| Drought increase since the mid-20th century in the northern South American Altiplano revealed by a 389-year precipitation record | Climate of the Past | Morales, M.; Crispín-DelaCruz, D.; Álvarez, C.; Christie, D.; Ferrero, M.; Andreu-Hayles, L.; Villalba, R.; Guerra, A.; Ticse-Otarola, G.; Rodríguez-Ramírez, E.; LLocclla-Martínez, R.; Sanchez-Ferrer, J.; Requena-Rojas, E. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.5194/cp-19-457-2023 | https://cp.copernicus.org/articles/19/457/2023/ | 457-476 | Vol: 19 Issue: 2 | 1814-9324 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract. Given the short span of instrumental precipitation records in the South American Altiplano, longer-term hydroclimatic records are needed to understand the nature of climate variability and to improve the predictability of precipitation, a key natural resource for the socioeconomic development in the Altiplano and adjacent arid lowlands. In this region grows Polylepis tarapacana, a long-lived tree species that is very sensitive to hydroclimatic changes and has been widely used for tree-ring studies in the central and southern Altiplano. However, in the northern sector of the Peruvian and Chilean Altiplano (16–19∘ S) still exists a gap of high-resolution hydroclimatic data based on tree-ring records. Our study provides an overview of the temporal evolution of the late-spring–mid-summer precipitation for the period 1625–2013 CE at the northern South American Altiplano, allowing for the identification of wet or dry periods based on a regional reconstruction from three P. tarapacana chronologies. An increase in the occurrence of extreme dry events, together with a decreasing trend in the reconstructed precipitation, has been recorded since the 1970s in the northern Altiplano within the context of the last ∼4 centuries. The average precipitation over the last 17 years stands out as the driest in our 389-year reconstruction. We reveal a temporal and spatial synchrony across the Altiplano region of dry conditions since the mid-1970s. Independent tree-ring-based hydroclimate reconstructions and several paleoclimatic records based on other proxies available for the tropical Andes record this synchrony. The influence of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the northern Altiplano precipitation was detected by our rainfall reconstruction that showed past drier conditions in our study region associated with ENSO warm events. The spectral properties of the rainfall reconstruction showed strong imprints of ENSO variability at decadal, sub-decadal, and inter-annual timescales, in particular from the Pacific NIÑO 3 sector. Overall, the recent reduction in precipitation in comparison with previous centuries, the increase in extreme dry events and the coupling between precipitation and ENSO variability reported by this work is essential information in the context of the growing demand for water resources in the Altiplano. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the vulnerability and resilience of the region to the projected evapotranspiration increase for the 21st century associated with global warming. |
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| Environmental evolution of western Tierra del Fuego (∼54°S) since ice-free conditions and its zonal/hemispheric implications | Quaternary Science Reviews | Moreno, P.; Lambert, F.; Hernández, L.; Villa-Martínez, R. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108387 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108387 | art108387 | Vol: 322 | 02773791 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | By virtue of its position adjacent to the Drake Passage, Tierra del Fuego in South America allows examining the vegetation and environmental history of the southernmost continental landmass outside Antarctica, and the evolution of the Southern Westerly Winds-Southern Ocean (SWW–SO) coupled system since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). For that purpose, we studied sediment cores from Lago Charquito, a small closed-basin lake in central-west Tierra del Fuego with a continuous lacustrine record since ∼17.3 ka. Ice-free conditions at the site imply a ∼70 km retreat of the Bahía Inútil glacier lobe from its LGM position during a ∼800-year interval, a trend that continued until its disappearance ∼100 km upstream from L. Charquito, ∼800 years later. Our palynological data show an open landscape dominated by cold-tolerant shrubs and herbs between ∼17.3–12.9 ka, with increases in precipitation of SWW origin at ∼16.3 ka, ∼14.7 ka, between ∼8.7–7.6 ka, and after ∼6.8 ka. Warming at ∼12.9 ka initiated an abrupt afforestation trend that stalled during the early Holocene (∼12–8.7 ka) owing to a precipitation decline and wildfires, and later resumed in response to invigorated SWW. We hypothesize that sparse Nothofagus tree populations inhabited the periphery of the Patagonian Ice Sheet (PIS) during the LGM and migrated toward the Andes contemporaneous with glacier recession as temperature rose during the Last Glacial Termination (T1). We posit that besides establishing topographic and climatic barriers for land biota, the PIS enabled the connectivity of cold-tolerant hygrophilous plant populations along a humid fringe adjacent to its land-based perimeter, despite the presumably dry conditions downwind from the eastern PIS margin. Our results suggest that southward shifts or expansion of the SWW toward or beyond Tierra del Fuego enhanced upwelling and ventilation of deep waters in the SO, northward shifts or weakening had the opposite effect. We observe that the time evolution of atmospheric CO2 concentrations, high-latitude air and sea-surface temperatures, and sea level during T1 fall short in explaining the timing and abruptness of the Bahía Inútil glacier lobe collapse, and quite possibly multiple other glacier lobes from the PIS. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Fires and rates of change in the temperate rainforests of northwestern Patagonia since ∼18 ka | Quaternary Science Reviews | Moreno, P.; Méndez, C.; Henríquez, C.; Fercovic, E.; Videla, J.; Reyes, O.; Villacís, L.; Villa-Martínez, R.; Alloway, B. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107899 | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379122005303?via%3Dihub | 107899 | Vol: 300 | 02773791 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We examine the temporal and spatial structure of wildfires and rates of vegetation change in the Pacific sector of northwestern Patagonia (40°-44°S) over the last ∼18,000 years. Macroscopic Charcoal Accumulation Rates (CHAR), a proxy of past local fires, shows a geographic variation that mirrors the modern north-to-south and low-to-high elevation increase in annual precipitation and decrease in precipitation seasonality, and the frequency of explosive volcanic events. Variability in past fires is evident at multiple timescales, with a significant multi-millennial low between ∼18–13.1 ka, an abrupt rise between ∼13.1–12.5 ka, and heightened fire activity between ∼11.4–8.2 ka with significant high values between ∼10–9.4 ka. A subsequent decline led to the lowest Holocene values between ∼6–5.4 ka, which rose and led to significant high values between ∼3.1 ka and the present. Andean and Western Upwind Environments share a multi-millennial structure of fire activity since ∼18 ka, overprinted by millennial and centennial-scale divergences. These differences underscore the role of explosive volcanism as a trigger or modulator of fire activity in the vicinity of Andean eruptive centers. We posit that fire activity in Western Upwind Environments was driven primarily by hydroclimate variations, namely changes in the intensity of the Southern Westerly Winds. Compilations of CHAR and the Rates of Change (ROC) parameter, a measure of the magnitude and rapidity of changes in the pollen records, covary during the onset of the interglacial fire regime at ∼13.1 ka and the last ∼4000 years, suggesting that fires catalyzed vegetation changes during specific intervals since the last glaciation. Highly mobile human occupations deployed along the coasts started at ∼6.2 ka, increased in pulses, and spread widely during the last two millennia. Covariation with CHAR and ROC since ∼4 ka suggests that hunter-gatherer-fishers contributed to enhanced fire activity and abrupt vegetation changes at regional scale. The ubiquitous fire maximum over the last four centuries relates to widespread settlement and associated large-scale land clearance conducted by European/Chilean settlers. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Multiproxy Approach to Reconstruct the Fire History of Araucaria araucana Forests in the Nahuelbuta Coastal Range, Chile | Forests | Muñoz, A.; González, M.; Schneider-Valenzuela, I.; Klock-Barría, K.; Madariaga-Burgos, M.; Rodríguez, C.; Abarzúa, A.; Solari, M.; Martel-Cea, A.; Velásquez, B.; Paredes, B.; Guerrero, F.; Montiel, M.; Tapia-Marzán, V.; Riquelme, T.; Sheppard, P. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.3390/f14061082 | https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061082 | art1082 | Vol: 14 Issue: 6 | 19994907 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Multiproxy reconstructions of fire regimes in forest ecosystems can provide a clearer understanding of past fire activity and circumvent some limitations of single proxy reconstructions. While inferring fire history from scars in trees is the most precise method to reconstruct temporal fire patterns, this method is limited in Araucaria araucana forests by rot after fire injuries, successive fires that destroy the evidence and the prohibition of sample extraction from living Araucaria trees. In this context, dendrochemical studies in Araucaria trees and charcoal analysis from sediment cores can complement and extend the time perspective of the fire history in the relictual Araucaria-Nothofagus forests of the coastal range. We used dendrochemical, fire scar and charcoal records from the Nahuelbuta Coastal Range (37.8° S; 73° W) spanning the last 1000 years to reconstruct the fire history. The results indicate that periods with higher fire activity occurred between 1400 and 1650 AD. Long-term changes in the fire regime are related to increased climate variability over the last 1000 years, and especially with the arrival of settlers to the area after 1860 CE. The most severe fire events in the Nothofagus and Araucaria forests occurred when suitable fire-prone conditions were superimposed with high human densities. © 2023 by the authors. |
| New Observations of the Meteorological Conditions Associated with Particulate Matter Air Pollution Episodes in Santiago, Chile | Atmosphere | Muñoz-M, R.; Garreaud, R.; Rutllant, J.; Seguel, R.; Corral, M. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Ciudades Resilientes | 10.3390/atmos14091454 | https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14091454 | art1454 | Vol: 14 Issue: 9 | 20734433 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | The meteorological factors of the severe wintertime particulate matter (PM) air pollution problem of the city of Santiago, Chile, are investigated with newly available observations, including a 30 m tower measuring near-surface stability, winds and turbulence, as well as lower-tropospheric vertical profiles of temperature and winds measured by commercial airplanes operating from the Santiago airport (AMDAR database). Focusing on the cold season of the years 2017–2019, high-PM days are defined using an index of evening concentrations measured in the western part of the city. The diurnal cycles of the different meteorological variables computed over 25 PM episodes are compared against the overall diurnal cycles. PM episodes are associated with enhanced surface stability and weaker surface winds and turbulence during the evening and night. AMDAR vertical profiles of temperature and winds during episodes reveal a substantial lower-tropospheric warming attributed to enhanced regional subsidence, which is consistent with the shallower daytime boundary layer depth and the increased surface thermal amplitude observed during these days. An explanation for the weak surface winds during PM episodes was not evident, considering that these are clear days that would strengthen the local valley wind system. Two possible mechanisms are put forward to resolve this issue, which can be tested in the future using high-resolution numerical modeling validated with the new data described here. © 2023 by the authors. |
| Sources of Air Pollution Health Impacts and Co-Benefits of Carbon Neutrality in Santiago, Chile | Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres | Nawaz, M.; Henze, D.; Huneeus, N.; Osses, M.; Álamos, N.; Opazo, M.; Gallardo, L. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1029/2023JD038808 | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD038808 | arte2023JD038808 | Vol: 128 Issue: 19 | 2169897X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | The population of Santiago, Chile, experiences air pollution above global health guidelines that is attributable in part to large anthropogenic emissions. This is compounded by geographic features and meteorological conditions that are prone to pollution accumulation as well as secondary pollution production. In recent years, there have been improvements in air quality; however, the future of air pollution in Santiago remains unclear due to its growing population and increased vehicle use. Mitigation efforts can be supported by characterizing sources of air pollution and estimating how changes in emissions could affect air quality in future years. In this study, we conduct simulations using a chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) and perform adjoint calculations to characterize the relationship between health impacts associated with exposure to PM2.5, O3, and NO2 and anthropogenic emissions. We incorporate model updates in a new nested domain simulation over Central South America including local and regional anthropogenic emissions inventories for Chile. We estimate that 2,490 (1,360, 4,060) PM2.5- and O3-related premature deaths and 5,350 (1,320, 11,330) NO2-related new pediatric asthma cases were associated with pollution exposure in Santiago in 2015 and that a majority of these health impacts were attributable to anthropogenic emissions. We identify emissions from transportation, energy generation, and residential combustion as the leading contributors to these health impacts. Additionally, we estimate that Chile's commitment to attain carbon neutrality by 2050 could result in benefits in Santiago of 3,230 (1,240, 7,160) avoided deaths and 2,590 (640, 5,500) avoided pediatric asthma cases in 2050 compared to business-as-usual emissions. © 2023. The Authors. |
| The international and historical dimensions of Chilean water bureaucracy | Water International | Nicolas-Artero, C. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1080/02508060.2023.2220512 | https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2023.2220512 | 480-499 | Vol: 48 Issue: 4 | 02508060 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | This article explores the global dimension of Chilean water bureaucracy through the lens of its peripheral global position. The study relies on historical sources and identifies three periods. The first period extends from the end of World War II to the 1973 military coup. During this time, the establishment of water policies, influenced by multilateral and direct US aid, resulted in the formation of a water bureaucracy. US influence persisted during the dictatorship (1973-1990) due to support for the military junta. Since the transition to democracy, the water bureaucracy has relied on foreign capital to implement various water policies. © 2023 International Water Resources Association. | |
| Irrigated systems in Chile: towards the end of water turns?; [Les systèmes irrigués au Chili: vers la fin des tours d'eau ?] | Cahiers Agricultures | Nicolas-Artero, C. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1051/cagri/2023021 | https://doi.org/10.1051/cagri/2023021 | art29 | Vol: 32 | 11667699 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | This paper studies the transformation of irrigated systems in the semi-arid Elqui Valley in Chile. We use the notion of hydrosocial territory to analyze the effects of new hydraulic infrastructures on irrigation practices and institutional water rules. The methodology is based on the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. The installation of new infrastructures associated with the rise of commercial agriculture, financed by the State, leads to a gradual abandonment of canals and water turns and disintegrates the collective decision-making process within the irrigators'associations. © C.N. Nicolas-Artero, Hosted by EDP Sciences 2023. |
| Mapa normativo de la Gobernanza de los Elementos | Nicolas-Artero, C.; Maillet, A.; Burotto, I.; Barrantes, G.; Hasbún, M.; Moraga, P.; Munoz, F.; Núñez, I.; Torres, B.; Venegas, S. | 2023 | 10.17605/OSF.IO/JFQ8N | https://osf.io/jfq8n/ | DOI.org (Datacite) | Spanish | El Mapa Normativo de la Gobernanza Climática de los Elementos (en Chile), que sigue al Informe a las Naciones "Gobernanza Climática de los Elementos" publicado en 2021, tiene como objetivo compilar las normativas existentes —incluyendo textos legales y reglamentarios— que influyen en la gobernanza de los cuatro elementos: agua, aire, tierra y fuego. Este mapa se presenta como una herramienta diseñada para facilitar la identificación de las normativas pertinentes en el contexto chileno, así como de los actores clave que las regulan y las acciones específicas que abordan los desafíos y problemas socioambientales en distintas escalas: nacional, regional, comunal e internacional. El Mapa normativo parte del postulado de que todo problema socioambiental está producido por una falla o insuficiencia del marco normativo vigente y/o su implementación. Para cada desafío o problema socioambiental identificado, se asocia una acción específica que se rige por una normativa existente. Al hacer esta relación entre el problema, la acción y la normativa, se configura un marco de referencia legal. Este marco no solo es específico, al centrarse en una acción concreta, sino también regulado, al fundamentarse en leyes o reglamentos vigentes. Este enfoque optimiza la toma de decisiones y la implementación de políticas, proporcionando un punto de partida claro y legalmente respaldado para abordar el problema de manera más eficaz, tanto para responsables de toma de decisiones como para defensores del medio ambiente y público en general. Además, se identificaron “leyes transversales” que, si bien no definen o regulan explícitamente los problemas ambientales, resultan importantes para interpretar la Ley de Gobierno y Administración Regional y la Ley Orgánica de Municipalidades. | ||||||
| Population dynamics shifts by climate change: High-resolution future mid-century trends for South America | Global and Planetary Change | Nuñez-Hidalgo, I.; Meseguer-Ruiz, O.; Serrano-Notivoli, R.; Sarricolea, P. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2023.104155 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2023.104155 | art104155 | Vol: 226 | 09218181 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Population dynamics and climate change are the main challenges for the 21st century, especially in South America. Human populations will increase their exposure to novel climatic conditions in their territories, entangling and complicating health and social problems. We analyze how socioeconomic and climatic future pathways will evolve in South America, a land with high climatic and social heterogeneity. We use the Köppen–Geiger climate classification, population growth, and climate projections for the most likely climate change scenarios for the 2050s based on the CHELSA dataset. We found that tropical and arid climates extend between 4.2%–2.5% and 2.6%–3.9%, replacing temperate climate zones, which will be reduced between 5.3%–4.5% for the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 respectively. This implies a reduction of the Mediterranean, oceanic and polar climates. Population growth shows a significant relationship to increasing tropical and arid climates extension in almost all countries, meaning a higher exposure to more severe conditions for humans. This work opens up the chance of using possible guidelines to assist environmental management with key background information on expected climate types and population changes and address the potential effects of climate change on human settlements in the near future. © 2023 Elsevier B.V. | |
| Building back better in Latin America: examining the sustainability of COVID-19 recovery and development programs | Global Sustainability | O Ryan, R.; Villavicencio, A.; Gajardo, J.; Ulloa, A.; Ibarra, C.; Rojas, M. | 2023 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política; l | 10.1017/sus.2023.7 | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479823000078/type/journal_article | e12 | Vol: 6 | 2059-4798 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Non-technical summary The significant outlays by countries in the Global South to recover from the COVID-19 crisis could have been an opportunity to build back better, advancing both a green recovery and addressing pressing social problems, thus advancing sustainability. To examine if this was the case, in this paper we analyze the expected impacts of recovery initiatives in five Latin American countries. Our results show that these programs do not support the possibility of building back better, weakly impacting 12 dimensions related to sustainability. We also propose a methodology to improve how sustainability concerns can be included in future choice of projects. Technical summary It has been argued that the significant outlays by governments across the world required to recover from the COVID-19 crisis can be an opportunity to build back better, that is, advance toward greener societies. In the Global South, which suffered acute social, economic and environmental problems prior to this health crisis, recovery initiatives would be best suited to focus on sustainable economic recovery which – along with the environmental concerns of a green recovery – could address pressing local problems. To this end, we analyzed the expected impacts of recovery initiatives in five Latin American countries on each of 71 sustainability criteria. These criteria are based on the UN sustainable development goals and other relevant literature related to sustainable development. Using principal component analysis, criteria are grouped into 12 dimensions. Our results show that recovery programs examined do not take advantage of the possibility of building back better, and many relevant dimensions related to a sustainable recovery are only weakly considered. Our methodology provides a step forward toward supporting governments in their efforts to identify better policies and investment projects and consequently put together packages of initiatives that advance on sustainability, green recovery or other long-term goals they may have. Social media summary Methodology to analyze COVID-19 recovery packages shows small impact on sustainability in five Latin American countries. |
| Assessment of the potential impacts of a carbon tax in Chile using dynamic CGE model | Journal of Cleaner Production | O'Ryan, R.; Nasirov, S.; Osorio, H. | 2023 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136694 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136694 | art: 136694 | Vol: 403 | 0959-6526 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Carbon taxes have been proposed as a major instrument to mitigate carbon emissions and promote an energy transition to low carbon sources. However, its adoption remains politically challenging, particularly amid rising inflation and energy prices. Despite the need for more aggressive action on carbon mitigation to reach the Paris Agreement goals, few countries in Latin America have adopted carbon taxes and the tax levels are relatively low. A key concern for these countries, is to adequately assess the tradeoffs between stricter emission goals and the potential negative economy wide as well as sectoral and distributive impacts. In this context, in this paper we first propose a step by step approach to enhance an existing dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model for Chile based on OECD's Green model. The contribution of this research is twofold. Firstly, emission factors are estimated and the development of the electricity sector is aligned with the expectations of decision makers. As a result, credible emission and energy sector development forecasts are generated by the model, that are in line with what policymakers expect to happen based on other bottom-up engineering models. Secondly, this baseline is then used in the CGE model to examine the use of a carbon tax to reach Chile's first Nationally Determined Contribution. The required tax level is determined together with CO2 emissions and the economywide, sectoral and distributive impacts. The results allow concluding about the applicability of carbon taxes and possible complementary measures. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Spatial analysis of paleoclimate variations based on proxy records in the south-central Andes (18°- 35° S) from 32 to 4 ka | Quaternary Science Reviews | Orellana, H.; Latorre, C.; García, J.; Lambert, F. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108174 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108174 | art108174 | Vol: 313 | 02773791 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The long-term climate dynamics of the central Andes are part of an ongoing international research effort to reconstruct past climatic variations and sensitivity to different regional and global drivers during the last 50,000 years. The large number of diverse records, however, makes it difficult to compare results without an integrated spatial analysis that considers the nature of the record and whether they are integrating environmental conditions across a large basin (i.e., a lake record) or at a very local scale (such as a rodent midden). We compiled 92 records from the southern sector of the central Andes (SCA, 18°-35°S). Recalibrated records were further compared by converting the original author's interpretation into a scale of relative moisture anomalies (compared to the present) that ranges from −2 (very dry) to very wet (+2). Moisture anomaly maps were generated for intervals at 4, 6, 9.5, 14, 17, 21 and 32 ka BP (103 calibrated 14C years before present) using records within a 5% age uncertainty. Our compilations show a surprising degree of agreement in the extent and magnitude of past climate changes during late Pleistocene, but less spatial agreement during the Holocene. The TRACE21 transient climate model shows similar results, with better agreement during the Pleistocene compared to the Holocene. Our analyses not only reveal discrepancies between proxy record interpretations at sites from the same region but show which regions in the SCA require more study. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Two Congeneric Shrubs from the Atacama Desert Show Different Physiological Strategies That Improve Water Use Efficiency under a Simulated Heat Wave | Plants | Ostria-Gallardo, E.; Zúñiga-Contreras, E.; Carvajal, D.; de La Peña, T.; Gianoli, E.; Bascuñán-Godoy, L. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.3390/plants12132464 | https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132464 | art2464 | Vol: 12 Issue: 13 | 22237747 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Desert shrubs are keystone species for plant diversity and ecosystem function. Atriplex clivicola and Atriplex deserticola (Amaranthaceae) are native shrubs from the Atacama Desert that show contrasting altitudinal distribution (A. clivicola: 0–700 m.a.s.l.; A. deserticola: 1500–3000 m.a.s.l.). Both species possess a C4 photosynthetic pathway and Kranz anatomy, traits adaptive to high temperatures. Historical records and projections for the near future show trends in increasing air temperature and frequency of heat wave events in these species’ habitats. Besides sharing a C4 pathway, it is not clear how their leaf-level physiological traits associated with photosynthesis and water relations respond to heat stress. We studied their physiological traits (gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, water status) before and after a simulated heat wave (HW). Both species enhanced their intrinsic water use efficiency after HW but via different mechanisms. A. clivicola, which has a higher LMA than A. deserticola, enhances water saving by closing stomata and maintaining RWC (%) and leaf Ψmd potential at similar values to those measured before HW. After HW, A. deserticola showed an increase of Amax without concurrent changes in gs and a significant reduction of RWC and Ψmd. A. deserticola showed higher values of Chla fluorescence after HW. Thus, under heat stress, A. clivicola maximizes water saving, whilst A. deserticola enhances its photosynthetic performance. These contrasting (eco)physiological strategies are consistent with the adaptation of each species to their local environmental conditions at different altitudes. © 2023 by the authors. |
| Prokaryotic community dynamics and nitrogen-cycling genes in an oxygen-deficient upwelling system during La Niña and El Niño conditions | Environmental Microbiology | Pajares, S.; Merino-Ibarra, M.; Farías, L. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1111/1462-2920.16362 | https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16362 | 1281-1299 | Vol: 25 | 1462-2912 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | Dissolved oxygen regulates microbial distribution and nitrogen cycling and, therefore, ocean productivity and Earth's climate. To date, the assembly of microbial communities in relation to oceanographic changes due to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remains poorly understood in oxygen minimum zones (OMZ). The Mexican Pacific upwelling system supports high productivity and a permanent OMZ. Here, the spatiotemporal distribution of the prokaryotic community and nitrogen-cycling genes was investigated along a repeated transect subjected to varying oceanographic conditions associated with La Niña in 2018 and El Niño in 2019. The community was more diverse during La Niña and in the aphotic OMZ, dominated by the Subtropical Subsurface water mass, where the highest abundances of nitrogen-cycling genes were found. The largest proportion of the Gulf of California water mass during El Niño provided warmer, more oxygenated, and nutrient-poor waters towards the coast, leading to a significant increase of Synechococcus in the euphotic layer compared with the opposite conditions during La Niña. These findings suggest that prokaryotic assemblages and nitrogen genes are linked to local physicochemical conditions (e.g. light, oxygen, nutrients), but also to oceanographic fluctuations associated with ENSO phases, indicating the crucial role of climate variability in microbial community dynamics in this OMZ. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Microbiology published by Applied Microbiology International and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
| Hydrological connections in a glaciated Andean catchment under permafrost conditions (33°S) | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies | Pereira, S.; Díez, B.; Cifuentes-Anticevic, J.; Leray, S.; Fernandoy, F.; Marquardt, C.; Lambert, F. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes; Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.ejrh.2022.101311 | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221458182200324X | 101311 | Vol: 45 | 22145818 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Fresh water supply is critical along the Andes, where drought conditions over the past decade are projected to persist. At high Andean headwater catchments, frozen ground conditions are assumed to modulate groundwater flow paths and their hydrological signals at different timescales. However, knowledge of hydrological connections in subtropical Andean catchments is still very sparse. This study assessed hydrological connections and their impacts on groundwater contribution to baseflow in a headwater proglacial aquifer located in central Chile at 33° S and 3600 m a.s.l. We collected and analyzed snow, glacial stream, and groundwater spring water samples between 2019 and 2021. We combined of water isotope and metagenomic proxies with the hydraulic parameterization of the catchment to deliver mean transit time distributions through the proglacial aquifer. The new hydrological insights for the region include the finding that groundwater spring signals delivered sub-decadal transit times, implying likely origins from glacial or interstitial ice. Additionally, the stable isotope signature showed that groundwater consistently differs from snow and surface runoff. The 16S rRNA metabarcoding analyses demonstrated the presence of psychrophilic microorganisms in groundwater springs, supporting the idea of a late warm-season activation of interstitial ice due to thawing events associated with a differential relative-abundance of specific cryophilic bacteria. Finally, our results suggest hydrological connections and dampening timeframes between glaciers, proglacial areas, and groundwater springs, most likely from thawing sources. © 2023 The Authors |
| Warming and Drought Weaken the Carbon Sink Capacity of an Endangered Paleoendemic Temperate Rainforest in South America | Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences | Perez-Quezada, J.; Barichivich, J.; Urrutia-Jalabert, R.; Carrasco, E.; Aguilera, D.; Bacour, C.; Lara, A. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1029/2022JG007258 | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG007258 | art: e2022JG007258 | Vol: 128 Issue: 4 | 2169-8953 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Measurements of ecosystem carbon (C) fluxes in temperate forests are concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere, leaving the functionally diverse temperate forests in the Southern Hemisphere underrepresented. Here, we report 3 years (February 2018 to January 2021) of C fluxes, studied with eddy-covariance and closed chamber techniques, in an endangered temperate evergreen rainforest of the long-lived paleoendemic South American conifer Fitzroya cupressoides. Using classification and regression trees, we analyzed the most relevant drivers and thresholds of daily net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and soil respiration. The annual NEE showed that the forest was a moderate C sink during the period analyzed (−287 ± 38 g C m−2 year −1). We found that the capacity to capture C of the Fitzroya rainforests in the Coastal Range of southern Chile is optimal under cool and rainy conditions in the early austral spring (October–November) and decreases rapidly toward the summer dry season (January–February) and autumn. Although the studied forest type has a narrow geographical coverage, the gross primary productivity measured at the tower was highly representative of Fitzroya and other rainforests in the region. Our results suggest that C fluxes in paleoendemic cool F. cupressoides forests may be negatively affected by the warming and drying predicted by climate change models, reinforcing the importance of maintaining this and other long-term ecological research sites in the Southern Hemisphere. © 2023. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. |
| How much carbon is stored in the terrestrial ecosystems of the Chilean Patagonia? | Austral Ecology | Perez-Quezada, J.; Moncada, M.; Barrales, P.; Urrutia-Jalabert, R.; Pfeiffer, M.; Herrera, A.; Sagardía, R. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1111/aec.13331 | https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13331 | 893-903 | Vol: 48 | 1442-9985 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We estimated the amount of carbon (C) stored in terrestrial ecosystems of the Chilean Patagonia and the proportion within protected areas. We used existing public databases that provide information on C stocks in biomass and soils. Data were analysed by ecosystem and forest type in the case of native forests. Our results show that some ecosystems have been more extensively studied both for their stocks in biomass and soils (e.g. forests) compared with others (e.g. shrublands). Forests and peatlands store the largest amount of C because of their large stocks per hectare and the large area they cover. The total amount of C stored per unit area varies from 261.7 to 432.8 Mg C ha−1, depending on the published value used for soil organic C stocks in peatlands, highlighting the need to have more precise estimates of the C stored in this and other ecosystems. The mean stock in national parks (508 Mg C ha−1) is almost twice the amount stored in undisturbed forests in the Amazon. State and private protected areas contain 58.9% and 2.1% of the C stock, respectively, playing a key role in protecting ecosystems in this once pristine area. © 2023 Ecological Society of Australia. | |
| On the interpretation of changes in the subtropical oxygen minimum zone volume off Chile during two La Niña events (2001 and 2007) | Frontiers in Marine Science | Pizarro-Koch, M.; Pizarro, O.; Dewitte, B.; Montes, I.; Paulmier, A.; Garçon, V.; Sepulveda, H.; Corredor-Acosta, A.; Aguirre, C.; Ramos, M. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3389/fmars.2023.1155932 | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12816/5436 | art1155932 | Vol: 10 | 22967745 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) are extended oceanic regions for which dissolved oxygen concentration is extremely low. They are suspected to be expanding in response to global warming. However, currently, the mechanisms by which OMZ varies in response to climate variability are still uncertain. Here, the variability of the subtropical OMZ off central Chile of a regional coupled physical–biogeochemical regional model simulation was analyzed for the period 2000–2008, noting that its fluctuations were significant despite the relatively weak amplitude of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In particular, the interannual variability in the OMZ volume (OMZVOL, defined as the volume with dissolved oxygen concentration (DO) ≤ 45μM) was approximately 38% larger than that of the seasonal cycle, with maximum and minimum anomalies of OMZVOL taking place during two cold La Niña (LN) years (2001 and 2007). The model analyses further reveal that these anomalies resulted from a combined effect of changes in (1) the oxygen-poor waters poleward transport by the Peru–Chile undercurrent (PCUC), (2) the intensity of quasi-zonal jets influencing the transport of water to and from the OMZ, and (3) the zonal DO transport related to mesoscale eddy activity. Specifically, the interannual variability of the PCUC modulated primarily the DO contents of the OMZ core [(DO) ≤ 20μM] and secondarily the OMZVOL, while cross-shore DO transport by the zonal jets and the eddy fluxes played a major role in ventilating and shaping the offshore extent of the OMZ. When the OMZVOL was maximum (minimum), the PCUC transport was slightly increased (reduced), which was associated with a reduction (increase) in the ventilation of the OMZ through negative (positive) anomalies of zonal advection and DO eddy fluxes. Our results demonstrate that significant natural interannual variability in the subtropical OMZ off Chile originates from the interplay between oceanic equatorial teleconnection (PCUC transport) and local non-linear dynamics (the zonal jets and mesoscale eddies). Copyright © 2023 Pizarro-Koch, Pizarro, Dewitte, Montes, Paulmier, Garçon, Sepulveda, Corredor-Acosta, Aguirre and Ramos. |
| Poor communication jeopardizes biodiversity | Conservation Biology | Pérez-Gómez, Á.; Repeto-Deudero, I.; Ojeda, F.; Gómez-González, S. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1111/cobi.14181 | https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14181 | e14181 | Vol: 37 | 08888892 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | ||
| 1st Conference on the Herriza: Values and threats of a forgotten habitat; [I Jornada sobre la Herriza: Valores y amenazas de un hábitat olvidado] | Ecosistemas | Repeto-Deudero, I.; Gómez, Á.; González, S.; Copete, F. | 2023 | ; C; S; U; a; b; d; e; i; l; m; o; s; u | 10.7818/ECOS.2569 | https://doi.org/10.7818/ECOS.2569 | art2569 | Vol: 32 Issue: 2 | 16972473 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | Spanish | |
| Specialization patterns in symbiotic associations: A community perspective over spatial scales | Ecology and Evolution | Rodríguez-Arribas, C.; Martínez, I.; Aragón, G.; Zamorano-Elgueta, C.; Cavieres, L.; Prieto, M. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1002/ece3.10296 | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10296 | arte10296 | Vol: 13 Issue: 7 | 20457758 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Specialization, contextualized in a resource axis of an organism niche, is a core concept in ecology. In biotic interactions, specialization can be determined by the range of interacting partners. Evolutionary and ecological factors, in combination with the surveyed scale (spatial, temporal, biological, and/or taxonomic), influence the conception of specialization. This study aimed to assess the specialization patterns and drivers in the lichen symbiosis, considering the interaction between the principal fungus (mycobiont) and the associated Nostoc (cyanobiont), from a community perspective considering different spatial scales. Thus, we determined Nostoc phylogroup richness and composition of lichen communities in 11 Nothofagus pumilio forests across a wide latitudinal gradient in Chile. To measure specialization, cyanobiont richness, Simpson's and d′ indices were estimated for 37 mycobiont species in these communities. Potential drivers that might shape Nostoc composition and specialization measures along the environmental gradient were analysed. Limitations in lichen distributional ranges due to the availability of their cyanobionts were studied. Turnover patterns of cyanobionts were identified at multiple spatial scales. The results showed that environmental factors shaped the Nostoc composition of these communities, thus limiting cyanobiont availability to establish the symbiotic association. Besides, specialization changed with the spatial scale and with the metric considered. Cyanolichens were more specialized than cephalolichens when considering partner richness and Simpson's index, whereas the d′ index was mostly explained by mycobiont identity. Little evidence of lichen distributional ranges due to the distribution of their cyanobionts was found. Thus, lichens with broad distributional ranges either associated with several cyanobionts or with widely distributed cyanobionts. Comparisons between local and regional scales showed a decreasing degree of specialization at larger scales due to an increase in cyanobiont richness. The results support the context dependency of specialization and how its consideration changes with the metric and the spatial scale considered. Subsequently, we suggest considering the entire community and widening the spatial scale studied as it is crucial to understand factors determining specialization. © 2023 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
| Road transport exhaust emissions in Colombia. 1990–2020 trends and spatial disaggregation | Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment | Rojas, N.; Mangones, S.; Osses, M.; Granier, C.; Laengle, I.; Alfonso A., J.; Mendez, J. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.trd.2023.103780 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2023.103780 | 103780 | Vol: 121 | 13619209 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | All Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Road traffic-related air pollution costs society in terms of lost lives, health problems, and financial damages. For directing regulatory actions and enhancing air quality, governments require emission inventories and trends over time across all geographic areas. This study provides a high-resolution spatially disaggregated on-road transportation emissions inventory in Colombia from 1990 to 2020. Our estimates followed a top-down approach that accounted for local characteristics such as fleet technology, fuel consumption, road infrastructure, and activity factors at a national and state level. We report annual CO2, CH4, NOx, VOCs, PM2,5, and black carbon at a spatial resolution of 0.01° x 0.01°. Economic crises (1998–2001), stringent emission requirements (2011), and the most recent sanitary quarantine (2020) all have an impact on emissions patterns, which grow at a slower rate than vehicle activity. For the annual emissions of CH4, CO, and PM2.5, the growth of motorbikes in the vehicle fleet is particularly crucial. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd |
| Land-use change and windstorms legacies drove the recolonization dynamics of laurel forests in Tenerife, Canary islands | Forest Ecosystems | Rozas, V.; García-López, M.; Olano, J.; Sangüesa-Barreda, G.; García-Hidalgo, M.; Gómez-González, S.; López-Rubio, R.; Fernández-Palacios, J.; García-González, I.; Lozano-López, L.; García-González, P.; García-Cervigón, A. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.fecs.2023.100098 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fecs.2023.100098 | art: 100098 | Vol: 10 | 2095-6355 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Laurel forests are quite relevant for biodiversity conservation and are among the island ecosystems most severely damaged by human activities. In the past, Canary laurel forests have been greatly altered by logging, livestock and agriculture. The remains of laurel forests are currently protected in the Canary Islands (Spain). However, we miss basic information needed for their restoration and adaptive management, such as tree longevity, growth potential and responsiveness to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Using dendrochronological methods, we studied how forest dynamic is related to land-use change and windstorms in two well-preserved laurel forests on Tenerife Island. Wood cores were collected from over 80 trees per stand at three stands per forest. We used ring-width series to estimate tree ages and calculate annual basal area increments (BAI), cumulative diameter increases, and changes indicative of released and suppressed growth. Twelve tree species were found in all stands, with Laurus novocanariensis, Ilex canariensis and Morella faya being the most common species. Although some individuals were over 100 years old, 61.8%–88.9% of the trees per stand established between 1940 and 1970, coinciding with a post-war period of land abandonment, rural exodus and the onset of a tourism economy. Some trees have shown growth rates larger than 1 cm diameter per year and most species have had increasing BAI trends over the past decades. Strong growth releases occurred after windstorms at both sites, but the effects of windstorms were site-dependent, with the 1958 storm affecting mainly the eastern tip of the island (Anaga massif) and the 1991 storm the western tip (Teno massif). Given the great ability of laurel forest trees to establish after land use cessation and to increase growth after local disturbances such as windstorms, passive restoration may be sufficient to regenerate this habitat in currently degraded areas. © 2023 The Authors |
| The role of atmospheric rivers in rainfall-induced landslides: A study from the Elqui valley | Journal of Arid Environments | Rutllant, J.; Matus, F.; Rudloff, V.; Rondanelli, R. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2023.105016 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2023.105016 | 105016 | Vol: 216 | 01401963 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | The purpose of the present study is to explore the synoptic-scale atmospheric circulation and water vapor transport that contribute to triggering landslides in the mid-Elqui basin (30°S, 70.5°W) since the early 20th century. A total of 12 storms during the modern period (1957–2017) were identified from various sources and analyzed using ERA5 Reanalysis data. An additional set of eight storms was included and characterized using 20th Century Reanalysis data. The results reveal that high-amplitude, deep troughs extending into the subtropics off the west coast of South America are ubiquitous in these storms. Maximum integrated water vapor transport from the northwest (NW) or west-northwest (WNW) was observed on the coast (25–30°S), with values sometimes exceeding 300 kg s-1 m-1, often reaching more than five standard deviations above the mean. Atmospheric rivers near the study region were found to be involved in all 12 modern landslide-producing storms. Moreover, most storms occur during the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and/or phases 7–8–1 of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO). Backward-trajectory analyses indicate that in all but one of the modern storms, water vapor transport originated in the Central Tropical Pacific, where ocean warming characterizes the convective phases of ENSO and/or MJO. © 2023 The Authors |
| Información científica clave para la gestión y conservación del ecosistema biocultural del Pewén en Chile y Argentina | Bosque (Valdivia) | Sanguinetti, J.; Ditgen, R.; Donoso-Calderón, S.; Hadad, M.; Gallo, L.; González, M.; Ibarra, J.; Ladio, A.; Lambertucci, S.; Marchelli, P.; Mundo, I.; Nuñez, M.; Pauchard, A.; Puchi, P.; Relva, M.; Skewes, O.; Shepherd, J.; Speziale, K.; Vélez, M.; Salgado-Salomón, M.; Zamorano-Elgueta, C. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.4067/s0717-92002023000100179 | https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-92002023000100179 | 179-190 | Vol: 44 Issue: 1 | 0717-9200 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | The forest of Araucaria araucana (“pewen” in Mapuche language), with its associated species of the genus Nothofagus, is unique from an evolutionary, biological and sociocultural point of view. Due to the interdependence and interrelation with the Mapuche-Pewenche people, it is considered a biocultural ecosystem. This work is a comprehensive binational review of current scientific information applicable to its management and conservation. The scientific community contributed with significant advances in the knowledge of: a) the interrelationships within and significance of this biocultural ecosystem; b) the regional genetic diversity; c) the fire regimen, its main drivers, its role in forest dynamics, and the recovery capacity of biodiversity in the face of different burn severities; d) the ecological role of seed production and its unusual interactions with granivorous fauna and cavity nesters; e) the decline and death of the canopy, due to environmental stress and the emergence of new pewen pathogens; f) the consequences of the invasion of pines and exotic mammals that alter the biological interactions and the original ecological processes, and g) the effects of cattle ranching and overexploitation of firewood and pine nuts on ecological integrity and biodiversity. This knowledge is considered essential to strengthen policies and strategies for protection, conservation, and management of this ecosystem, which is endemic, rare, regionally threatened, and globally declared endangered. Considering the identified problems, it is imperative to achieve social empowerment of the Mapuche-Pehuenche people, intercultural respect, and enforcing public policies for the conservation and sustainable use of these forests. © 2023, Universidad Austral de Chile. All rights reserved. |
| Explorando diferencias entre hombres y mujeres en las respuestas emocionales al cambio climático en Chile | Psicologías | Sapiains, R.; Bro, A.; Ugarte, A.; Inostroza, V.; Urquiza, A.; Zuleta, P. | 2023 | https://revistas.upr.edu/index.php/psicologias/article/view/20982 | 24-57 | Vol: 6 | 1948-559X | Latindex | Spanish | Understanding how different segments of society perceive and respond to climate change is key for determining effective interventions and policies aimed at building adaptive capacity. In this study, we use a sex perspective to explore the differences in emotional responses and levels of concern about climate change between men and women in Chile. Using data from a national survey on climate change (n=2170), applied in all regions, six hypotheses were tested. We find that women expressed more concern about climate change than men and more fear and sadness than men. Conversely, men expressed more pessimism than women. Also, individuals with children were more concerned about climate change than those without children. These findings highlight the importance of delving into the association between emotions and responses to climate change in Chile and Latin America. Finally, its implications for increasing people’s participation in climate action are discussed. | |||
| Policy brief | Movilidad humana en contexto de cambio climático y desastres socionaturales: Los casos de la provincia de Petorca y un macro-campamento de Antofagasta | Sapiains, R.; Castillo, C. | 2023 | https://www.cr2.cl/policy-brief-movilidad-humana-en-contexto-de-cambio-climatico-y-desastres-socionaturales-los-casos-de-la-provincia-de-petorca-y-un-macro-campamento-de-antofagasta/ | 5 | cr2.cl | ||||||||
| Precipitation extremes in the Puna of Atacama Desert, Chile: How to manage current and future uncertainty?; [Precipitación extrema en la Puna del Desierto de Atacama: ¿Cómo gestionar la incertidumbre actual y futura?] | Investigaciones Geograficas (Spain) | Sarricolea, P.; Romero-Aravena, H.; Serrano-Notivoli, R.; Meseguer-Ruiz, O.; Dubreuil, V.; Funatsu, B. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.14198/INGEO.22852 | https://doi.org/10.14198/INGEO.22852 | 51-66 | Vol: - Issue: 79 | 0213-4691 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access | English | Chile is one of the Latin American countries most affected by Climate Change. There is a high level of uncertainty regarding the variability of precipitation and its projections in many regions of this country. This poses challenges for climate characterization and for defining strategies to reduce its risks. The study area is the Puna of Atacama Desert, Andean highlands located to the eastern side of the extreme arid lands, a region that concentrates the main copper and lithium mining at word scale, and where meteorological observations are scarce, with missing data and unreliable projections. Considering this data limitations, a daily precipitation database of 35 weather stations was constructed in order to evaluate some extreme precipitation indices that allow establishing changes between 1981-2017, in addition to spatial interpolations based on topography. It is concluded that most of the meteorological stations do not present significant trends of change, e.g. Extremely wet days (R99p), Wet days (RR) and Consecutive wet days (CWD). The index with the highest number of stations with a trend is CDD, which shows an increase in consecutive dry days. One of the main contributions of this research was to expand the number of observations and to generate maps of the spatial distribution of the indices of extremes. We are facing open questions regarding living with uncertainty, and meeting the challenges of maintaining records to increase the levels of certainty of climatic changes. © Pablo Sarricolea, Hugo Romero, Roberto Serrano-Notivoli, Oliver Meseguer-Ruiz, Vincent Dubreuil, Beatriz M. Funatsu. |
| Soluciones de base Natural (SbN) para conflictos de escasez hídrica en la Ecorregión Mediterránea de Chile | Revista de Geografía Norte Grande | Schneider-Valenzuela, I.; Brito-Escudero, C.; Aguilera-Betti, I.; Klock-Barría, K.; Celis-Diez, J.; Ugalde, A.; Jorquera-Martínez, L.; Venegas-González, A.; Carvallo, G.; Muñoz, A. | 2023 | https://ojs.uc.cl/index.php/RGNG/article/view/29093 | 1-35 | Vol: - Issue: 85 | 0718-3402 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | Spanish | ||||
| Informe de devolución: Estudio de contaminantes atmosféricos, determinantes e impactos en la Bahía de Quintero-Puchuncaví | Seguel, R.; Araya, N.; Alonso, C.; Silva, M.; Vargas, K.; Bozkurt, D.; Opazo, C.; Castillo, L. | 2023 | https://www.cr2.cl/informe-de-devolucion-estudio-de-contaminantes-atmosfericos-determinantes-e-impactos-en-la-bahia-de-quintero-puchuncavi/ | 15 | cr2.cl | La bahía de Quintero-Puchuncaví ha experimentado episodios de emergencia ambiental por décadas. Uno de los más severos provocó 1370 atenciones de urgencia en agosto de 2018. Si bien su causa continua en debate, la presencia de fuentes emisoras de compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COVs) motivaron al Ministerio del Medio Ambiente a elaborar una nueva norma de calidad de aire primaria a nivel nacional que regula de forma específica al benceno. A pesar de su potencial impacto en el medio ambiente y la salud pública, en Chile no hay mediciones sistemáticas de COVs. Durante 2022, el Centro de Ciencia del Clima y la Resiliencia CR2 puso a disposición sus capacidades científicas y tecnológicas para contribuir a la comprensión de los episodios de calidad de aire asociados a COVs en Quintero. Se realizó una campaña de mediciones en enero de 2022, cuyos resultados preliminares fueron presentados a la comunidad de Quintero en octubre del mismo año. La presentación fue acompañada de talleres participativos que permitieron conocer la percepción de los síntomas físicos y emocionales relacionados a la contaminación e identificar mejoras en la gobernanza en materia de calidad de aire. A continuación, se presentan los principales hallazgos y conclusiones de la investigación en un formato breve, directo y sin mayor uso de tecnicismos. Para mayor información sobre la investigación, le invitamos a visitar el sitio web www.cr2.cl/quintero |
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| Volatile organic compounds measured by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry over the complex terrain of Quintero Bay, Central Chile | Environmental Pollution | Seguel, R.; Garreaud, R.; Muñoz, R.; Bozkurt, D.; Gallardo, L.; Opazo, C.; Jorquera, H.; Castillo, L.; Menares, C. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Ciudades Resilientes; Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121759 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121759 | 121759 | Vol: 330 | 02697491 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | This research provides new evidence regarding the different kinds of air quality episodes, and their underlying mechanisms, that frequently impact the urban area of Quintero Bay in Central Chile, which is located along complex coastal terrain and is surrounded by industries. The monitoring campaign was carried out in January 2022 and encompassed two distinctive meteorological regimes. The first part of the month was dominated by a coastal low centered to the south of Quintero, which resulted in prevailing northerly flow (or weak southerlies) and a deep cloud-topped marine boundary layer. After a 2–3-day transition, the latter collapsed, and a clear-sky regime ensued, which was characterized by a shallow boundary layer and strong southerly winds during the daytime that lasted until the end of the campaign. By using proton transfer reaction time of flight mass spectrometry (PTR–TOF–MS) at a high temporal resolution (1 s), we measured high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during air quality episodes in real time. The episodes detected were associated with different prevailing meteorological regimes, suggesting that different point sources were involved. In the first episode, propene/cyclopropane, butenes, benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene/xylenes were associated with north and northwesterly weak winds. Complaints associated with hydrocarbon odor were reported. The pollution originated from industrial and petrochemical units located to the north of Quintero, which transport and store natural gas, liquified petroleum gas and oil. The second episode was linked to an oil refinery located south of our measurement site. In this case, high levels of phenol, furan and cresols occurred under strong southwesterly winds. During this event, headaches and dizziness were reported. By contrast, the levels of other aromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene/xylenes) were lower than in the first air pollution episode. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Unprecedented warmth: A look at Spain's exceptional summer of 2022 | Atmospheric Research | Serrano-Notivoli, R.; Tejedor, E.; Sarricolea, P.; Meseguer-Ruiz, O.; de Luis, M.; Saz, M.; Longares, L.; Olcina, J. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.atmosres.2023.106931 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2023.106931 | art106931 | Vol: 293 | 01698095 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | The warming of the global climate system is expected to result in significant socio-economic stress, primarily through the occurrence of extreme weather and climate events, with the potential for severe impacts on societies. This was evidenced by the vulnerability of European nations during the 2003 summer heatwave, which resulted in the death of tens of thousands of individuals due to heat-related complications. In this analysis, we examine the summer of 2022 in Spain, a Mediterranean country that is among the most impacted by the effects of climate change. A distinct pattern of the subtropical ridge in the 500 hPa geopotential height, which is typically linked to the occurrence of heatwaves in the Iberian Peninsula (IP), and the atmospheric blocking in the North Atlantic region facilitated the southerly flow of exceptionally warm air masses from Africa towards the IP, contributing to the sustained high temperatures throughout the summer season. Our results show that Spain experienced record-breaking temperatures in nearly half of the country that favored more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting heatwaves compared to previous historical records available from 1893. In general, despite normal rainfall conditions, the extremely high temperatures led to intense drought conditions in most areas. Finally, the paleoclimatic records suggest that the average summer temperature of 2022 was unprecedented within the last 700 years, and the driest within the last 279 in NE Spain. These findings highlight the need for measures to mitigate the effects of heat on at-risk populations, and to increase resilience and adaptation to climate change in the future. © 2023 The Authors |
| Climate-sensitive planning. Opportunities through the study of LCZs in Chile | Building and Environment | Smith Guerra, P.; Peralta Trigo, O.; Sarricolea Espinosa, P.; Thomas Cabrera, F.; Meseguer-Ruiz, O. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110444 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110444 | art110444 | Vol: 242 | 03601323 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Urban planning, through urban design and land use allocation, affects urban climate dynamics and patterns at different vertical layers of the urban boundary layer and spatial multiscale. Climate-sensitive urban planning and design draws attention to the consideration of climate parameters and their explanatory factors as a relevant element in decision-making. Local climate zones, defined from urban design variables such as building density and building height, allow for the recognition of homogeneous units useful for directing planning actions that allow cities and their population to adapt their climate behavior. This research compares the meso-scale climatic characteristics of the local climate zones proposed by Stewart and Oke for Chilean large cities located on an extensive latitudinal gradient (roughly 18°S to 45°S), on the coast of Chile and inland. In particular, the relationship between the behavior of surface temperature and vegetation is evaluated through the average Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the decade (2008–2018). The results account for differences in the behavior of surface temperatures between climatic zones. In turn, vegetation is inversely related to the surface temperature, making it possible to distinguish the differences inside the LCZ, it being warmer in areas where the NDVI is lower. © 2023 | |
| Ecosystem services of Chilean sclerophyllous forests and shrublands on the verge of collapse: A review | Journal of Arid Environments | Smith-Ramírez, C.; Grez, A.; Galleguillos, M.; Cerda, C.; Ocampo-Melgar, A.; Miranda, M.; Muñoz, A.; Rendón-Funes, A.; Díaz, I.; Cifuentes, C.; Alaniz, A.; Seguel, O.; Ovalle, J.; Montenegro, G.; Saldes-Cortés, A.; Martínez-Harms, M.; Armesto, J.; Vita, A. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos; Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2022.104927 | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140196322002221 | 104927 | Vol: 211 | 01401963 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Dryland forests are the areas most threatened by climate change, urbanization and land-use change simultaneously. Ecosystem services provided by Mediterranean dryland forests are have been in steep decline, and are extensively studied in the Mediterranean basin, however considerably less in other areas with Mediterranean climates. Knowledge of these services is necessary for the promotion of their conservation and restoration. Here, we synthesize current knowledge regarding the main ecosystem services provided by Chilean Mediterranean sclerophyllous forests and shrublands (SFSh). This knowledge allows for the valuation of SFSh in order to conserve, restore and study them. We found 158 studies, including technical reports, theses, and scientific literature regarding the social and environmental benefits derived from Chilean SFSh, though many did not use the term “ecosystem services” (ES). We found data on 19 ecosystem services with four or more studies per service. ES studies in Chile increased in number a couple years after Millennium Ecosystem Assessment published its synthesis in 2005. The most frequently reported services were provisioning services, especially medicinal plants and extracts. Despite the advances in knowledge, ecosystem services of SFSh appear to be rarely quantified, most frequently using oversimplified variable indicators. Services related to animal biodiversity, such as pollination and plague control, are poorly known. In recent years social studies of perception and valuation have increased, showing people's high valuation of SFSh. Additional studies are needed especially regarding water regulation and provision, as global warming will significantly reduce water supply in Mediterranean climates. Finally, we reflect on the advances necessary to enhance conservation, restoration and adaptation of ecosystems and their benefits to people, especially considering political, social and scientific factors. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Fog-dependent forests in southern Atacama face threat from drought | Past Global Changes Magazine | Szejner, P.; Christie, D.; LeQuesne, C.; Gutierrez, A. | 2023 | 10.22498/pages.31.1.36 | https://www.pastglobalchanges.org/publications/pages-magazines/pages-magazine/137245 | 36-36 | Vol: 31 Issue: 1 | 2411605X, 24119180 | |||||
| Technical note: Skirt chamber - an open dynamic method for the rapid and minimally intrusive measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands | Biogeosciences | Thalasso, F.; Riquelme, B.; Gómez, A.; MacKenzie, R.; Aguirre, F.; Hoyos-Santillan, J.; Rozzi, R.; Sepulveda-Jauregui, A. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.5194/bg-20-3737-2023 | https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3737-2023 | 3737-3749 | Vol: 20 Issue: 18 | 17264170 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | We present a reliable and robust open dynamic chamber for measuring greenhouse gas exchange in peatlands with minimal disturbance of the ground. This chamber, called the "skirt chamber", is based on a transparent plastic film placed above an open frame made of sparse interwoven wires and expanded around the base of the chamber below a steel chain that ensures contact to the ground, avoiding damage, trenching, and cutting vegetation. Gas exchange is determined using a portable gas analyzer from a mass balance in which the imperfect sealing of the chamber to the ground is quantified through the injection of a methane pulse. The method was tested on a pristine peatland dominated by Sphagnum magellanicum located on Navarino Island in the subantarctic Magellanic ecoregion in Chile. Our results indicate that the skirt chamber allowed the determination of methane fluxes and ecosystem respiration in about 20 min, with a limit of detection of 0.185 mg CH4 m-2 h-1 and 173 mg CO2 m-2 h-1, respectively. We conclude that the skirt chamber is a minimally intrusive, fast, portable, and inexpensive method that allows the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions with high spatial resolution in remote locations and without delay. © Copyright: |
| Health and Safety Effects of Airborne Soil Dust in the Americas and Beyond | Reviews of Geophysics | Tong, D.; Gill, T.; Sprigg, W.; Van Pelt, R.; Baklanov, A.; Barker, B.; Bell, J.; Castillo, J.; Gassó, S.; Gaston, C.; Griffin, D.; Huneeus, N.; Kahn, R.; Kuciauskas, A.; Ladino, L.; Li, J.; Mayol‐Bracero, O.; McCotter, O.; Méndez‐Lázaro, P.; Mudu, P.; Nickovic, S.; Oyarzun, D.; Prospero, J.; Raga, ... | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1029/2021RG000763 | https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021RG000763 | e2021RG000763 | Vol: 61 Issue: 2 | 8755-1209, 1944-9208 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | Risks associated with dust hazards are often underappreciated, a gap between the knowledge pool and public awareness that can be costly for impacted communities. This study reviews the emission sources and chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of airborne soil particles (dust) and their effects on human and environmental health and safety in the Pan-American region. American dust originates from both local sources (western United States, northern Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina) and long-range transport from Africa and Asia. Dust properties, as well as the trends and interactions with criteria air pollutants, are summarized. Human exposure to dust is associated with adverse health effects, including asthma, allergies, fungal infections, and premature death. In the Americas, a well-documented and striking effect of soil dust is its association with Coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley fever, an infection caused by inhalation of soil-dwelling fungi unique to this region. Besides human health, dust affects environmental health through nutrients that increase phytoplankton biomass, contaminants that diminish water supply and affect food (crops/fruits/vegetables and ready-to-eat meat), spread crop and marine pathogens, cause Valley fever among domestic and wild animals, transport heavy metals, radionuclides and microplastics, and reduce solar and wind power generation. Dust is also a safety hazard to road transportation and aviation, in the southwestern US where blowing dust is one of the deadliest weather hazards. To mitigate the harmful effects, coordinated regional and international efforts are needed to enhance dust observations and prediction capabilities, soil conservation measures, and Valley fever and other disease surveillance. © 2023. The Authors. |
| Large-scale and regional climatic influences on surface temperature and precipitation in the South Shetland Islands, northern Antarctic Peninsula | Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias | Torres, C.; Bozkurt, D.; Arigony-Neto, J. | 2023 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1590/0001-3765202320230685 | https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202320230685 | arte20230685 | Vol: 95 | 00013765 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Using data from SCAR observations, ERA5 reanalysis, and regional climate model simulations (RACMO), we examined the influence of large-and regional-scale climate forcing on temperature and precipitation variations in the South Shetland Islands (SSI). Specifically, we focused on understanding how regional climate indices influence the temporal variability of temperature and precipitation on the SSI. Our findings indicate that both large-and regional-scale climate indices significantly impact the interannual and seasonal temperature variability in the SSI. For instance, the Amundsen Sea Low, characterised by low-pressure systems over the Amundsen Sea, and sea ice extent in the northwestern part of the Weddell Sea, exert a strong influence on temperature variability (r from-0.64 to-0.87; p < 0.05). In contrast, precipitation variability in this region is primarily controlled by regional climatic indices. Particularly, anomalies in atmospheric and surface pressure over the Drake Passage region strongly regulate the interannual variability of precipitation in the SSI (r from-0.46 to-0.70; p < 0.05). Large-scale climatic indices demonstrate low but statistically significant correlations, including the Southern Annular Mode and deep convection in the central tropical Pacific. Given the importance of temperature and precipitation in the glacier changes, we recommend assessing the impact of the Drake region on SSI glaciers. © 2023, Academia Brasileira de Ciencias. All rights reserved. |
| Límites de la discusión sobre el Antropoceno | Estudios Públicos | Urquiza, A. | 2023 | 10.38178/07183089/0848230717 | https://www.estudiospublicos.cl/index.php/cep/article/view/2223 | 209-217 | Issue: 171 | 0718-3089, 0716-1115 | Erih; Latindex | Una reflexión desde las ciencias sociales sobre el concepto de Antropoceno debería considerar la aproximación del riesgo, es decir, de las consecuencias, los nuevos problemas y las nuevas reflexiones que emergen a partir de las repercusiones de las operaciones de la sociedad sobre el entorno ambiental. En ese contexto, la descripción de la geología tiene que ser considerada por las ciencias sociales como una observación disciplinaria más entre otras que remiten a cuestiones sociológicas, filosóficas e incluso epistemológicas. La categoría Antropoceno deja en evidencia el impacto de la sociedad en la naturaleza, permitiendo una mayor capacidad reflexiva. Sin embargo, esto no alcanza para una discusión sociológica informada —que el Antropoceno tampoco pretende— y no parece fructífero concentrarnos en su cuestionamiento. | |||
| Chile's road plans threaten ancient forests | Science (New York, N.Y.) | Urrutia-Jalabert, R.; Barichivich, J.; Gutiérrez, Á.; Miranda, A. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1126/science.adi0228 | https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adi0228 | 903 | Vol: 380 Issue: 6648 | 1095-9203 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | During the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December 2022, nearly 200 countries, including Chile, agreed to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and to take urgent actions to stop the extinction of endangered species. Despite this commitment, the Chilean government is pushing for the construction of a road that would cross the Alerce Costero National Park (1), an area of global importance for biodiversity conservation (2) and home to the endangered conifer Fitzroya cupressoides (3). Throughout the world, roads threaten biodiversity and ecosystem functions (4). Before pushing this project ahead, Chile should consider the likelihood that the road will undermine the country’s progress toward international environmental commitments. | |
| Ecophysiological Responses of Nothofagus obliqua Forests to Recent Climate Drying Across the Mediterranean-Temperate Biome Transition in South-Central Chile | Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences | Urrutia-Jalabert, R.; Barichivich, J.; Szejner, P.; Rozas, V.; Lara, A. | 2023 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1029/2022JG007293 | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG007293 | art: e2022JG007293 | Vol: 128 Issue: 4 | 2169-8953 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Green Open Access | English | The forests of south-central Chile are facing a drying climate and a megadrought that started in 2010. This study addressed the physiological responses of five Nothofagus obliqua stands across the Mediterranean-Temperate gradient (35.9°−40.3°S) using carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13 C) and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) in tree rings during 1967–2017. Moreover, tree ring δ18O was evaluated in the northernmost site to better understand the effects of the megadrought in this drier location. These forests have become more efficient in their use of water. However, trees from the densest stand are discriminating more against 13C, probably due to reduced photosynthetic rates associated with increasing light competition. The strongest associations between climate and Δ13C were found in the northernmost stand, suggesting that warmer and drier conditions could have reduced 13C discrimination. Tree growth in this site has not decreased, and δ18O was negatively related to annual rainfall. However, a shift in this relationship was found since 2007, when both precipitation and δ18O decreased, while correlations between δ18O and growth increased. This implies that tree growth and δ18O are coupled in recent years, but precipitation is not the cause, suggesting that trees probably changed their water source to deeper and more depleted pools. Our research demonstrates that forests are not reducing their growth in central Chile, mainly due to a shift toward the use of deeper water sources. Despite a common climate trend across the gradient, there is a non-uniform response of N. obliqua forests to climate drying, being their response site-specific. © 2023. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. |
| Environmental control of the present-day sediment export along the extratropical Andes | Geomorphology | Vergara, I.; Garreaud, R.; Araneo, D.; Leyton, F. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108911 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108911 | art108911 | Vol: 441 | 0169555X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Understanding how the environmental factors that determine erosion operate is essential to know the past and future evolution of the Earth and adequately manage natural resources. In this work, the main controlling factors of the current sediment export in the western side of the extratropical Andes (20°-55°S) are investigated using multidecadal series of specific suspended sediment yields from 42 rivers, as well as land cover, climatic, cryospheric, topographic, seismological and geological data. Through an automatic selection of Generalized Additive Models based on predictability and complexity, it was found that the combined effects of extreme runoff, glacier cover and channel steepness explain ~90 % of the spatial variability of sediment export. The runoff effect varies from positive for hyper-arid and semi-arid settings to slightly negative for moderate and wet settings, probably because of an associated increase in vegetation coupled with a recurrence and magnitude of floods that becomes greater than the time it takes for the basins to generate sediment. Cryosphere and channel steepness influences were also observed on the average suspended sediment concentration, which is less associated with water availability and more associated with erodibility and sediment availability. © 2023 Elsevier B.V. | |
| A freshwater diatom perspective on the evolution of the southern westerlies for the past ∼14,000 years in southwestern Patagonia | Quaternary Science Reviews | Villacís, L.; Moreno, P.; Vilanova, I.; Henríquez, C.; Henríquez, W.; Villa-Martínez, R.; Sepúlveda-Zúñiga, E.; Maidana, N. | 2023 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107929 | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379122005601 | 107929 | Vol: 301 | 02773791 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Conflicting, even opposite interpretations on the evolution of the Southern Westerly Winds (SWW) are evident in paleoenvironmental records from southwestern Patagonia since the last ice age. These divergences call for new approaches utilizing different, ideally independent indicators of paleoenvironmental/paleoclimatic change from sensitive sites in climatically relevant locations. Here we present a multidecadally resolved diatom record from Lago Cipreses (51°S), a small closed-basin lake located in a bedrock depression along the eastern foothills of the southern Patagonian Andes. The hydrological balance evolution of this isolated lake affords a direct tie with SWW intensity in a mountainous sector where zonal wind strength and local precipitation are highly correlated. We detect cold-tolerant diatoms (small fragilarioids) between ∼14-11.9 cal. ka BP followed by a shift to planktonic assemblages (Discostella pseudostelligera, Aulacoseira spp.) under warmer Holocene conditions. Diatom assemblages indicative of stratified water-column conditions (Discostella pseudostelligera, Achnanthidium aff tepidaricola, Achnanthidium sieminskae) reached their maximum stability between ∼9.1-7.4 cal. ka BP. Stronger water-column mixing is evident by an abrupt species turnover to Aulacoseira spp. between ∼7.4-3.1 cal. ka BP, superimposed on centennial-scale alternations between assemblages since ∼6.1 cal. ka BP. Cold-tolerant diatoms resurge at ∼3.1 cal. ka BP and persist until the present. Our record offers assemblage-based evidence we interpret as sub-centennial to multimillennial scale changes in hydroclimate indicative of: (i) strong SWW influence between ∼14-11.9 cal. ka BP, (ii) a transition between ∼11.9-11.3 cal. ka BP to weak SWW influence between ∼11.3-6.5 cal. ka BP, with a SWW minimum between ∼9.1-7.4 cal. ka BP, and (iii) strong SWW influence since ∼6.5 cal. ka BP, with a Holocene SWW maximum since ∼3.1 cal. ka BP. We posit that enhanced hydroclimate variability since ∼6.1 cal. ka BP attests to the onset of Southern Annular Mode-like changes at centennial-to sub-centennial timescales. We detect a remarkably coherent and synchronous response of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems at local scale since ∼14 cal. ka BP, highlighting the overriding importance of variations in SWW influence in terrestrial and aquatic environments at multiple timescales. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Dust transport enhanced land surface weatherability in a cooling world | Geochemical Perspectives Letters | Yang, Y.; Galy, A.; Zhang, J.; Lambert, F.; Zhang, M.; Zhang, F.; Fang, X. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.7185/geochemlet.2322 | https://doi.org/10.7185/geochemlet.2322 | 36-39 | Vol: 26 | 2410339X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | The weatherability of exposed silicate rocks drives the efficiency of climatic feedback on the geological carbon cycle through silicate weathering. However, the controls and evolution of land surface weatherability are not fully understood. Tectonically induced exposure of fresh silicates can induce a wide range of weatherability, depending on the maturity and lithology of the exhumed rocks. Here, we propose that aeolian dust has potentially been pivotal in sustaining land surface weatherability during global cooling. Our analysis of palaeoclimate simulations shows an additional transport of 1072 ± 69 Tg yr−1 of dust to regions with precipitation of more than 400 mm yr−1 during the Last Glacial Maximum compared to the pre-industrial period. As dust mainly contains fresh minerals with high surface areas, such dust transport markedly increases land surface weatherability, yielding an additional atmospheric CO2 consumption of 0.431 ± 0.030 Tmol yr−1, which would offset the reduced silicate weathering induced by weaker climatic forcing. It is suggested that a dustier world could increase global land surface weatherability, leading to a more buffered carbon cycle that sustained low atmospheric CO2 levels. © 2023 European Association of Geochemistry. All rights reserved. |
| Advances in Simulating the Global Spatial Heterogeneity of Air Quality and Source Sector Contributions: Insights into the Global South | Environmental Science & Technology | Zhang, D.; Martin, R.; Bindle, L.; Li, C.; Eastham, S.; van Donkelaar, A.; Gallardo, L. | 2023 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1021/acs.est.2c07253 | https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.2c07253 | 6955-6964 | Vol: 57 Issue: 17 | 0013-936X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access | English | High-resolution simulations are essential to resolve fine-scale air pollution patterns due to localized emissions, nonlinear chemical feedbacks, and complex meteorology. However, high-resolution global simulations of air quality remain rare, especially of the Global South. Here, we exploit recent developments to the GEOS-Chem model in its high-performance implementation to conduct 1-year simulations in 2015 at cubed-sphere C360 (∼25 km) and C48 (∼200 km) resolutions. We investigate the resolution dependence of population exposure and sectoral contributions to surface fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), focusing on understudied regions. Our results indicate pronounced spatial heterogeneity at high resolution (C360) with large global population-weighted normalized root-mean-square difference (PW-NRMSD) across resolutions for primary (62-126%) and secondary (26-35%) PM2.5 species. Developing regions are more sensitive to spatial resolution resulting from sparse pollution hotspots, with PW-NRMSD for PM2.5 in the Global South (33%), 1.3 times higher than globally. The PW-NRMSD for PM2.5 for discrete southern cities (49%) is substantially higher than for more clustered northern cities (28%). We find that the relative order of sectoral contributions to population exposure depends on simulation resolution, with implications for location-specific air pollution control strategies. © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. |
| A stability result for the identification of a permeability parameter on Navier–Stokes equations | Inverse Problems | Aguayo, J.; Osses, A. | 2022 | 10.1088/1361-6420/ac6971 | https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6420/ac6971 | 075001 | Vol: 38 Issue: 7 | 0266-5611, 1361-6420 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract In this work, we present a stability result for the inverse problem of recovering a smooth scalar permeability parameter given by the Brinkman’s law applied to the steady Navier–Stokes equations from local observations of the fluid velocity on a fixed domain. In comparison with we prove a logarithmic estimate under weaker assumptions, since our proof is based in a strategy that does not require pressure observations. This kind or result are useful for inverse problems in soft tissue elastographyFinally, we present some numerical tests that validate our theoretical results. | ||
| Fuzzy logic modelling to assess high resolution spatial urban climatic risk impact in Valparaiso, Chile | Alamos, N.; Billi, M.; Amigo, C.; Urquiza, A.; Winckler, P.; Larraguibel, C.; Contreras, M.; Muñoz, A.; Videla, J.; Vargas, V.; Casanova, J.; Ugalde, A.; Valdebenito, C. | 2022 | 10.17605/OSF.IO/2XTVS | https://osf.io/2xtvs/ | Open Science Framework | This collection of maps contains a set of 5 layers assessing the risk of the population of the Viña del Mar - Valparaiso conurbation (Chile) in the face of threats of extreme heat, storm surges, floods, forest fires and landslides. The maps have a resolution at the chilean census block level. The layers show as available attributes the overall level of risk and its components: threat (A), exposure (E), sensitivity (S) and response capacity (CR). To estimate the risk, the indices of A, E, S and CR are combined through a fuzzy logic methodology, which considers the use of causality rules co-constructed and validated with local experts and stakeholders. It should be considered that the values presented by each census block on the maps represent an ordering of risk (and of A, E, S and CR), where higher values indicate a greater risk than apples with lower values. The results are ordinal, ranging from mild, through moderately mild, to moderate, high or very high. Moreover, they are not absolute values, but rather relative to the specific case study and should not comparable or extrapolated to other study areas. | |||||||
| Dark Diazotrophy during the Late Summer in Surface Waters of Chile Bay, West Antarctic Peninsula | Microorganisms | Alcamán-Arias, M.; Cifuentes-Anticevic, J.; Castillo-Inaipil, W.; Farías, L.; Sanhueza, C.; Fernández-Gómez, B.; Verdugo, J.; Abarzua, L.; Ridley, C.; Tamayo-Leiva, J.; Díez, B. | 2022 | 10.3390/microorganisms10061140 | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/6/1140 | 1140 | Vol: 10 Issue: 6 | 2076-2607 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Although crucial for the addition of new nitrogen in marine ecosystems, dinitrogen (N2) fixation remains an understudied process, especially under dark conditions and in polar coastal areas, such as the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). New measurements of light and dark N2 fixation rates in parallel with carbon (C) fixation rates, as well as analysis of the genetic marker nifH for diazotrophic organisms, were conducted during the late summer in the coastal waters of Chile Bay, South Shetland Islands, WAP. During six late summers (February 2013 to 2019), Chile Bay was characterized by high NO3− concentrations (~20 µM) and an NH4+ content that remained stable near 0.5 µM. The N:P ratio was approximately 14.1, thus close to that of the Redfield ratio (16:1). The presence of Cluster I and Cluster III nifH gene sequences closely related to Alpha-, Delta- and, to a lesser extent, Gammaproteobacteria, suggests that chemosynthetic and heterotrophic bacteria are primarily responsible for N2 fixation in the bay. Photosynthetic carbon assimilation ranged from 51.18 to 1471 nmol C L−1 d−1, while dark chemosynthesis ranged from 9.24 to 805 nmol C L−1 d−1. N2 fixation rates were higher under dark conditions (up to 45.40 nmol N L−1 d−1) than under light conditions (up to 7.70 nmol N L−1 d−1), possibly contributing more than 37% to new nitrogen-based production (≥2.5 g N m−2 y−1). Of all the environmental factors measured, only PO43- exhibited a significant correlation with C and N2 rates, being negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with dark chemosynthesis and N2 fixation under the light condition, revealing the importance of the N:P ratio for these processes in Chile Bay. This significant contribution of N2 fixation expands the ubiquity and biological potential of these marine chemosynthetic diazotrophs. As such, this process should be considered along with the entire N cycle when further reviewing highly productive Antarctic coastal waters and the diazotrophic potential of the global marine ecosystem. | ||
| Surface Ammonia-Oxidizer Abundance During the Late Summer in the West Antarctic Coastal System | Frontiers in Microbiology | Alcamán-Arias, M.; Cifuentes-Anticevic, J.; Díez, B.; Testa, G.; Troncoso, M.; Bello, E.; Farías, L. | 2022 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3389/fmicb.2022.821902 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.821902/full | 821902 | Vol: 13 | 1664-302X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Marine ammonia oxidizers that oxidize ammonium to nitrite are abundant in polar waters, especially during the winter in the deeper mixed-layer of West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) waters. However, the activity and abundance of ammonia-oxidizers during the summer in surface coastal Antarctic waters remain unclear. In this study, the ammonia-oxidation rates, abundance and identity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) were evaluated in the marine surface layer (to 30 m depth) in Chile Bay (Greenwich Island, WAP) over three consecutive late-summer periods (2017, 2018, and 2019). Ammonia-oxidation rates of 68.31 nmol N L −1 day −1 (2018) and 37.28 nmol N L −1 day −1 (2019) were detected from illuminated 2 m seawater incubations. However, high ammonia-oxidation rates between 267.75 and 109.38 nmol N L −1 day −1 were obtained under the dark condition at 30 m in 2018 and 2019, respectively. During the late-summer sampling periods both stratifying and mixing events occurring in the water column over short timescales (February–March). Metagenomic analysis of seven nitrogen cycle modules revealed the presence of ammonia-oxidizers, such as the Archaea Nitrosopumilus and the Bacteria Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira , with AOA often being more abundant than AOB. However, quantification of specific amo A gene transcripts showed number of AOB being two orders of magnitude higher than AOA, with Nitrosomonas representing the most transcriptionally active AOB in the surface waters. Additionally, Candidatus Nitrosopelagicus and Nitrosopumilus , phylogenetically related to surface members of the NP-ε and NP-γ clades respectively, were the predominant AOA. Our findings expand the known distribution of ammonium-oxidizers to the marine surface layer, exposing their potential ecological role in supporting the marine Antarctic system during the productive summer periods. |
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| Transformation Action Database / Base de datos acciones de transformación | Aldunce, P.; Guevara, G.; Munoz, F. | 2022 | 10.17605/OSF.IO/RC94T | https://osf.io/rc94t/ | Open Science Framework | This database consists of transformation initiatives, that include detailed metadata and description of processes that lead to profound changes, that translate into fundamentally different ways of thinking, actions, systems, and structures, usually large-scale. The content of the database began to be collected in 2020 and was obtained by reviewing scientific and non-scientific documents that have registered transformative actions in the world, web pages of national and international organizations, and conducting interviews, workshops and other information-gathering activities. | |||||||
| Les mobilisations autour de l’extractivisme. Circulation et potentiel heuristique d’un concept en voie de globalisation: | Revue internationale de politique comparée | Allain, M.; Maillet, A. | 2022 | 10.3917/ripc.283.0007 | https://www.cairn.info/revue-internationale-de-politique-comparee-2021-3-page-7.htm?ref=doi | 7-29 | Vol: Vol. 28 Issue: 3 | 1370-0731 | Scopus | ||||
| Refinement of the tephrostratigraphy straddling the northern Patagonian Andes (40–41°S): new tephra markers, reconciling different archives and ascertaining the timing of piedmont deglaciation | Journal of Quaternary Science | Alloway, B.; Pearce, N.; Moreno, P.; Villarosa, G.; Jara, I.; Henríquez, C.; Sagredo, E.; Ryan, M.; Outes, V. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1002/jqs.3389 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jqs.3389 | 441-477 | Vol: 37 Issue: 3 | 0267-8179, 1099-1417 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We describe the stratigraphy, age, geochemistry and correlation of tephra from west to east across the northern Patagonian Andes (c. 40–41°S) with a view to further refining the eruptive history of this region back to the onset of the Last Glacial Termination (~18 cal. ka). Eastwards across the Andes, rhyodacite to rhyolitic tephra markers of dominantly Puyehue-Cordón Caulle source are persistently recognised and provide a stratigraphic context for more numerously erupted intervening tephra of basalt to basaltic–andesite composition. Tephra from distal eruptive centres are also recognised. West of the Andean Cordillera, organic-rich cores from a small closed lake basin (Lago Pichilafquén) reveal an exceptional high-resolution record of lowland vegetation–climate change and eruptive activity spanning the last 15 400 years. Three new rhyodacite tephra (BT6-T1, -T2 and -T4) identified near the base of the Pichilafquén record, spanning 13.2 to 13.9 cal. ka bp, can be geochemically matched with correlatives in basal andic soil sequences closely overlying regolith and/or basement rock. The repetitiveness of this tephrostratigraphy across this Andean transect suggests near-synchronous tephra accretion and onset of up-building soil formation under more stable (revegetating) ground-surface conditions following rapid piedmont deglaciation on both sides of the Cordillera by at least ~14 cal. ka bp. | |
| Seasonal Variations in Fjord Sediment Grain Size: A Pre‐requisite for Hydrological and Climate Reconstructions in Partially Glacierized Watersheds (Baker River, Patagonia) | Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface | Amann, B.; Bertrand, S.; Alvarez‐Garreton, C.; Reid, B. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1029/2021JF006391 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021JF006391 | arte2021JF006391 | Vol: 127 Issue: 2 | 2169-9003, 2169-9011 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Fjord sediments are increasingly recognized as high-resolution archives of past hydrological and climate variability. Using them as such, however, requires a comprehensive understanding of the variables that affect their accumulation rates and properties. Here, we conduct a spatial and temporal study of sediment samples collected at the head of Martínez Channel (Chilean Patagonia, 48°S), to understand how the fjord's sediments register changes in the hydrology of Baker River, Chile's largest river in terms of mean annual discharge. We apply end-member modeling to particle-size distributions of: (a) river suspended sediments, (b) surface sediments collected along a proximal-distal transect at the fjord head, and (c) fjord sediments collected in a sequential sediment trap at 15-day resolution during two consecutive years. We then validate the use of the grain-size end members for hydrological and climate reconstructions, using a sediment core that covers the last 35 years. Results show that the river suspended sediments and fjord sediments are consistently composed of two grain-size subpopulations. The finest end member (EM1; mode 4.03 μm) reflects the meltwater contribution, which dominates in all but the winter season. The coarser end member (EM2; mode 18.7 μm) dominates in winter, when meltwater contribution is reduced, and is associated with rainfall. We show that the fluxes of EM1 and EM2 provide quantitative estimates of baseflow (r = 0.87, p < 0.001) and quickflow (r = 0.86, p < 0.001), respectively. Additionally, we propose that log (EM1/EM2) can be used to reconstruct meltwater production (r = 0.67, p < 0.001) and temperature (r = 0.81, p < 0.001) in the lower Baker River watershed. These results support the use of fjord sediments for quantitative reconstructions of hydrological and climate variability in partially glacierized watersheds. © 2022. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. | |
| Prosopis L. woody growth in relation to hydrology in South America: A review | Dendrochronologia | Ambite, S.; Ferrero, M.; Piraino, S.; Badagian, J.; Muñoz, A.; Aguilera-Betti, I.; Gamazo, P.; Roig, F.; Lucas, C. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.dendro.2022.126017 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1125786522000972 | 126017 | Vol: 76 | 11257865 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Arboreal species of the genus Prosopis L. have played an important role in the development of tree-ring research in arid and semi-arid ecoregions of South America. Given the distribution of Prosopis across a broad precipitation gradient from 0 to 2000 mm y−1 and its unique role as a phreatophyte, the relationship between Prosopis species growth and water has been a recurring theme over the past century. We conducted a systematic review of the literature addressing Prosopis and water research in South America, and combined site coordinates with GIS data of mean annual precipitation (MAP), elevation, biome, and soil moisture from online databases to understand the spatial distribution of research to date. We compiled 40 publications from 1931 to 2022, including results from 11 species of Prosopis among four countries, on the relationship between Prosopis spp and precipitation, groundwater levels, soil humidity, among other hydrological parameters. The spatial distribution of research sites spans tropical-subtropical and temperate latitudes from 4° to 35°S, excluding regions where the genus is present in Patagonia and northeastern South America. Studies covered a broad range of elevations from 30 to 3500 m a.s.l. but was limited to 1–730 mm y−1 MAP, excluding more humid climates where Prosopis occurs. Results obtained from 32 dendrochronological studies and eight studies relating to Prosopis and hydrology, were grouped into sub-disciplines of tree-ring formation and the hydrosystem, dendroclimatology, dendrohydrology, and dendroecology. The review highlights the unique affinities of Prosopis to arid conditions, and the use of tree rings as a proxy for historical droughts and variability in water tables. Nonetheless, there are opportunities to expand the geographical-climatological extent of Prosopis growth research to humid climates, as well as to incorporate novel techniques such as stable isotopes and vessel size chronologies to understand how this genus records hydrological change throughout South America. © 2022 Elsevier GmbH | ||
| Lived environmental citizenship through intersectional lenses: The experience of female community leaders in rural Chile | Journal of Rural Studies | Arriagada, E.; Garcés Sotomayor, A.; Maillet, A.; Viveros Barrientos, K.; Zambra, A. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.07.007 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0743016722001668 | 353-365 | Vol: 94 | 0743-0167 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | The 2019 social uprising in Chile revealed the widespread discontent the citizens of this country experience. In particular, rural areas were part of this social mobilization during which discontent around environmental issues were particularly salient. However, we still know little about the daily experiences of environmental suffering outside urban areas, and the different ways individuals and collectives confront it. To tackle these issues and contribute to the broader discussion about environmental citizenship and non-traditional forms of mobilization and activism, we build on the experience of the “School for Female Leaders on Socio-environmental and Territorial Issues”, a research-action joint-venture project that brought together women from different non-urban districts of the Metropolitan Region with a team of social and social scientists and practitioners. Sharing experiences about environmental suffering and the particular ways female leaders respond led us to propose the concept of lived environmental citizenship, which accounts for the incompleteness these women felt in relation to the promises of formal citizenship, and their personal, community and political work to address it. This concept and the findings of our research contribute to enhancing discussions on gendered rural and environmental politics. © 2022 | ||
| A general theory for temperature dependence in biology | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | Arroyo, J.; Díez, B.; Kempes, C.; West, G.; Marquet, P. | 2022 | 10.1073/pnas.2119872119 | https://pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2119872119 | e2119872119 | Vol: 119 Issue: 30 | 0027-8424, 1091-6490 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | At present, there is no simple, first principles–based, and general model for quantitatively describing the full range of observed biological temperature responses. Here we derive a general theory for temperature dependence in biology based on Eyring–Evans–Polanyi’s theory for chemical reaction rates. Assuming only that the conformational entropy of molecules changes with temperature, we derive a theory for the temperature dependence of enzyme reaction rates which takes the form of an exponential function modified by a power law and that describes the characteristic asymmetric curved temperature response. Based on a few additional principles, our model can be used to predict the temperature response above the enzyme level, thus spanning quantum to classical scales. Our theory provides an analytical description for the shape of temperature response curves and demonstrates its generality by showing the convergence of all temperature dependence responses onto universal relationships—a universal data collapse—under appropriate normalization and by identifying a general optimal temperature, around 25 ∘ C, characterizing all temperature response curves. The model provides a good fit to empirical data for a wide variety of biological rates, times, and steady-state quantities, from molecular to ecological scales and across multiple taxonomic groups (from viruses to mammals). This theory provides a simple framework to understand and predict the impact of temperature on biological quantities based on the first principles of thermodynamics, bridging quantum to classical scales. |
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| A simplified homogenization model applied to viscoelastic behavior of cortical bone at ultrasonic frequencies | Journal of Biomechanics | Aróstica, R.; Aguilera, A.; Osses, A.; Minonzio, J. | 2022 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110868 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0021929021006242 | 110868 | Vol: 131 | 00219290 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Cortical bone is a complex multiscale medium and its study is of importance for clinical fracture prevention. In particular, cortical attenuation is known to be linked with shock energy absorption and ability to resist fracture. However, the links between cortical bone absorption and its multiscale structure are still not well understood. This work is about the use of homogenized tensors in order to characterize the viscoelastic behavior of cortical bone at ultrasonic frequencies, i.e., about 0.1 to 10 MHz. Such tensors are derived from the cell problem via two-scale homogenization theory for linear elastic and Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic descriptions. The elliptic formulations obtained from the cell problems are implemented within the range of medically-observed porosities. Microstructure is assessed considering cubic cells with cylindrical inclusion and transverse isotropic assumption. A simplified model, adding one temporal parameter τ per phase, allows a good agreement with experimental data. The corresponding attenuation is proportional to the square of the frequency, in agreement with Kramer–Kronig relations. This development is proposed in the context of robust clinical inverse problem approaches using a restricted number of parameter. Two main properties for the material filling the pores are adjusted and discussed: absorption and shear contribution. Best agreement with experimental data is observed for material inside the pores being solid and highly attenuating. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Boletín N° 3 Nueva Constitución chilena y cambio climático | Gobernanza climática de cuencas hidrográficas. Propuestas para la Nueva Constitución | Azocar, G.; Billi, M.; Borquez, R.; Alonso, C.; Alvarez, C.; Zambrano, M. | 2022 | https://www.cr2.cl/boletin-n-3-nueva-constitucion-chilena-y-cambio-climatico-gobernanza-climatica-de-cuencas-hidrograficas-propuestas-para-la-nueva-constitucion/ | 6 | cr2.cl | Spanish | La multiplicidad de causas e impactos del cambio climáti- co revelan la necesidad de contar con instrumentos de planificación y gestión que aborden su complejidad de manera integral, proponiendo intervenciones que se adecuen a las características particulares de cada territo- rio. En tal sentido, la toma de decisiones sobre este proble- ma debe considerar que el cambio climático depende de las interacciones entre procesos naturales y sociales que se producen y manifiestan diferenciadamente en distintas escalas territoriales (IPCC, 2021). Teniendo esto en consi- deración, nuestro diagnóstico indica que la actual gober- nanza climática en Chile se ha caracterizado por una serie de falencias (Billi et al, 2021a): a) la tendencia a adoptar medidas reactivas y de corto plazo, b) una distribución inequitativa de los impactos y costos provocados por el cambio climático, c) ineficaces mecanismos de participa- ción y de incorporación de saberes locales en la toma de decisiones, d) deficiente disponibilidad, calidad y acceso a evidencias científicas, e) fragmentación institucional asociada a una débil coordinación de la gestión del territo- rio, y f) una excesiva centralización de la toma de decisio- nes y baja consideración de las particularidades territoria- les y ecosistémicas sobre las cuales opera. Asumimos que para superar estas brechas uno de los principales desafíos de la nueva Constitución será incluir principios y orientaciones que sienten las bases para un nuevo modelo de gobernanza climática y ambiental en Chile (ver Billi et al., 2021b). Para ello, será necesaria la incorporación de nuevos instrumentos de gestión territo- rial que promuevan acciones para la mitigación y adapta- ción efectiva al cambio climático. En este texto propone- mos como uno de estos instrumentos la gobernanza climática de cuencas hidrográficas. |
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| Modeling the Ignition Risk: Analysis before and after Megafire on Maule Region, Chile | Applied Sciences | Azócar de la Cruz, G.; Alfaro, G.; Alonso, C.; Calvo, R.; Orellana, P. | 2022 | 10.3390/app12189353 | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/18/9353 | 9353 | Vol: 12 Issue: 18 | 2076-3417 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Wildland fires are a phenomenon of broad interest due to their relationship with climate change. The impacts of climate change are related to a greater frequency and intensity of wildland fires. In this context, megafires have become a phenomenon of particular concern. In this study, we develop a model of ignition risk. We use factors such as human activity, geographic, topographic, and land cover variables to develop a bagged decision tree model. The study area corresponds to the Maule region in Chile, a large zone with a Mediterranean climate. This area was affected by a megafire in 2017. After generating the model, we compared three interface zones, analyzing the scar and the occurrences of ignition during and after the megafire. For the construction of georeferenced data, we used the geographic information system QGIS. The results show a model with high fit goodness that can be replicated in other areas. Fewer ignitions are observed after the megafire, a high recovery of urban infrastructure, and a slow recovery of forest plantations. It is feasible to interpret that the lower number of ignitions observed in the 2019–2020 season is a consequence of the megafire scar. It is crucial to remember that the risk of ignition will increase as forest crops recover. Wildland fire management requires integrating this information into decision-making processes if we consider that the impacts of climate change persist in the area. | ||
| A combined microbial and biogeochemical dataset from high-latitude ecosystems with respect to methane cycle | Scientific Data | Barret, M.; Gandois, L.; Thalasso, F.; Martinez Cruz, K.; Sepulveda Jauregui, A.; Lavergne, C.; Teisserenc, R.; Aguilar, P.; Gerardo Nieto, O.; Etchebehere, C.; Martins Dellagnezze, B.; Bovio Winkler, P.; Fochesatto, G.; Tananaev, N.; Svenning, M.; Seppey, C.; Tveit, A.; Chamy, R.; Astorga España, M... | 2022 | 10.1038/s41597-022-01759-8 | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-022-01759-8 | 674 | Vol: 9 Issue: 1 | 2052-4463 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract High latitudes are experiencing intense ecosystem changes with climate warming. The underlying methane (CH 4 ) cycling dynamics remain unresolved, despite its crucial climatic feedback. Atmospheric CH 4 emissions are heterogeneous, resulting from local geochemical drivers, global climatic factors, and microbial production/consumption balance. Holistic studies are mandatory to capture CH 4 cycling complexity. Here, we report a large set of integrated microbial and biogeochemical data from 387 samples, using a concerted sampling strategy and experimental protocols. The study followed international standards to ensure inter-comparisons of data amongst three high-latitude regions: Alaska, Siberia, and Patagonia. The dataset encompasses different representative environmental features (e.g. lake, wetland, tundra, forest soil) of these high-latitude sites and their respective heterogeneity (e.g. characteristic microtopographic patterns). The data included physicochemical parameters, greenhouse gas concentrations and emissions, organic matter characterization, trace elements and nutrients, isotopes, microbial quantification and composition. This dataset addresses the need for a robust physicochemical framework to conduct and contextualize future research on the interactions between climate change, biogeochemical cycles and microbial communities at high-latitudes. |
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| Comment on: “The impact of a lack of government strategies for sustainable water management and land use planning on the hydrology of water bodies: lessons learned from the disappearance of the Aculeo Lagoon in central Chile” by Valdés-Pineda et al. 2022 in Sustainability, 14(1), 413 | Regional Environmental Change | Barría, P.; Ocampo-Melgar, A.; Chadwick, C.; Galleguillos, M.; Garreaud, R.; Díaz-Vasconcellos, R.; Poblete, D.; Rubio-Álvarez, E. | 2022 | 10.1007/s10113-022-01991-3 | https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10113-022-01991-3 | 131 | Vol: 22 Issue: 4 | 1436-3798, 1436-378X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | Valdés-Pineda et al. (Sustainability 14:413, 2022) present data for changes in climate, socio-economic, and land use and land cover (LULC) from diverse sources, concluding that the main causes for the desiccation of the Aculeo Lake were the river deviations and aquifer pumping, along with the impact of reduced precipitation. Based on that, they infer that the previous study of Barría et al. (Reg Environ Change 21:1–5, 2021a), which concluded that the impact of the decade-long drought was ten times larger than the increase of human extractions on the lake desiccation lacks scientific validity. We disagree with the conclusions from Valdés-Pineda et al. (Sustainability 14:413, 2022) and document that their article uses fragmentary information of a complex system, misinterprets of our results, and fails to present a reliable attribution methodology. We show that the hypothesis that the disappearance of Aculeo Lake was largely due to local anthropogenic uses is unsupported. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. | ||
| Reestatización del agua potable y resiliencia neoliberal en Uruguay | urbe. Revista Brasileira de Gestão Urbana | Bascans, M.; Nicolas-Artero, C.; Gautreau, P.; Santos, C. | 2022 | 10.1590/2175-3369.014.e20210133 | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2175-33692022000100212&tlng=es | e20210133 | Vol: 14 | 2175-3369 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | Spanish | Resumen El artículo discute sobre la neoliberalización de la naturaleza a partir del estudio de la reestatización de los servicios de distribución del agua potable y saneamiento en Uruguay durante el gobierno progresista del Frente Amplio. Se propone el concepto de “resiliencia neoliberal” para entender la reproducción de una lógica neoliberal en la gestión de estos servicios a pesar del reconocimiento del derecho humano al agua en la Constitución del país. A partir de una metodología cualitativa y cuantitativa, se reconstruye el proceso de privatización de los servicios hídricos y sus repercusiones sociales. Se identifican cuatro procesos que frenan la vuelta a servicios públicos y estatales: la permanencia de concesiones con capitales privados, la fragilización del sistema de subsidios cruzados, la desmovilización de la oposición y la inserción en un modelo de desarrollo económico neoliberal. , Abstract The article discusses the neoliberalisation of nature based on the study of the re-establishment of drinking water and sanitation services in Uruguay during the progressive government of the Frente Amplio. The concept of neoliberal resilience is proposed to understand the reproduction of a neoliberal logic in the management of these services despite the recognition of the human right to water in the Constitution. Using a qualitative and quantitative methodology, we reconstruct the process of privatisation of drinking water services and its social repercussions. Four processes are identified that slow down the return to public and state services: the permanence of concessions with private capital, the weakening of the system of cross-subsidies, the demobilisation of the opposition and the insertion of a neoliberal economic development model. , Resumo O artigo discute a neoliberalização da natureza com base no estudo do restabelecimento dos serviços de distribuição de água potável e saneamento no Uruguai durante o governo progressista da Frente Ampla. O conceito de resiliência neoliberal é proposto para compreender a reprodução de uma lógica neoliberal na gestão destes serviços, apesar do reconhecimento do direito humano à água na Constituição. Utilizando uma metodologia qualitativa e quantitativa, reconstruímos o processo de privatização dos serviços de água potável e suas repercussões sociais. São identificados quatro processos que abrandam o regresso aos serviços públicos e estatais: a permanência das concessões com capital privado, o enfraquecimento do sistema de subsídios cruzados, a desmobilização da oposição e a inserção num modelo de desenvolvimento econômico neoliberal. |
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| Sustainability as a meta-narrative: the semantics of global governance? A systems-theoretical and concept-historical analysis; [Sustentabilidad como metanarrativa: ¿La semántica de la gobernanza global? Un análisis con base en la teoría de sistemas e historia conceptual] | Economia y Politica | Billi, M.; Marchant, G.; Bustamante, G. | 2022 | 10.15691/07194714.2022.005 | https://economiaypolitica.cl/index.php/eyp/article/view/167 | 137-169 | Vol: 9 Issue: 1 | 0719-4714 | English | Sustainability has become a ubiquitous concept in modern society, but its inherent ambiguity makes it a source of enduring controversy. While the mainstream narrative has striven to make it the fundamental telos of all human activities, counter-narrative accounts have tended to treat it as an empty, rhetorical catchword potentially used to justify imperialism. Not siding with either of these interpretations, this manuscript delves into how sustainability is, becomes, and endures as a concept, in addition to the performative effects it engenders in modern society. In particular, we argue that sustainability has functioned as a semantic horizon and meta-narrative that allowed modern governance to emerge and become the new global rationality. The paper takes an analytical approach based on conceptual history and sociology, observing concepts as webs of meanings in relation to latent social structures. On this basis, the paper provides a conceptual-historical reconstruction of the emergence, core meaning and communicative performance of sustainability semantics, followed by a reflection on its relation to governance. The manuscript concludes, first, that sustainability emerges as a way to overcome the communications paradox involved in the reciprocal interdependence between society and its environment. Second, that the current communicational success of sustainability semantics derives from its ability to combine flexibility and coherence across the cognitive and normative dimensions. And third, that this ability makes sustainability a common horizon of possibility (of meaning), in turn granting legitimacy and coherence to an emerging governance regime coordinating global efforts at steering and governing the interaction between society and its environment. © 2022 Universidad Adolfo Ibanez. All rights reserved. | |||
| Learning from crises? The long and winding road of the salmon industry in Chiloé Island, Chile | Marine Policy | Billi, M.; Mascareño, A.; Henríquez, P.; Rodríguez, I.; Padilla, F.; Ruz, G. | 2022 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105069 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0308597X22001166 | 105069 | Vol: 140 | 0308-597X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | The rapid development of salmon aquaculture worldwide and the growing criticism of the activity in recent decades have raised doubts about the capacity of the sector to learn from its own crises. In this article, we assess the discursive, behavioral and outcome performance dimensions of the industry to identify actual learning and lessons to be learned. We focus on the case of Chiloé Island, Chile, a global center of salmon production since 1990 that has gone through two severe crises in the last 15 years (2007–2009 ISAV crisis and 2016 red tide crisis). On the basis of a multi-method approach combining qualitative analysis of interviews and statistical data analysis, we observe that the industry has discursively learned the relevance of both self-regulation and the well-being of communities. However, at the behavioral and outcome performance levels, the data show a highly heterogeneous conduct that questions the ability of the sector as a whole to learn from crises. We conclude that detrimental effects for ecosystems and society will increase if learning remains at the level of discourses. Without significant changes in operational practices and market performance there are no real perspectives for the sustainability of the industry. This intensifies when considering the uneven responses to governance mechanisms. The sector needs to adapt its factual performance to sustainable goals and reflexively monitor this process. The first step for achieving this is to produce reliable data to make evidence-based decisions that align the operational dynamics of the entire sector with a more sustainable trajectory in the near future, as well as advancing towards hybrid and more reflexive governance arrangements. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Editorial: Discussing structural, systemic and enabling approaches to socio-environmental transformations: Stimulating an interdisciplinary and plural debate within the social sciences | Frontiers in Sociology | Billi, M.; Zurbriggen, C.; Morchain, D. | 2022 | 10.3389/fsoc.2022.968018 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2022.968018/full | 968018 | Vol: 7 | 2297-7775 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | English | |||
| Antarctic Polyester Hydrolases Degrade Aliphatic and Aromatic Polyesters at Moderate Temperatures | Applied and Environmental Microbiology | Blázquez-Sánchez, P.; Engelberger, F.; Cifuentes-Anticevic, J.; Sonnendecker, C.; Griñén, A.; Reyes, J.; Díez, B.; Guixé, V.; Richter, P.; Zimmermann, W.; Ramírez-Sarmiento, C. | 2022 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1128/AEM.01842-21 | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/AEM.01842-21 | e01842-21 | Vol: 88 Issue: 1 | 0099-2240, 1098-5336 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | A myriad of consumer products contains polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic that has accumulated as waste in the environment due to its long-term stability and poor waste management. One promising solution is the enzymatic biodegradation of PET, with most known enzymes only catalyzing this process at high temperatures. , ABSTRACT Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used synthetic plastics in the packaging industry, and consequently has become one of the main components of plastic waste found in the environment. However, several microorganisms have been described to encode enzymes that catalyze the depolymerization of PET. While most known PET hydrolases are thermophilic and require reaction temperatures between 60°C and 70°C for an efficient hydrolysis of PET, a partial hydrolysis of amorphous PET at lower temperatures by the polyester hydrolase Is PETase from the mesophilic bacterium Ideonella sakaiensis has also been reported. We show that polyester hydrolases from the Antarctic bacteria Moraxella sp. strain TA144 (Mors1) and Oleispira antarctica RB-8 (OaCut) were able to hydrolyze the aliphatic polyester polycaprolactone as well as the aromatic polyester PET at a reaction temperature of 25°C. Mors1 caused a weight loss of amorphous PET films and thus constitutes a PET-degrading psychrophilic enzyme. Comparative modeling of Mors1 showed that the amino acid composition of its active site resembled both thermophilic and mesophilic PET hydrolases. Lastly, bioinformatic analysis of Antarctic metagenomic samples demonstrated that members of the Moraxellaceae family carry candidate genes coding for further potential psychrophilic PET hydrolases. IMPORTANCE A myriad of consumer products contains polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic that has accumulated as waste in the environment due to its long-term stability and poor waste management. One promising solution is the enzymatic biodegradation of PET, with most known enzymes only catalyzing this process at high temperatures. Here, we bioinformatically identified and biochemically characterized an enzyme from an Antarctic organism that degrades PET at 25°C with similar efficiency to the few PET-degrading enzymes active at moderate temperatures. Reasoning that Antarctica harbors other PET-degrading enzymes, we analyzed available data from Antarctic metagenomic samples and successfully identified other potential enzymes. Our findings contribute to increasing the repertoire of known PET-degrading enzymes that are currently being considered as biocatalysts for the biological recycling of plastic waste. |
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| Temperature and moisture transport during atmospheric blocking patterns around the Antarctic Peninsula | Weather and Climate Extremes | Bozkurt, D.; Marín, J.; Barrett, B. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.wace.2022.100506 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2212094722000858 | 100506 | Vol: 38 | 22120947 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We assess temperature and moisture transport in and around the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) associated with atmospheric blocking over two domains, one located to the west (150–90°W, 50–70°S, Western AP (WAP)) and the other over and to the east (90–30°W, 50–70°S, Eastern AP (EAP)) of the AP. We make use of surface meteorological observations, ERA5 reanalysis data, and a state-of-the-art atmospheric river (AR) database. Observed temperature anomalies indicate that the WAP and EAP blocking patterns are characterized by significant cold and warm anomalies over the AP, respectively, particularly in austral autumn, winter and spring. Consistent with these changes, cold anomalies depicted by ERA5 are associated with the transport of cold and dry air from the Antarctic continent by southerly and southeasterly flow over the eastern flank of the WAP blocking. ERA5 results highlight the importance of blocking days over the EAP domain (largely centered over the Drake Passage) to the occurrence of warm events associated with northerly and northwesterly warm air transport. Significant increases in integrated vapor transport (IVT) and AR frequency are also evident during the EAP blocking, particularly on the windward side of the AP. During the most extreme blocking days in this domain, there exist significant increases in latent and sensible heat fluxes on the windward side of the AP and the Larsen C Ice Shelf, respectively, indicating the contribution of foehn events to warm anomalies, especially in austral autumn and winter. The co-occurrences between landfalling ARs and blocking are found to amplify foehn effect due to higher IVT and associated latent heat condensation compared to blocking days without ARs. We conclude that blocking patterns are important to understand the occurrence of extremely warm events and landfalling ARs in the AP and their potential impacts on the surface cryospheric processes. © 2022 The Author(s) | ||
| Global wood anatomical perspective on the onset of the Late Antique Little Ice Age (LALIA) in the mid-6th century CE | Science Bulletin | Büntgen, U.; Crivellaro, A.; Arseneault, D.; Baillie, M.; Barclay, D.; Bernabei, M.; Bontadi, J.; Boswijk, G.; Brown, D.; Christie, D.; Churakova, O.; Cook, E.; D’Arrigo, R.; Davi, N.; Esper, J.; Fonti, P.; Greaves, C.; Hantemirov, R.; Hughes, M.; Kirdyanov, A.; Krusic, P.; Le Quesne, C.; Ljungqvist... | 2022 | 10.1016/j.scib.2022.10.019 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2095927322004790 | 2336-2344 | Vol: 67 Issue: 22 | 2095-9273 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Linked to major volcanic eruptions around 536 and 540 CE, the onset of the Late Antique Little Ice Age has been described as the coldest period of the past two millennia. The exact timing and spatial extent of this exceptional cold phase are, however, still under debate because of the limited resolution and geographical distribution of the available proxy archives. Here, we use 106 wood anatomical thin sections from 23 forest sites and 20 tree species in both hemispheres to search for cell-level fingerprints of ephemeral summer cooling between 530 and 550 CE. After cross-dating and double-staining, we identified 89 Blue Rings (lack of cell wall lignification), nine Frost Rings (cell deformation and collapse), and 93 Light Rings (reduced cell wall thickening) in the Northern Hemisphere. Our network reveals evidence for the strongest temperature depression between mid-July and early-August 536 CE across North America and Eurasia, whereas more localised cold spells occurred in the summers of 532, 540–43, and 548 CE. The lack of anatomical signatures in the austral trees suggests limited incursion of stratospheric volcanic aerosol into the Southern Hemisphere extra-tropics, that any forcing was mitigated by atmosphere-ocean dynamical responses and/or concentrated outside the growing season, or a combination of factors. Our findings demonstrate the advantage of wood anatomical investigations over traditional dendrochronological measurements, provide a benchmark for Earth system models, support cross-disciplinary studies into the entanglements of climate and history, and question the relevance of global climate averages. © 2022 Science China Press | ||
| Energy poverty effects on policy-based PM2.5 emissions mitigation in southern and central Chile | Energy Policy | Calvo, R.; Álamos, N.; Huneeus, N.; O'Ryan, R. | 2022 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112762 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0301421521006285 | 112762 | Vol: 161 | 03014215 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | Residential firewood burning is the main source of PM2.5 emissions in southern and central Chile. In Chile, approximately 4000 premature deaths are observed each year due to air pollution. Mitigation policies aim to reduce dwellings' energy demand and foster cleaner but more expensive energy sources. Pre-existing energy poverty conditions are often overlooked in these policies, even though they can negatively affect the adoption of these measures. This article uses southern and central Chile as a case study to assess quantitatively different policy scenarios of PM2.5 emissions between 2017 and 2050, considering energy poverty-related effects. Results show that PM2.5 emissions will grow 16% over time under a business as usual scenario. If thermal improvement and stove/heater replacements are implemented, PM2.5 reductions depend on the scale of the policy: a 5%–6% reduction of total southern and central Chile PM2.5 emissions if only cities with Atmospheric Decontamination Plans are included; a 54%–56% reduction of PM2.5 emissions if these policies include other growing cities. Our study shows that the energy poverty effect potentially reduces the effectiveness of these measures in 25%. Consequently, if no anticipatory measures are taken, Chile's energy transition goals could be hindered and the effectiveness of mitigation policies to improve air quality significantly reduced. | |
| A comparison of mixed logit and latent class models to estimate market segments for seafood faced with ocean acidification | Aquaculture Economics & Management | Campos-Requena, N.; Vásquez-Lavin, F.; Fernández, F.; Barrientos, M.; Gelcich, S.; Oliva, R. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1080/13657305.2022.2100005 | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13657305.2022.2100005 | 1-33 | Vol: 27 | 1365-7305, 1551-8663 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | This study uses a choice experiment to characterize market segments (consumer preferences heterogeneity) based on three attributes of seafood (mussels) that are affected by ocean acidification: shell appearance, meat color, and nutritional composition. Using a sample of 1,257 individuals from two main cities in Chile, we estimate both the Mixed Logit model and the Latent Class model. We use the individual-specific posterior (ISP) parameters’ distribution to categorize consumers’ heterogeneity based on the signs and intensity (i.e., like or dislike dimension) of these ISPs. We compare the pattern of preferences and whether people are classified within the same preference pattern in both models. In general, we observed that the models identify a different number of segments with various patterns of preferences. Moreover, the models classify the same people into different groups. Since the segmentation is sensitive to the chosen model, we discuss strengths, inconsistencies, biases, and best practices regarding methodological approaches to establishing market segments in choice experiments and future ocean acidification conditions. © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. | |
| Local agendas for tackling climate change: Comparative analysis of the Municipalities of Concepción and Caleta Tortel in Chile; [Agendas locales para enfrentar el cambio climático: Análisis comparado de la Municipalidad de Concepción y la Municipalidad de Caleta Tortel en Chile] | Revista Chilena de Derecho y Ciencia Politica | Cariaga, V. | 2022 | 10.7770/rchdcp-V13N1-art2696 | https://derechoycienciapolitica.uct.cl/index.php/RDCP/article/view/57 | 208-238 | Vol: 13 Issue: 1 | 07189389 | Scopus | Spanish | The Network of Municipalities in the face of Climate Change has turned out to be a space where municipalities can seek support and guidance, to work on mitigation and adaptation areas of their locality. In this sense, the proposal of a climate change program composed of nine thematic areas has been of primary concern, considering that not all municipalities work the program in its entirety. Against this, only two municipalities are prominent for developing the nine thematic areas: the Municipality of Concepción and the Municipality of Caleta Tortel. The research results in the fact that the political and the technical factors turn out to be the common point of both municipalities and that these can influence the number of thematic areas reached. © 2022, Catholic University of Temuco Faculty of Law Economics and Administrative Sciences. All rights reserved. | ||
| Testing the Model Efficiency of HYDRUS 2D/3D Under Desert Conditions for Water Content and Pore Electrical Conductivity: a Case Study in an Olive Orchard | Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition | Carlos, F.; Cristian, K.; Marco, G.; Mauricio, G.; Humberto, A.; de Miranda Jarbas, H.; Oscar, S. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1007/s42729-022-00777-0 | https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s42729-022-00777-0 | 1859-1872 | Vol: 22 Issue: 2 | 0718-9508, 0718-9516 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The water crisis is a concern for Chilean agriculture. Testing new methods based on computer simulations is urgent to optimize irrigation. This study aimed to assess the model efficiency of HYDRUS 2D/3D simulations of volumetric water content (θ) and pore electrical conductivity (ECp) in an olive tree variety Kalamata under desert conditions. The model efficiency was assessed by comparing model simulations against observations of θ and ECp in five frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensors installed in the soil profile. Model simulations were improved by calibration using PEST software. Global sensitivity analysis was performed before calibration, analyzing both θ and ECp model outputs. Outcomes of sensitivity analysis indicate that the surface area associated with transpiration (ST) and the slope of the stress response function (s) are relevant parameters for θ and ECp. Both parameters were calibrated along with the saturated water content (θs) and pore size distribution (n) parameters of the second material. Calibration improved HYDRUS 2D/3D simulations for θ but not substantially for ECp. However, the Nash–Sutcliffe and the root mean square error (RMSE) are comparable with previous research for both variables. Furthermore, the s parameter decreases after calibration, indicating that Kalamata variety is tolerant to salt, which is in line with previous research. HYDRUS 2D/3D represents the θ variation in time and space with acceptable precision for olive trees under desert conditions. Additionally, subsequent studies should focus on the value of s, which is variety dependent, and ST, which requires the actual root volume. © 2022, The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedad Chilena de la Ciencia del Suelo. | |
| ¿Reconocimiento de los pueblos indígenas y sus aportes en la acción climática? Un análisis del informe del IPCC sobre Impactos, Adaptación y Vulnerabilidad | Carmona, R.; Petrasek, J.; Sambo, D.; Bhadra, T.; Abraham, G.; Thorsell, S. | 2022 | https://www.cr2.cl/36100-2/ | 9 | cr2.cl | ||||||||
| From mobilization to the convention: Dynamics and strategies of socio-environmental organizations in the Chilean constituent process; [DE LA MOVILIZACIÓN A LA CONVENCIÓN: DINÁMICAS Y ESTRATEGIAS DE LAS ORGANIZACIONES SOCIOAMBIENTALES EN EL PROCESO CONSTITUYENTE CHILENO] | Universum | Carrasco, S.; Abad, P.; Cuevas, C.; Cariaga, V.; Mansilla, P.; Maillet, A. | 2022 | 10.4067/S0718-23762022000200667 | https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-23762022000200667 | 667-693 | Vol: 37 Issue: 2 | 0716-498X | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | Spanish | The social outburst in Chile generated a relevant milestone in the country's political system, since it catalyzed a process of constitutional change. In this context, the research analyzes the role of socio-territorial actors in the positioning of environmental demands in the constitutional process. In addition, the configuration and strategies of environmental organizations are established. To do this, the article analyzes an intentional sample of socio-environmental organizations deployed throughout the national territory. In the same way, a theoretical perspective is developed on the political strategies of social-environmental organizations and establishes a mixed methodological strategy, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. The results show that socio-environmental organizations maintain certain common elements regarding the environmental demands they pursue, yet differ in the use of different strategies to influence the constituent process, both insider and outsider. The study contributes to the discussion on environmental mobilization in Chile, moving beyond the case studies, which are the dominant perspectives in this type of research; and at the same time, it portrays an ongoing political process, thus contributing to the current public discussion. © 2022 Universidad de Talca. All rights reserved. | ||
| Worldwide Signature of the 2022 Tonga Volcanic Tsunami | Geophysical Research Letters | Carvajal, M.; Sepúlveda, I.; Gubler, A.; Garreaud, R. | 2022 | 10.1029/2022GL098153 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022GL098153 | arte2022GL098153 | Vol: 49 Issue: 6 | 0094-8276, 1944-8007 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcano in January 2022 in the southwest Pacific islands of Tonga triggered a tsunami that was detected beyond the Pacific basin. Here we show its spatiotemporal signature as revealed by hundreds of publicly available coastal tide gauge records from around the world. The Tonga tsunami was characterized by a uniformly small leading wave that arrived earlier than theoretically expected for a tsunami wave freely propagating away from the volcano. In contrast, the largest waves, of up to +3 m high, were concentrated in the Pacific and their timing agrees well with tsunami propagation times from the volcano. While the leading waves were caused by a previously reported fast-moving atmospheric pressure pulse generated in the volcanic explosion, the large waves observed later in the Pacific were likely originated in the vicinity of the volcano although its generation mechanism(s) cannot be identified by the tide gauge data alone. © 2022. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. | ||
| PAPILA dataset: a regional emission inventory of reactive gases for South America based on the combination of local and global information | Earth System Science Data | Castesana, P.; Diaz Resquin, M.; Huneeus, N.; Puliafito, E.; Darras, S.; Gómez, D.; Granier, C.; Osses Alvarado, M.; Rojas, N.; Dawidowski, L. | 2022 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.5194/essd-14-271-2022 | https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/14/271/2022/ | 271-293 | Vol: 14 Issue: 1 | 1866-3516 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract. The multidisciplinary project Prediction of Air Pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean (PAPILA) is dedicated to the development and implementation of an air quality analysis and forecasting system to assess pollution impacts on human health and economy. In this context, a comprehensive emission inventory for South America was developed on the basis of the existing data on the global dataset CAMS-GLOB-ANT v4.1 (developed by joining CEDS trends and EDGAR v4.3.2 historical data), enriching it with data derived from locally available emission inventories for Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. This work presents the results of the first joint effort of South American researchers and European colleagues to generate regional maps of emissions, together with a methodological approach to continue incorporating information into future versions of the dataset. This version of the PAPILA dataset includes CO, NOx, NMVOCs, NH3, and SO2 annual emissions from anthropogenic sources for the period 2014–2016, with a spatial resolution of 0.1∘ × 0.1∘ over a domain that covers 32–120∘ W and 34∘ N–58∘ S. The PAPILA dataset is presented as netCDF4 files and is available in an open-access data repository under a CC-BY 4 license: https://doi.org/10.17632/btf2mz4fhf.3 (Castesana et al., 2021). A comparative assessment of PAPILA–CAMS datasets was carried out for (i) the South American region, (ii) the countries with local data (Argentina, Colombia, and Chile), and (iii) downscaled emission maps for urban domains with different environmental and anthropogenic factors. Relevant differences were found at both country and urban levels for all the compounds analyzed. Among them, we found that when comparing PAPILA total emissions versus CAMS datasets at the national level, higher levels of NOx and considerably lower levels of the other species were obtained for Argentina, higher levels of SO2 and lower levels of CO and NOx for Colombia, and considerably higher levels of CO, NMVOCs, and SO2 for Chile. These discrepancies are mainly related to the representativeness of local practices in the local emission estimates, to the improvements made in the spatial distribution of the locally estimated emissions, or to both. Both datasets were evaluated against surface concentrations of CO and NOx by using them as input data to the WRF-Chem model for one of the analyzed domains, the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, for summer and winter of 2015. PAPILA-based modeling results had a smaller bias for CO and NOx concentrations in winter while CAMS-based results for the same period tended to deliver an underestimation of these concentrations. Both inventories exhibited similar performances for CO in summer, while the PAPILA simulation outperformed CAMS for NOx concentrations. These results highlight the importance of refining global inventories with local data to obtain accurate results with high-resolution air quality models. | |
| The complex Andes region needs improved efforts to face climate extremes | Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene | Cazorla, M.; Gallardo, L.; Jimenez, R. | 2022 | 10.1525/elementa.2022.00092 | https://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article/10/1/00092/194534/The-complex-Andes-region-needs-improved-efforts-to | 00092 | Vol: 10 Issue: 1 | 2325-1026 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The steep slopes, highlands, and valleys of the Andes mountain chain are inhabited throughout its formidable length. This unique characteristic does not repeat in any other mountain region. The Andes shape weather and climate in South America. However, proper understanding of atmospheric phenomena influenced by a daunting altitudinal gradient is still behind what is needed to produce detailed and consistent climate projections. Despite significant advances, global models misrepresent key precipitation and circulation processes that are influenced by complex topography. Along with a lack of coordinated observations, the result is limited information to design preparedness measures, particularly to face extreme climate events. Of equal concern is the issue of air quality in densely urbanized countries that face decarbonization challenges and share a legacy of social inequity and political unrest. The complexity of the Andes region magnifies risks within all nations that share their influence. Thus, urgent action is needed to improve climate and air quality assessments with the direct purpose of strengthening policy-making processes. | ||
| Callampas of disaster: negotiations and struggles for the commons under forestry hegemony in Chile | Community Development Journal | Cid-Aguayo, B.; Krstulovic-Matus, J.; Carrasco Henríquez, N.; Mella-Moraga, V.; Oñate Vargas, D. | 2022 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1093/cdj/bsac030 | https://academic.oup.com/cdj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cdj/bsac030/6762889 | bsac030 | Vol: 58 | 0010-3802, 1468-2656 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | The massive planting of exotic species under the so-called forestry model has dramatically transformed the landscapes of south-central Chile, replacing diverse agricultural, livestock and forest landscapes with forest monocultures, which are highly water-consuming and prone to massive fires. This has meant a productive simplification, and peasant communities have been displaced and stripped of their traditional ways of life. However, in this landscape of disaster, biotic communities of fungi have flourished, and with them human communities of collectors have learned to sustain themselves in a monocultural and privatized scenario. This paper is based on a multi-local ethnographic approach, built upon 26 semi-structured interviews, participant observation, social mapping, creating a calendar and a trend line. The text documents the processes of two communities affected by massive fires which have developed organization, agencies and practices. Mushrooms (callampas in Chilean Spanish) are claimed as a common good derived from the forestry model, claiming access to their use and usufruct of land belonging to forestry companies. They have also developed local governance systems for the care and better use of this new resource for common use. Forestry companies, for their part, try to subsume these practices in their territorial governance processes, disputing these commons’ meaning and purpose. Both cases contribute to empirically address the central thesis of this article, according to which communalization exercises within contexts of capitalist expansion constitute responses of survival, resistance and adaptation in landscapes transformed and devastated by extractivist industries. | |
| Central tropical Pacific convection drives extreme high temperatures and surface melt on the Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula | Nature Communications | Clem, K.; Bozkurt, D.; Kennett, D.; King, J.; Turner, J. | 2022 | 10.1038/s41467-022-31119-4 | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-31119-4 | 3906 | Vol: 13 Issue: 1 | 2041-1723 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract Northern sections of the Larsen Ice Shelf, eastern Antarctic Peninsula (AP) have experienced dramatic break-up and collapse since the early 1990s due to strong summertime surface melt, linked to strengthened circumpolar westerly winds. Here we show that extreme summertime surface melt and record-high temperature events over the eastern AP and Larsen C Ice Shelf are triggered by deep convection in the central tropical Pacific (CPAC), which produces an elongated cyclonic anomaly across the South Pacific coupled with a strong high pressure anomaly over Drake Passage. Together these atmospheric circulation anomalies transport very warm and moist air to the southwest AP, often in the form of “atmospheric rivers”, producing strong foehn warming and surface melt on the eastern AP and Larsen C Ice Shelf. Therefore, variability in CPAC convection, in addition to the circumpolar westerlies, is a key driver of AP surface mass balance and the occurrence of extreme high temperatures. |
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| High ENSO sensitivity in tree rings from a northern population of Polylepis tarapacana in the Peruvian Andes | Dendrochronologia | Crispín-DelaCruz, D.; Morales, M.; Andreu-Hayles, L.; Christie, D.; Guerra, A.; Requena-Rojas, E. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.dendro.2021.125902 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1125786521000989 | 125902 | Vol: 71 | 1125-7865 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Polylepis tarapacana is the highest-elevation tree species worldwide growing between 4000 and 5000 m a.s.l. along the South American Altiplano. P. tarapacana is adapted to live in harsh conditions and has been widely used for drought and precipitation tree-ring based reconstructions. Here, we present a 400-year tree-ring width (TRW) chronology located in southern Peru (17ºS; 69ºW) at the northernmost limit of P. tarapacana tree species distribution. The objectives of this study are to assess tree growth sensitivity of a northern P. tarapacana population to (1) precipitation, temperature and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability; (2) to compare its growth variability and ENSO sensitivity with southern P. tarapacana forests. Our results showed that this TRW record is highly sensitive to the prior summer season (Nov-Jan) precipitation (i.e. positive correlation) when the South American Summer Monsoon (SASM) reaches its maximum intensity in this region. We also found a positive relationship with current year temperature that suggests that radial growth may be enhanced by warm, less cloudy, conditions during the year of formation. A strong positive relationship was found between el Niño 3.4 and tree growth variability during the current growing season, but negative during the previous growth period. Growth variability in our northern study site was in agreement with other populations that represent almost the full range of P. tarapacana latitudinal distribution (~ 18ºS to 23ºS). Towards the south of the P. tarapacana TRW network there was a decrease in the strength of the agreement of growth variability with our site,with the exception of higher correlation with the two southeastern sites. Similarly, the TRW chronologies recorded higher sensitivity to ENSO influences in the north and southeastern locations, which are wetter, than the drier southwestern sites. These patterns hold for the entire period, as well as for periods of high and low ENSO activity. Overall, P. tarapacana tree growth at the north of its distribution is mostly influenced by prior year moisture availability and current year temperature that are linked to large-scale climate patterns such as the SASM and ENSO, respectively. | |
| Well-to-wheel emissions and abatement strategies for passenger vehicles in two Latin American cities | Environmental Science and Pollution Research | Cuéllar-Álvarez, Y.; Clappier, A.; Osses, M.; Thunis, P.; Belalcázar-Cerón, L. | 2022 | 10.1007/s11356-022-20885-9 | https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11356-022-20885-9 | 72074-72085 | Vol: 29 | 0944-1344, 1614-7499 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | More stringent standards for engines and fuels are progressively implemented as alternatives to reduce on-road vehicle emissions. While electric vehicles appear as a perfect alternative since their engines do not emit pollutants, wear and dust resuspension (W&R) and indirect emissions associated with electricity production remain significant sources of pollution. This work compares well-to-wheel emissions (WTW) and abatement strategies for various types of passenger vehicles in Bogotá and Santiago for different pollutants (CO, PM2.5, SO2, and NOx) and greenhouse gases like CO2 equivalent (CO2-Eq). Results show that WTW baseline emissions are more extensive in Bogotá than in Santiago (i.e., 58 and 30% for PM2.5 and CO2-Eq), mainly due to the higher vehicle activity and older state of Bogotá’s fleet. We also evaluated extreme scenarios to assess the potential of a given vehicle technology or energy source to reduce emissions. We assessed, in particular, the replacement of all current vehicles by (1) conventional technologies with stricter emission standards and (2) battery electric vehicles powered with different energy resources. Our results indicate that replacing the current fleet with modern combustion technologies has a lower reduction potential than battery electric vehicles, but these reductions largely depend on the energy mix. Substitution by electric vehicles powered with electricity from renewable energies is the most efficient scenario in both cities. Finally, results also stress the importance of the resuspension of deposited road dust and brake and tire wear emissions in both cities as a crucial source of PM2.5, which must be better controlled. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. | ||
| Impact of biomass burning and stratospheric intrusions in the remote South Pacific Ocean troposphere | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics | Daskalakis, N.; Gallardo, L.; Kanakidou, M.; Nüß, J.; Menares, C.; Rondanelli, R.; Thompson, A.; Vrekoussis, M. | 2022 | Ciudades Resilientes; Zonas Costeras | 10.5194/acp-22-4075-2022 | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/22/4075/2022/ | 4075-4099 | Vol: 22 Issue: 6 | 1680-7324 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract. The ozone mixing ratio spatiotemporal variability in the pristine South Pacific Ocean is studied, for the first time, using 21-year-long ozone (O3) records from the entire southern tropical and subtropical Pacific between 1994 and 2014. The analysis considered regional O3 vertical observations from ozonesondes, surface carbon monoxide (CO) observations from flasks, and three-dimensional chemistry-transport model simulations of the global troposphere. Two 21-year-long numerical simulations, with and without biomass burning emissions, were performed to disentangle the importance of biomass burning relative to stratospheric intrusions for ambient ozone levels in the region. Tagged tracers of O3 from the stratosphere and CO from various biomass burning regions have been used to track the impact of these different regions on the southern tropical Pacific O3 and CO levels. Patterns have been analyzed based on atmospheric dynamics variability. Considering the interannual variability in the observations, the model can capture the observed ozone gradients in the troposphere with a positive bias of 7.5 % in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS) as well as near the surface. Remarkably, even the most pristine region of the global ocean is affected by distant biomass burning emissions by convective outflow through the mid and high troposphere and subsequent subsidence over the pristine oceanic region. Therefore, the biomass burning contribution to tropospheric CO levels maximizes in the UTLS. The Southeast Asian open fires have been identified as the major contributing source to CO from biomass burning in the tropical South Pacific, contributing on average for the study period about 8.5 and 13 ppbv of CO at Rapa Nui and Samoa, respectively, at an altitude of around 12 km during the burning season in the spring of the Southern Hemisphere. South America is the second-most important biomass burning source region that influences the study area. Its impact maximizes in the lower troposphere (6.5 ppbv for Rapa Nui and 3.8 ppbv for Samoa). All biomass burning sources contribute about 15–23 ppbv of CO at Rapa Nui and Samoa and account for about 25 % of the total CO in the entire troposphere of the tropical and subtropical South Pacific. This impact is also seen on tropospheric O3, to which biomass burning O3 precursor emissions contribute only a few ppbv during the burning period, while the stratosphere–troposphere exchange is the most important source of O3 for the mid troposphere of the South Pacific Ocean, contributing about 15–20 ppbv in the subtropics. |
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| Enhanced nitrogen and carbon removal in natural seawater by electrochemical enrichment in a bioelectrochemical reactor | Journal of Environmental Management | De La Fuente, M.; De la Iglesia, R.; Farías, L.; Glasner, B.; Torres-Rojas, F.; Muñoz, D.; Daims, H.; Lukumbuzya, M.; Vargas, I. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116294 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0301479722018679 | 116294 | Vol: 323 | 03014797 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Municipal and industrial wastewater discharges in coastal and marine environments are of major concern due to their high carbon and nitrogen loads and the resulted phenomenon of eutrophication. Bioelectrochemical reactors (BERs) for simultaneous nitrogen and carbon removal have gained attention owing to their cost efficiency and versatility, as well as the possibility of electrochemical enrich specific groups. This study presented a scalable two-chamber BERs using graphite granules as electrode material. BERs were inoculated and operated for 37 days using natural seawater with high concentrations of ammonium and acetate. The BERs demonstrated a maximum current density of 0.9 A m−3 and removal rates of 7.5 mg NH4+-N L−1 d−1 and 99.5 mg L−1 d−1 for total organic carbon (TOC). Removals observed for NH4+-N and TOC were 96.2% and 68.7%, respectively. The results of nutrient removal (i.e., ammonium, nitrate, nitrite and TOC) and microbial characterization (i.e., next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and fluorescence in situ hybridization) showed that BERs operated with a poised cathode at −260 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) significantly enriched nitrifying microorganisms in the anode and denitrifying microorganisms and planctomycetes in the cathode. Interestingly, the electrochemical enrichment did not increase the total number of microorganisms in the formed biofilms but controlled their composition. Thus, this work shows the first successful attempt to electrochemically enrich marine nitrifying and denitrifying microorganisms and presents a technique to accelerate the start-up process of BERs to remove dissolved inorganic nitrogen and total organic carbon from seawater. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd | ||
| The global spectrum of plant form and function: enhanced species-level trait dataset | Scientific Data | Díaz, S.; Kattge, J.; Cornelissen, J.; Wright, I.; Lavorel, S.; Dray, S.; Reu, B.; Kleyer, M.; Wirth, C.; Prentice, I.; Garnier, E.; Bönisch, G.; Westoby, M.; Poorter, H.; Reich, P.; Moles, A.; Dickie, J.; Zanne, A.; Chave, J.; Wright, S.; Sheremetiev, S.; Jactel, H.; Baraloto, C.; Cerabolini, B.; P... | 2022 | 10.1038/s41597-022-01774-9 | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-022-01774-9 | 755 | Vol: 9 Issue: 1 | 2052-4463 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract Here we provide the ‘Global Spectrum of Plant Form and Function Dataset’, containing species mean values for six vascular plant traits. Together, these traits –plant height, stem specific density, leaf area, leaf mass per area, leaf nitrogen content per dry mass, and diaspore (seed or spore) mass – define the primary axes of variation in plant form and function. The dataset is based on ca. 1 million trait records received via the TRY database (representing ca. 2,500 original publications) and additional unpublished data. It provides 92,159 species mean values for the six traits, covering 46,047 species. The data are complemented by higher-level taxonomic classification and six categorical traits (woodiness, growth form, succulence, adaptation to terrestrial or aquatic habitats, nutrition type and leaf type). Data quality management is based on a probabilistic approach combined with comprehensive validation against expert knowledge and external information. Intense data acquisition and thorough quality control produced the largest and, to our knowledge, most accurate compilation of empirically observed vascular plant species mean traits to date. |
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| Forest plantation subsidies: Impact evaluation of the Chilean case | Forest Policy and Economics | España, F.; Arriagada, R.; Melo, O.; Foster, W. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.forpol.2022.102696 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1389934122000089 | 102696 | Vol: 137 | 1389-9341 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | Over the past half century there has been a rapid expansion of the forestry sector in Chile. One hypothesis is that this growth was stimulated in major part by government-supported financial incentives to forestry plantations dating from the mid-1970s. Evaluating the effects of subsidies on plantations is of current policy interest due to the potential importance of forests as carbon sinks. This study evaluates the impact of subsidies on the establishment of forest plantations (under the specific law DL701) for the period between the years 1998 and 2013 using matching techniques in combination with Difference-in-Differences. Results show that government subsidies have had a statistically and economically significant positive impact on plantations, increasing the forested area of subsidy program participants by approximately 13% compared with the counterfactual scenario without such subsidies. © 2022 Elsevier B.V. | |
| Atmospheric rivers drive exceptional Saharan dust transport towards Europe | Atmospheric Research | Francis, D.; Fonseca, R.; Nelli, N.; Bozkurt, D.; Picard, G.; Guan, B. | 2022 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105959 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0169809521005159 | 105959 | Vol: 266 | 0169-8095 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | This study highlights the occurrence of atmospheric rivers (ARs) over northwest Africa towards Europe, which were accompanied by intense episodes of Saharan dust transport all the way to Scandinavia, in the winter season. Using a combination of observational and reanalysis data, we investigate two extreme dusty AR events in February 2021 and assess their impact on snow melt in the Alps. The warm, moist, and dusty air mass (spatially-averaged 2-meter temperature and water vapour mixing ratio anomalies of up to 8 K and 3 g kg−1, and aerosol optical depths and dust loadings of up to 0.85 and 11 g m−2, respectively) led to a 50% and 40% decrease in snow depth and surface albedo, respectively, in less than one month during the winter season. ARs over northwest Africa show increasing trends over the past 4 decades, with 78% of AR events associated with severe dust episodes over Europe. © 2021 The Authors | |
| Declining honey production and beekeeper adaptation to climate change in Chile | Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment | Gajardo-Rojas, M.; Muñoz, A.; Barichivich, J.; Klock-Barría, K.; Gayo, E.; Fontúrbel, F.; Olea, M.; Lucas, C.; Veas, C. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1177/03091333221093757 | http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03091333221093757 | 737-756 | Vol: 46 Issue: 5 | 0309-1333, 1477-0296 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Drought severity has pervasive impacts on honey production via direct impacts on water resources and nectar availability. The current mega-drought in Chile has impacts on water resources and forest vigor, particularly in the Mediterranean and Temperate regions where honey production is concentrated. While honey production plays an important role in the local rural economy and providing pollination services to other agricultural activities, studies of the long-term impacts of the mega-drought on honey production are scarce. Here, we evaluate the impact of climate variability on historical changes in honey production in the Mediterranean (32°S–37°S) and Temperate (37°S–41°S) regions of Chile, using annual honey production records of beekeepers together with national records of honey exports. We also used questionnaires and interviews to evaluate beekeeper perceptions regarding the effects of climate change on honey production and adaptation practices in both regions. Results indicated a declining trend in honey production and exports in the last decade, largely related to changes in precipitation and temperature in both regions. Declines in honey production affected 82% of beekeepers, 80% of whom had employed adaptive measures, and 74% considered that these measures were effective. The drier, warmer Mediterranean region showed more severe declines in precipitation and honey production, which beekeepers reported as a main contributing factor to transhumance from the Mediterranean to the Temperate region. This is the first study to show the effects of drought on honey production in Chile, providing a foundation for future climate change adaptation strategies within apiculture. | |
| CLSoilMaps: A national soil gridded product for Chile | Galleguillos, Mauricio; Dinamarca, Diego; Seguel, Oscar; Faundez, Carlos | 2022 | 10.5281/zenodo.7464210 | https://zenodo.org/record/7464210 | Zenodo | English | CLSOILMAPS presents a newly gridded database of soil physical properties and soil hydraulic parameters based on digital soil mapping (DSM) techniques and a pedotransfer function (Rosetta V3) at close to 100m of spatial resolution covering the continental area of Chile and binational basins shared with Argentina for six standardized depths following GlobalSoilMap project standards. Maps were based on a newly compiled soil profile database covering different land use conditions (e.g. agricultural, forest, peatland, shrubland, and Andean grassland), and several environmental covariates based on the SCORPAN soil forming factors. DSM models showed moderate to good accuracies with R2 ranging from 0.76-0.88 for bulk density, 0.50-0.76 for clay, and 0.67-0.84 for sand. Silt maps were derived from clay and sand predictions taking advantage of the compositional nature of the particle size fraction. Field capacity, permanent wilting point, total available water capacity, and Van Genuchten´s soil hydraulic parameters were derived with Rosetta V3 algorithm. | ||||||
| Tree-ring distinctness, dating potential and climatic sensitivity of laurel forest tree species in Tenerife Island | Dendrochronologia | García-López, M.; Rozas, V.; Olano, J.; Sangüesa-Barreda, G.; García-Hidalgo, M.; Gómez-González, S.; López-Rubio, R.; Fernández-Palacios, J.; García-González, I.; García-Cervigón, A. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.dendro.2022.126011 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1125786522000911 | 126011 | Vol: 76 | 11257865 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Macaronesian laurel forests are the only remnants of a subtropical palaeoecosystem dominant during the Tertiary in Europe and northern Africa. These biodiverse ecosystems are restricted to cloudy and temperate insular environments in the North Atlantic Ocean. Due to their reduced distribution area, these forests are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances and changes in climatic conditions. The assessment of laurel forest trees’ response to climate variation by dendrochronological methods is limited because it was assumed that the lack of marked seasonality would prevent the formation of distinct annual tree rings. The aims of this study were to identify the presence of annual growth rings and to assess the dendrochronological potential of the most representative tree species from laurel forests in Tenerife, Canary Islands. We sampled increment cores from 498 trees of 12 species in two well-preserved forests in Tenerife Island. We evaluated tree-ring boundary distinctness, dating potential, and sensitivity of tree-ring growth to climate and, particularly, to drought occurrence. Eight species showed clear tree-ring boundaries, but synchronic annual tree rings and robust tree-ring chronologies were only obtained for Laurus novocanariensis, Ilex perado subsp. platyphylla, Persea indica and Picconia excelsa, a third of the studied species. Tree-ring width depended on water balance and drought occurrence, showing sharp reductions in growth in the face of decreased water availability, a response that was consistent among species and sites. Inter-annual tree-ring width variation was directly dependent on rainfall input in the humid period, from previous October to current April. The four negative pointer years 1995, 1999, 2008 and 2012 corresponded to severe drought events in the study area. This study gives the first assessment of dendrochronological potential and tree-ring climate sensitivity of tree species from the Tenerife laurel forest, which opens new research avenues for dendroecological studies in Macaronesian laurel forests. © 2022 The Authors | ||
| Running a scientific conference during pandemic times | Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society | Garreaud, R.; Ralph, M.; Wilson, A.; Ramos, A.; Eiras-Barca, J.; Steen-Larsen, H.; Rutz, J.; Albano, C.; Tilinina, N.; Warner, M.; Viale, M.; Rondanelli, R.; McPhee, J.; Valenzuela, R.; Gorodetskaya, I. | 2022 | 10.1175/BAMS-D-22-0023.1 | https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/aop/BAMS-D-22-0023.1/BAMS-D-22-0023.1.xml | E1650-E1657 | Vol: 103 | 0003-0007, 1520-0477 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | |||
| A Cross‐Cutting Approach for Relating Anthropocene, Environmental Injustice and Sacrifice Zones | Earth's Future | Gayo, E.; Muñoz, A.; Maldonado, A.; Lavergne, C.; Francois, J.; Rodríguez, D.; Klock‐Barría, K.; Sheppard, P.; Aguilera‐Betti, I.; Alonso‐Hernández, C.; Mena‐Carrasco, M.; Urquiza, A.; Gallardo, L. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos; Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1029/2021EF002217 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021EF002217 | arte2021EF002217 | Vol: 10 Issue: 4 | 2328-4277, 2328-4277 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The Anthropocene is an uneven phenomenon. Accelerated shifts in the functioning of the Earth System are mainly driven by the production and consumption of wealthy economies. Social, environmental and health costs of such industrialization, however, bear on low-income communities inhabiting severely degraded territories by polluting activities (i.e., sacrifice zones). How global, national and local socio-economic and governance processes have interacted in perpetuating socio-environmental inequalities in these territories has been rarely explored. Here, we develop an historical quantitative approach integrating a novel chemostratigraphic record, data on policy making, and socio-economic trends to evaluate the feedback relationship between environmental injustice and Anthropocene in sacrifice zones. We specifically outline a case study for the Puchuncaví valley -one of the most emblematic sacrifice zones from Chile-. We verify an ever-growing burden of heavy metals and metalloids over the past five decades paced by the staggering expansion of local industrial activities, which has ultimately been spurred by national and transnational market forces. Local poverty levels have declined concomitantly, but this path toward social equality is marginal as costs of pollution have grown through time. Indeed, national and international pollution control actions appear insufficient in mitigating the cumulative impact brought by highly toxic elements. Thus, our sub-decadal reconstruction for pollution trends over the past 136 years from a sediment record, emerges as a science-based tool for informing the discussion on Anthropocene governance. Furthermore, it helps to advance in the assessment of environmental inequality in societal models that prioritize economic growth to the detriment of socio-environmental security. © 2022 The Authors. Earth's Future published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Geophysical Union. | |
| A coupled modeling approach to assess the effect of forest policies in water provision: A biophysical evaluation of a drought-prone rural catchment in south-central Chile | Science of The Total Environment | Gimeno, F.; Galleguillos, M.; Manuschevich, D.; Zambrano-Bigiarini, M. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos; Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154608 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969722017016 | 154608 | Vol: 830 | 0048-9697 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The effect of different forest conservation policies on water provision has been poorly investigated due to a lack of an integrative methodological framework that enables its quantification. We developed a method for assessing the effects of forest conservation policies on water provision for rural inhabitants, based on a land-use model coupled with an eco-hydrological model. We used as a case study the Lumaco catchment, Chile, a territory dominated by native forests (NF) and non-native tree farms, with an extended dry period where nearly 12,600 people of rural communities get drinking water through water trucks. We analyzed three land-use policy scenarios: i) a baseline scenario based on historical land-cover maps; ii) a NF Recovery and Protection (NFRP) scenario, based on an earlier implementation of the first NF Recovery and Forestry Development bill; and iii) a Pristine (PR) scenario, based on potential vegetation belts; the latter two based on Dyna CLUE, and simulated between 1990 and 2015. Impacts on water provision from each scenario were computed with SWAT. The NFRP scenario resulted in an increase of 6974 ha of NF regarding the baseline situation, and the PR scenario showed an increase of 26,939 ha of NF. Despite large differences in NF areas, slight increases in inflows (Q) were found between the NFRP and the PR scenarios, with relative differences with respect to the baseline of 0.3% and 2.5% for NFRP and PR, respectively. Notwithstanding, these small differences in the NFRP scenario, they become larger if we analyze the cumulative values during the dry season only (December, January, and February), where they reach 1.1% in a normal year and 3.1% in a dry year. Flows increases were transformed into water truck costs resulting in up to 441,876 USD (monthly) of fiscal spending that could be avoided during a dry period. © 2022 Elsevier B.V. | |
| Surviving in a hostile landscape: Nothofagus alessandrii remnant forests threatened by mega-fires and exotic pine invasion in the coastal range of central Chile | Oryx | González, M.; Galleguillos, M.; Lopatin, J.; Leal, C.; Becerra-Rodas, C.; Lara, A.; San Martín, J. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1017/S0030605322000102 | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605322000102/type/journal_article | 1-11 | Vol: 57 | 0030-6053, 1365-3008 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | All Open Access; Gold Open Access | English | Abstract Nothofagus alessandrii , categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, is an endemic, deciduous tree species of the coastal range of central Chile. We assessed the effects of fire severity, invasion by the exotic fire-prone Pinus radiata , and land-cover composition and configuration of the landscape on the resilience of fragments of N. alessandrii after a mega-fire in 2017. We used remote sensing data to estimate land-use classes and cover, fire severity and invasion cover of P. radiata . We monitored forest composition and structure and post-fire responses of N. alessandrii forests in situ for 2 years after the mega-fire. In the coastal Maule region wildfires have been favoured by intense drought and widespread exotic pine plantations, increasing the ability of fire-adapted invasive species to colonize native forest remnants. Over 85% of N. alessandrii forests were moderately or severely burnt. The propagation and severity of fire was probably amplified by the exotic pines located along the edges of, or inside, the N. alessandrii fragments and the highly flammable pine plantations surrounding these fragments (> 60% of land use is pine plantations). Pinus radiata , a fire-adapted pioneer species, showed strong post-fire recruitment within the N. alessandrii fragments, especially those severely burnt. Positive feedback between climate change (i.e. droughts and heat waves), wildfires and pine invasions is driving N. alessandrii forests into an undesirable and probably irreversible state (i.e. a landscape trap). A large-scale restoration programme to design a diverse and less flammable landscape is needed to avoid the loss of these highly threatened forest ecosystems. |
| Carbon stocks across different environments, disturbance regimes, and stand age in Fitzroya cupressoides forests, the longest-lived species of the southern hemisphere | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change | González, M.; Lara, A.; Urrutia-Jalabert, R.; Bustos-Salazar, A.; Ruiz-Gómez, C.; Aravena, J. | 2022 | 10.3389/ffgc.2022.960429 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2022.960429/full | 960429 | Vol: 5 | 2624-893X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Forest disturbances influence Fitzroya cupressoides forest structure and carbon stocks at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Natural disturbances such as landslides and volcanism affect and give rise to the mostly pristine Fitzroya stands present in the Andean cordillera. On the other hand, mostly human-caused fires and logging have been the main processes shaping the structure of Fitzroya stands in the Coastal range and of Fitzroya small remnants in the Central depression. The main goal of this study was to assess the carbon stocks and accumulation rates of Fitzroya forest stands according to their development stage under different disturbance regimes and environmental conditions given by the three physiographic units where the species grows (Coastal range, Central depression, and Andean range). The site selection included an age sequence of stands, known as a chronosequence approach. We identified Fitzroya post-disturbance stands in three different stages of development: young forest stage (mean stand age of the main cohort ≤ 200 years old), mature forest stage (200–800 years old), and old growth forest stage (800–1,500 years old). The following biomass components were considered: living standing trees, dead standing trees (snags), and logs from dead trees laying on the ground (coarse woody debris). Old-growth Fitzroya forests reached a mean total carbon stock (standing live trees, snags, and coarse woody debris) of 507, 279, and 331 Mg C ha −1 in the Andean and Coastal ranges, and Central depression, respectively. Fitzroya cupressoides contributes, in average, more than 80% to the total carbon stock in the Andean and Coastal ranges, and 63% in the Central depression. The remainder corresponds mainly to Nothofagus spp. The high carbon stocks in old-growth stands in the Andean range are explained by Fitzroya longevity, larger size, wood decay resistance, and the low recurrence of volcanic events. Carbon accumulation rates differ between the forests in the three physiographic units (Central depression>Andean range>Coastal range), mainly due to the different growth rates and environmental conditions present in each unit. In the context of climate change, conserving old-growth stands with large biomass and carbon stocks and restoring Fitzroya forests should be recognized as a key contribution toward national and global goals to mitigate global warming. |
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| The Gill Microbiota of Argopecten purpuratus Scallop Is Dominated by Symbiotic Campylobacterota and Upwelling Intensification Differentially Affects Their Abundance | Microorganisms | GonzálezR, R.; Henríquez-Castillo, C.; Lohrmann, K.; Romero, M.; Ramajo, L.; Schmitt, P.; Brokordt, K. | 2022 | 10.3390/microorganisms10122330 | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/12/2330 | 2330 | Vol: 10 Issue: 12 | 2076-2607 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Despite the great importance of gills for bivalve mollusks (respiration, feeding, immunity), the microbiota associated with this tissue has barely been characterized in scallops. The scallop Argopecten purpuratus is an important economic resource that is cultivated in areas where coastal upwelling is intensifying by climate change, potentially affecting host-microbiota interactions. Thus, we first characterized the bacterial community present in gills from cultivated scallops (by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing) and assessed their stability and functional potential in animals under farm and laboratory conditions. Results showed that under both conditions the gill bacterial community is dominated by the phylum Campylobacterota (57%), which displays a chemoautotrophic potential that could contribute to scallop nutrition. Within this phylum, two phylotypes, namely symbionts A and B, were the most abundant; being, respectively, taxonomically affiliated to symbionts with nutritional functions in mussel gills, and to uncultured bacteria present in coral mucus. Additionally, in situ hybridization and scanning electron microscopy analyses allowed us to detect these symbionts in the gills of A. purpuratus. Given that shifts in upwelling phenology can cause disturbances to ecosystems, affecting bacteria that provide beneficial functions to the host, we further assessed the changes in the abundance of the two symbionts (via qPCR) in response to a simulated upwelling intensification. The exposure to combined decreasing values in the temperature, pH, and oxygen levels (upwelling conditions) favored the dominance of symbiont B over symbiont A; suggesting that symbiont abundances are modulated by these environmental changes. Overall, results showed that changes in the main Campylobacterota phylotypes in response to upwelling intensification could affect its symbiotic function in A. purpuratus under future climate change scenarios. These results provide the first insight into understanding how scallop gill-microbial systems adapt and respond to climate change stressors, which could be critical for managing health, nutrition, and scallop aquaculture productivity. | ||
| Drivers of Flammability of Eucalyptus globulus Labill Leaves: Terpenes, Essential Oils, and Moisture Content | Forests | Guerrero, F.; Carmona, C.; Hernández, C.; Toledo, M.; Arriagada, A.; Espinoza, L.; Bergmann, J.; Taborga, L.; Yañez, K.; Carrasco, Y.; Muñoz, A. | 2022 | 10.3390/f13060908 | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/6/908 | 908 | Vol: 13 Issue: 6 | 1999-4907 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Mediterranean climate regions have become more vulnerable to fire due to the extreme weather conditions and numerous Eucalyptus globulus plantation areas. The aim of this study is to analyze the fire hazard related to E. globulus in a forest fire scenario, based on the contrast of thermochemical parameters and their relationship with chemical properties, considering the predominant exotic forest species (E. globulus, Pinus radiata, Acacia dealbata, and Acacia melanoxylon) present in the Valparaiso region, Chile. The results revealed that although all of the studied species were highly flammable, E. globulus was extremely flammable, as its leaves contain high concentrations of essential oils, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes, which can generate a flammable atmosphere due to their low flashpoint and the strong negative influence shown between the essential oils, volatile terpenes, and limonene concentration. Moreover, the heat of combustion of E. globulus was positively correlated with its high essential oil contents. Finally, all of the studied species had low flashpoints and high heating values; therefore, they are predisposed to ignite in the presence of a heat source, releasing high amounts of energy during combustion, which contributes to the risk of the formation and spread of canopy fires among these tree formations. | ||
| Moving towards the ecological intensification of tree plantations | Trends in Plant Science | Gómez-González, S.; Paniw, M.; Blanco-Pastor, J.; García-Cervigón, A.; Godoy, O.; Herrera, J.; Lara, A.; Miranda, A.; Ojeda, F.; Ochoa-Hueso, R. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.12.009 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1360138521003526 | 637-645 | Vol: 27 Issue: 7 | 1360-1385 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The growing demand for timber and the boom in massive tree-planting programs could mean the spreading of mismanaged tree plantations worldwide. Here, we apply the concept of ecological intensification to forestry systems as a viable biodiversity-focused strategy that could be critical to develop productive, yet sustainable, tree plantations. Tree plantations can be highly productive if tree species are properly combined to complement their ecological functions. Simultaneously considering soil biodiversity and animal-mediated biocontrol will be critical to minimize the reliance on external inputs. Integrating genetic, functional, and demographic diversity across heterogeneous landscapes should improve resilience under climate change. Designing ecologically intensified plantations will mean breaking the timber productivity versus conservation dichotomy and assuring the maintenance of key ecosystem services at safe levels. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd | |
| Climate change-related risks and adaptation potential in Central and South America during the 21st century | Environmental Research Letters | Hagen, I.; Huggel, C.; Ramajo, L.; Chacón, N.; Ometto, J.; Postigo, J.; Castellanos, E. | 2022 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1088/1748-9326/ac5271 | https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac5271 | 033002 | Vol: 17 Issue: 3 | 1748-9326 | English | Abstract Climate-related risks in Central and South America have received increased attention and concern in science and policy, but an up-to-date comprehensive review and synthesis of risks and adaptation potential is currently missing. For this paper we evaluated over 200 peer-reviewed articles and grey literature documents published since 2012. We found that climate change in Central and South America during the 21st century may increase the risk to severe levels for the following topical risk clusters: (a) Food insecurity; (b) Floods and landslides; (c) Water scarcity; (d) Epidemics of vector-borne diseases; (e) Amazon Forest biome shift; (f). Coral bleaching; (g) Coastal risks of sea level rise, storm surges and erosion; (h) Systemic failure due to cascading impacts of hazards and epidemics. Our synthesis also identified feasible adaptation measures for each risk. The impacts of the risks will be heterogeneous throughout the region, with rural communities, Indigenous peoples, Afro-Latin Americans, women, disabled people, and migrants identified as being the most severely affected. We refer to a number of adaptation options for each risk. However, unabated climate change together with low adaptive capacity will strictly limit adaptation options. Immediate strengthening of policies for building adaptive capacity and increase of research on the risk-adaptation nexus in Central and South America are paramount. Our findings might contribute to guide the adjustment and emphasis of adaptation policies and climate risk management strategies from local to national level. |
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| Hydrologic Sensitivities and ENSO Variability Across Hydrological Regimes in Central Chile (28°–41°S) | Water Resources Research | Hernandez, D.; Mendoza, P.; Boisier, J.; Ricchetti, F. | 2022 | 10.1029/2021WR031860 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021WR031860 | arte2021WR031860 | Vol: 58 Issue: 9 | 0043-1397, 1944-7973 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | There is strong evidence of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) teleconnections in the South Pacific and related impacts on the precipitation regime in Chile; nonetheless, many aspects of the hydrological propagation and temperature responses to ENSO remain unclear in this region. We examine fluctuations across 59 near-natural catchments in central Chile (28°–41°S) under contrasting ENSO phases during the period 1981–2019. Our results show statistically significant ENSO-related hydroclimatic anomalies in almost all watersheds analyzed, which confirms the major influence of ENSO within this domain. By comparing El Niño phases against La Niña, we observe generally wetter conditions, warmer winters, cooler late springs, lower (higher) runoff ratios in snowmelt-driven (rainfall-driven) basins, and longer storm durations while storm frequencies (i.e., number of events of consecutive days with precipitation) are preserved. Additionally, low (high) elevation catchments are related to positive (negative) streamflow sensitivities to winter temperature, which increase in magnitude with the evaporative index; besides, catchments with sharp warm-and-dry conditions yield largely negative sensitivities to late spring temperature. Further, positive streamflow anomalies in rainfall-driven catchments are explained by temperature and precipitation ENSO-related amplitudes (El Niño minus La Niña) that separately favor streamflow; however, in mixed regimes and snowmelt-driven basins these results are spatially scattered. Hence, this study supports that meteorological, hydrological, and physiographic attributes modulate the translation of climate variability into river hydrology. The results presented here unravel the joint effects of precipitation and seasonal temperature fluctuations through different hydrological regimes, across a region that encloses populated cities and water-intensive activities. © 2022. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. | ||
| Multiple motion encoding in phase-contrast MRI: A general theory and application to elastography imaging | Medical Image Analysis | Herthum, H.; Carrillo, H.; Osses, A.; Uribe, S.; Sack, I.; Bertoglio, C. | 2022 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.media.2022.102416 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1361841522000664 | 102416 | Vol: 78 | 1361-8415 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | While MRI allows to encode the motion of tissue in the magnetization's phase, it remains yet a challenge to obtain high fidelity motion images due to wraps in the phase for high encoding efficiencies. Therefore, we propose an optimal multiple motion encoding method (OMME) and exemplify it in Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) data. OMME is formulated as a non-convex least-squares problem for the motion using an arbitrary number of phase-contrast measurements with different motion encoding gradients (MEGs). The mathematical properties of OMME are proved in terms of standard deviation and dynamic range of the motion's estimate for arbitrary MEGs combination which are confirmed using synthetically generated data. OMME's performance is assessed on MRE data from in vivo human brain experiments and compared to dual encoding strategies. The unwrapped images are further used to reconstruct stiffness maps and compared to the ones obtained using conventional unwrapping methods. OMME allowed to successfully combine several MRE phase images with different MEGs, outperforming dual encoding strategies in either motion-to-noise ratio (MNR) or number of successfully reconstructed voxels with good noise stability. This lead to stiffness maps with greater resolution of details than obtained with conventional unwrapping methods. The proposed OMME method allows for a flexible and noise robust increase in the dynamic range and thus provides wrap-free phase images with high MNR. In MRE, the method may be especially suitable when high resolution images with high MNR are needed. © 2022 | |
| Scientists and climate governance: A view from the South | Environmental Science & Policy | Ibarra, C.; Jiménez, G.; O’Ryan, R.; Blanco, G.; Cordero, L.; Insunza, X.; Moraga, P.; Rojas, M.; Sapiains, R. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.09.012 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1462901122002908 | 396-405 | Vol: 137 | 1462-9011 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The importance of science for climate governance has strengthened over time and the topic inspires prolific academic writing on the influence of scientists and scientific knowledge on policy decisions. One of the streams of research in the field is inspired by Cash´s (2003) seminal work highlighting how the role of scientists depends on perceptions of salience, credibility and legitimacy. Other views call for attention to the politics involved in scientific performance while influencing policy and on the local circumstances, considering the many ways in which societies relate to science and expertise. The role of scientists in climate governance is a contested issue, relevant for many research centres aiming to influence policy decisions given the urgency of the climate crisis. To better understand this role, we reviewed mainstream international literature and identified four main approaches, which we label: scientific usable knowledge, politics of science, critical approaches and hybrid approaches. We contrasted the results with the experience of scientists from a Chilean climate research centre, to provide a view from the South on the role of scientists in climate governance. Our results show that Cash´s approach was a common ground for Chilean climate scientists, upon which they build ideas on the importance of building long-term relationships between scientists and policy makers. However, they also acknowledged the need to take into consideration the role of politics in climate-related decisions and the power relations and actor´s interests. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd | ||
| Simplified two-dimensional model for global atmospheric dynamics | Physics of Fluids | Jacques-Coper, M.; Ortiz-Guzmán, V.; Zanelli, J. | 2022 | 10.1063/5.0119855 | https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0119855 | 116610 | Vol: 34 Issue: 11 | 1070-6631, 1089-7666 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We present a simplified model of the atmosphere of a terrestrial planet as an open two-dimensional system described by an ideal gas with velocity [Formula: see text], density ρ, and temperature T fields. Starting with the Chern–Simons equations for a free inviscid fluid, the external effects of radiation and the exchange of matter with the strata, as well as diffusion and dissipation, are included. The resulting dynamics is governed by a set of nonlinear differential equations of the first order in time. This defines an initial value problem that can be integrated given the radiation balance of the planet. If the nonlinearities are neglected, the integration can be done in analytic form using standard Green function methods, with small nonlinearities incorporated as perturbative corrections in a consistent way. If the nonlinear approximation is not justified, the problem can be integrated numerically. The analytic expressions as well as the simulations of the linear regime for a continuous range of parameters in the equations are provided, which allows to explore the response of the model to changes of those parameters. In particular, it is observed that a 2.5% reduction in the emissivity of the atmosphere can lead to an increase of 7 °C of the average global temperature. | ||
| Effect of tree demography and flexible root water uptake for modeling the carbon and water cycles of Amazonia | Ecological Modelling | Joetzjer, E.; Maignan, F.; Chave, J.; Goll, D.; Poulter, B.; Barichivich, J.; Maréchaux, I.; Luyssaert, S.; Guimberteau, M.; Naudts, K.; Bonal, D.; Ciais, P. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.109969 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.109969 | art: 109969 | Vol: 469 | 0304-3800 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Amazonian forest plays a crucial role in regulating the carbon and water cycles in the global climate system. However, the representation of biogeochemical fluxes and forest structure in dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) remains challenging. This situation has considerable implications to simulate the state and dynamics of Amazonian forest. This study aims at simulating the dynamic of the evapotranspiration (ET), productivity (GPP), biomass (AGB) and forest structure of wet tropical forests in the Amazon basin using the updated ORCHIDEE land surface model. The latter is improved for two processes: stand structure and demography, and plant water uptake by roots. Stand structure is simulated by adapting the CAN version of ORCHIDEE, originally developed for temperate forests. Here, we account for the permanent recruitment of young individual trees, the distribution of stand level growth into 20 different cohorts of variable diameter classes, and mortality due to asymmetric competition for light. Plant water uptake is simulated by including soil-to-root hydraulic resistance (RS). To evaluate the effect of the soil resistance alone, we performed factorial simulations with demography only (CAN) and both demography and resistance (CAN-RS). AGB, ET and GPP outputs of CAN-RS are also compared with the standard version of ORCHIDEE (TRUNK) for which eco-hydrological parameters were tuned globally to fit GPP and evapotranspiration at flux tower sites. All the model versions are benchmarked against in situ and regional datasets. We show that CAN-RS correctly reproduce stand level structural variables (as CAN) like diameter classes and tree densities when validated using in-situ data. Besides offering the key advantage to simulate forest's structure, it also correctly simulates ET and GPP and improves fluxes spatial patterns when compared to TRUNK. With the new formulation of soil water uptake, which is driven by soil water availability rather than root-biomass, the simulated trees preferentially use water in the deepest soil layers during the dry seasons. This improves the seasonality of ET and GPP compared to CAN, especially on clay soils for which the soil moisture potential drops rapidly in the dry season. Nevertheless, since demography parameters in CAN-RS are constant for all evergreen tropical forests, spatial variability of AGB and basal area across the Amazon remains too uniform compared to observations, and are very comparable to the TRUNK. Additional processes such as climate driven mortality and phosphorus limitation on growth leading to the prevalence of species with different functional traits across the Amazon need to be included in the future development of this model. © 2022 | |
| Forest restoration and hydrology | Forest Ecology and Management | Jones, J.; Ellison, D.; Ferraz, S.; Lara, A.; Wei, X.; Zhang, Z. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120342 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S037811272200336X | 120342 | Vol: 520 | 0378-1127 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Forest restoration aims to increase forest cover, structure, function, and/or species composition, and it influences hydrology through the partitioning of precipitation into evapotranspiration and streamflow. This paper provides a conceptual framework for forest restoration and hydrology, reviews the literature on forest hydrology that is relevant to forest restoration, and assesses practical forest restoration approaches, their hydrologic effects, and tradeoffs. The hydrologic effects of three types of forest are assessed: mature and old-growth forests, which often are the reference model for restoration; managed forest plantations, which dominated early efforts for forest restoration; and the early stages of native forest succession, an increasingly popular, ecologically-oriented or nature-based approach to forest restoration. This review indicates that mature and old-growth forests have high evapotranspiration and consistent water yield, provided by moderated peak discharges and sustained low flows, while water yield is low from managed forest plantations, especially during dry periods. The early stages of native forest succession may provide greater water yield and increased low flows compared with managed plantations. Inclusion of native species and natural processes in forest restoration can increase some hydrological benefits relative to other forest restoration approaches. Although forest restoration affects hydrology, few studies examine the hydrologic effects of specific forest restoration practices such as choice of species, silvicultural practices, legacies of past land use, and geographic setting. Forest managers and ecologists can play valuable roles by designing studies that explore the hydrologic effects of forest restoration approaches on time scales relevant to ecological succession and forest management under a changing climate. © 2022 Elsevier B.V. | ||
| The challenge of unprecedented floods and droughts in risk management | Nature | Kreibich, H.; Van Loon, A.; Schröter, K.; Ward, P.; Mazzoleni, M.; Sairam, N.; Abeshu, G.; Agafonova, S.; AghaKouchak, A.; Aksoy, H.; Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Aznar, B.; Balkhi, L.; Barendrecht, M.; Biancamaria, S.; Bos-Burgering, L.; Bradley, C.; Budiyono, Y.; Buytaert, W.; Capewell, L.; Carlson, H.; ... | 2022 | 10.1038/s41586-022-04917-5 | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04917-5 | 80-86 | Vol: 608 Issue: 7921 | 0028-0836, 1476-4687 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract Risk management has reduced vulnerability to floods and droughts globally 1,2 , yet their impacts are still increasing 3 . An improved understanding of the causes of changing impacts is therefore needed, but has been hampered by a lack of empirical data 4,5 . On the basis of a global dataset of 45 pairs of events that occurred within the same area, we show that risk management generally reduces the impacts of floods and droughts but faces difficulties in reducing the impacts of unprecedented events of a magnitude not previously experienced. If the second event was much more hazardous than the first, its impact was almost always higher. This is because management was not designed to deal with such extreme events: for example, they exceeded the design levels of levees and reservoirs. In two success stories, the impact of the second, more hazardous, event was lower, as a result of improved risk management governance and high investment in integrated management. The observed difficulty of managing unprecedented events is alarming, given that more extreme hydrological events are projected owing to climate change 3 . |
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| Association between the diabetic foot amputation index and metabolic compensation in diabetes mellitus; [Asociación entre el índice de amputación por pie diabético y los indicadores de atención y manejo de diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en los Centros de Salud del Servicio Metropolitano Oriente, entre 2014 y 2018] | Revista Medica de Chile | Kuschel, F.; Orellana, I.; Valdés, M. | 2022 | 10.4067/s0034-98872022000700912 | https://doi.org/10.4067/s0034-98872022000700912 | 912-918 | Vol: 150 Issue: 7 | 00349887 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | Spanish | Background: Diabetic foot amputation is a public health challenge due to the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Although there are many health indicators aimed at the management and control of T2D and its complications, amputations persist. Aim: To evaluate the association between diabetic foot amputation index and indicators of care and management of T2D in primary care centers of the eastern section of Santiago, Chile. Material and Methods: We conducted a mixed ecological study and included information from the Monthly Statistical report of different public health centers from 2014 to 2018. We also analyzed the hospital discharge records from an individual tertiary public health center. The annual index for diabetic foot amputation per 100,000 diabetic patients was used as a response variable. The diabetic compensation percentage was calculated as the proportion of adults with a glycosylated hemoglobin below 7% or the proportion of older people with a value below 8%. The diabetic decompensation percentage was calculated as the proportion of people with a glycosylated hemoglobin over 9%. Results: A high variability in demographic and management indicators was observed between communes and centers in the study period. Bivariate analysis showed a significant correlation between the amputation index, decompensation, and insulin use. In a regression analysis, the amputation index was significantly associated with the diabetic compensation percentage (β = -3.5; p < 0.05) and a high decompensation percentage (β = 12.3; p < 0.005). Conclusions: The diabetic foot amputation index was associated with diabetic compensation and decompensation indicators. © 2022 Sociedad Medica de Santiago. All rights reserved. | ||
| Contaminación y sociedad: la construcción social de la polución atmosférica entre la prensa chilena y los Planes de Prevención y Descontaminación Atmosférica | Universum (Talca) | Labraña, J.; Billi, M.; Arrieta Ruiz, D.; Urquiza Gómez, A. | 2022 | 10.4067/s0718-23762022000200519 | http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-23762022000200519&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en | 519-538 | Vol: 37 Issue: 2 | 0718-2376 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | English | Air pollution has become a central issue in recent decades. The present research aims to examine how the press media construct the problem of air pollution in the Metropolitan Region, Chile. To this end, news related to air pollution in the Metropolitan Region published in the digital sites of El Mercurio and La Nación between 2003 and 2018 were analyzed, assessing their closeness with respect to the construction of air pollution in science (assessed by analyzing publications on the topic indexed in Web of Science) and in politics (assessed by analyzing the Atmospheric Prevention and Decontamination Plans). The results suggest the existence of four different interpretative frameworks in the period that operate by selectively translating the results of scientific research into inputs for public policy, thus forming an idiosyncratic construction of the causes, consequences, and solutions to pollution. © 2022 Universidad de Talca. All rights reserved. | ||
| Extreme indices of temperature and precipitation in South America: trends and intercomparison of regional climate models | Climate Dynamics | Lagos-Zúñiga, M.; Balmaceda-Huarte, R.; Regoto, P.; Torrez, L.; Olmo, M.; Lyra, A.; Pareja-Quispe, D.; Bettolli, M. | 2022 | 10.1007/s00382-022-06598-2 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-022-06598-2 | 1-22 | Vol: - | 0930-7575 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Regional Climate Models (RCMs) provide climate information required for evaluating vulnerability, impacts, and adaptation at finer scales than their global driving models. As they explicitly resolve the basic conservation and state equations, they solve physics with more detail, conserving teleconnection of larger scales provided by Global Climate Models (GCMs). In South America (SA), the regional simulations have been historically evaluated principally on climatological aspects, but the representativeness of extremes still needs a more profound assessment. This study aims to analyze three RCMs (RegCM4-7, REMO2015, and Eta) driven by different GCMs in SA, focusing on their capacity to reproduce extreme historical indices of daily precipitation and temperature. The indices of maximum consecutive 5 days precipitation (Rx5day), Consecutive Dry Days (CDD), daily maximum and minimum annual temperature (TXx and TNn, respectively) were evaluated regarding the historical spatio-temporal variability and trends. Furthermore, their projections for the 2071–2099 period, under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 scenario, were analyzed. The historical behavior of RCMs (1981–2005) was compared with two gridded products: Climate Prediction Center (CPC) and agrometeorological indicators derived from the fifth generation of global reanalysis produced by the ECMWF (AgERA5), previously compared with records from meteorological stations to evaluate them. The results show that the highest differences within the gridded products and stations were observed in the regions with more scarce surface stations (North and West of SA) and with complex topography (The Andes Cordillera), being more pronounced in the precipitation-based indices. We found that RCMs generally show more agreement in the spatial variability than in the inter-annual variability for all the indices and SA regions. When analyzing the observed trends, all models better reproduced the long-term variability of extreme temperature indices than those of rainfall. More disagreement was observed for Rx5day and CDD indices trends, including substantial spatial heterogeneities in both magnitude and sign of tendency. Climate change projections exhibited significant agreement to warmer conditions in TXx and TNn, but precipitation signals differed between RCMs and the driving GCM within each regional model. Maximum dry spells are expected to increase in almost all SA regions, whereas the climate change signals in extreme precipitation events are more consistent over southeastern SA (northern and southwestern SA), with positive (negative) changes by the end of the century. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. | ||
| Disturbance alters relationships between soil carbon pools and aboveground vegetation attributes in an anthropogenic peatland in Patagonia | Ecology and Evolution | Lopatin, J.; Araya‐López, R.; Galleguillos, M.; Perez‐Quezada, J. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1002/ece3.8694 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.8694 | arte8694 | Vol: 12 Issue: 3 | 2045-7758, 2045-7758 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Anthropogenic-based disturbances may alter peatland soil–plant causal associations and their ability to sequester carbon. Likewise, it is unclear how the vegetation attributes are linked with different soil C decomposition-based pools (i.e., live moss, debris, and poorly- to highly-decomposed peat) under grassing and harvesting conditions. Therefore, we aimed to assess the relationships between aboveground vegetation attributes and belowground C pools in a Northern Patagonian peatland of Sphagnum magellanicum with disturbed and undisturbed areas. We used ordination to depict the main C pool and floristic gradients and structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the direct and indirect relationships among these variables. In addition, we evaluated whether attributes derived from plant functional types (PFTs) are better suited to predict soil C pools than attributes derived from species gradients. We found that the floristic composition of the peatland can be classified into three categories that follow the C pool gradient. These categories correspond to (1) woody species, such as Baccharis patagonica, (2) water-logged species like Juncus procerus, and (3) grasslands. We depicted that these classes are reliable indicators of soil C decomposition stages. However, the relationships change between management. We found a clear statistical trend showing a decrease of live moss, debris, and poorly-decomposed C pools in the disturbed area. We also depicted that plant diversity, plant height, and PFT composition were reliable indicators of C decomposition only under undisturbed conditions, while the species-based attributes consistently yielded better overall results predicting soil C pools than PFT-based attributes. Our results imply that managed peatlands of Northern Patagonia with active grassing and harvesting activities, even if small-scaled, will significantly alter their future C sequestration capacities by decreasing their live and poorly-decomposed components. Finally, aboveground vegetation attributes cannot be used as proxies of soil C decomposition in disturbed peatlands as they no longer relate to decomposition stages. © 2022 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. | |
| Cross-continental hydroclimate proxies: Tree-rings in Central Chile reconstruct historical streamflow in Southeastern South American rivers | Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment | Lucas, C.; Aguilera-Betti, I.; Muñoz, A.; Puchi, P.; Sapriza, G.; Profumo, L.; Maxwell, R.; Venegas-González, A. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1177/03091333211067466 | http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03091333211067466 | 030913332110674 | Vol: 46 | 0309-1333 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Regional teleconnections permit cross-continental modeling of hydroclimate throughout the world. Tree-rings are a good hydroclimatic proxy used to reconstruct drought and streamflow in regions that respond to common global forcings. We used a multi-species dataset of 32 tree-ring width chronologies from Chile and Uruguay as a climate proxy to infer annual streamflow (Q) variability in the Negro River basin, a grassland-dominated watershed of lowland Southeastern South America. A positive linear correlation between tree-ring chronologies from Central Chile and annual Negro River instrumental streamflow from 1957 to 2012 indicated a cross-continental teleconnection between hydroclimate variability in Central Chile and Northeastern Uruguay. This relationship was mediated in part by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), whereby the El Nino 3.4 Index was positively correlated with regional rainfall, annual tree growth, and Q anomalies. Despite the proximity of Uruguayan tree-ring chronologies to Negro River hydrometric stations, the Chilean tree-ring chronologies best predicted annual streamflow. Thus, using tree-ring data from four long-term moisture-sensitive chronologies of the species Cryptocarya alba in Central Chile (32–34°S), we present the first streamflow reconstruction (1890–2009) in the lower La Plata Basin. The reconstruction supports regional evidence for increasing frequency of extreme flood years over the past century in Uruguay. We demonstrate how climate teleconnections that mediate local hydroclimate variability permit the cross-continental reconstruction of streamflow, filling a major geographical gap in historical proxies for flooding and drought in grassland biomes of the southern hemisphere. | |
| Comité Científico de Cambio Climático: Soluciones basadas en la naturaleza | Marquet, P.; Rojas, M.; Stehr, A.; Farias, L.; Gonzalez, H.; Muñoz, J.; Wagemann, E.; Rojas, C.; Rodriguez, I.; Hoyow, J. | 2022 | Ciudades Resilientes | https://comitecientifico.minciencia.gob.cl/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Soluciones-Basadas-en-la-Naturaleza-Marquet_compressed.pdf | 78 | ||||||||
| Síntesis de las iniciativas populares de norma ambientales-climáticas para la discusión constitucional | Martinez, F.; Billi, M.; Moraga, P.; Ibarra, C.; Maillet, A. | 2022 | https://www.cr2.cl/sintesis-de-las-iniciativas-populares-de-norma-ambientales-climaticas-para-la-discusion-constitucional/ | 6 | cr2.cl | ||||||||
| Atmospheric Blocking Trends and Seasonality around the Antarctic Peninsula | Journal of Climate | Marín, J.; Bozkurt, D.; Barrett, B. | 2022 | 10.1175/JCLI-D-21-0323.1 | https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/35/12/JCLI-D-21-0323.1.xml | 3803-3818 | Vol: 35 Issue: 12 | 0894-8755, 1520-0442 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract We analyze the seasonal evolution and trends of atmospheric blocking from 1979 to 2018 using a geopotential-height-based method over two domains, one located to the west (150°–90°W, 50°–70°S) and the other over and to the east (90°–30°W, 50°–70°S) of the Antarctic Peninsula. Spatial patterns of geopotential heights on days with blocking feature well-defined ridge axes over and west of much of South America, and days with the most extreme blocking (above the 99th percentile) showed upper-tropospheric ridge and cutoff low features that have been associated with extreme weather patterns. Blocking days were found to be more frequent in the first half of the period (1979–98) than the second (1999–2018) in all seasons in the west domain, whereas they seem to be more common over the eastern (peninsula) domain in 1999–2018 for austral winter, spring, and autumn, although these differences were not statistically significant. West of the Antarctic Peninsula, blocking days occur most frequently when the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) is negative, whereas they are more frequent over the peninsula when the AAO is positive. We propose that our blocking index can be used to indicate atmospheric blocking affecting the Antarctic Peninsula, similar to how the Greenland blocking index has been used to diagnose blocking, its trends, and impacts over the Arctic. |
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| Silvopastoralism and the shaping of forest patches in the Atacama Desert during the Formative Period (ca. 3000–1500 years BP) | The Holocene | McRostie, V.; Babot, P.; Calás, E.; Gayó, E.; Gallardo, F.; Godoy-Aguirre, C.; Labarca, R.; Latorre, C.; Núñez, L.; Ojeda, K.; Santoro, C.; Valenzuela, D. | 2022 | 10.1177/09596836221122636 | http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09596836221122636 | 1492-1502 | Vol: 32 Issue: 12 | 0959-6836, 1477-0911 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | During the Formative period by the Late-Holocene (ca. 3000–1500 BP), semi-sedentary and sedentary human occupations had emerged in the oases, salares, and riverine systems in the central depression (2400–1000 masl) of the Atacama Desert, northern Chile (19–25°S). This hyperarid core was marginally occupied during the post-Pleistocene and middle Holocene droughts. Settlement on these lower belts was accompanied by a rise in humidity, the introduction of Andean crops, flourishment of Prosopis spp. (algarrobo) forests, and increasing integration of domestic camelid caravans. Here, we explore lowland husbandry within risk-spreading strategies, focusing on silvopastoralism and endozoochory between camelids and algarrobos. Analysis of camelid coprolites from seven archeological sites located in the Pampa del Tamarugal, Loa River, and Salar de Atacama found intense grinding from camelid chewing and indicated a ruminal digestive system. Abundant macro and microremains in the form of tissues, phytoliths, crystals, cell structures, and others, were identified as Prosopis, Atriplex, Schoenoplectus, Distichlis, and Phragmites. We conclude that camelids were foraging for Prosopis, although the rather low number of entire seeds preserved in the coprolites leads us to think that these herbivores might not have been the main vectors for the spread and germination of algarrobos. More samples and interdisciplinary studies are needed to comprehend the complex socioecological web in the shaping of these forests and the management of the Atacama Desert landscapes. | ||
| Fire Scars: remotely sensed historical burned area and fire severity in Chile between 1984-2018 | Miranda, A.; Mentler, R.; Moletto, I.; Alfaro, G.; Aliaga, L.; Balbontín, D.; Barraza, M.; Baumbach, Susanne; Calderón, Patricio; Cardenas, Fernando; Castillo, Ivan; Gonzalo, Contreras; de la Barra, Felipe; Galleguillos, Mauricio; Gonzalez, Mauro; Hormazabal, Carlos; Lara, Antonio; Mancilla, Ian; Mu... | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1594/PANGAEA.941127 | https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.941127 | Pangaea | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International | English | The Landscape Fire Scars Database for Chile makes publicly available for the first time a historical high-resolution (~30 m) burned area and fire severity product for the country. The georeferenced database is a multi-institutional effort containing information on more than 8,000 fires events between July 1984 and June 2018. Using Google Earth Engine (GEE), we reconstructed the fire scar area, perimeter, and severity for each fire. We also provide the Landsat mosaic image of pre- and post-fire events, including the NDVI and NBR indexes. In the related paper, we release the GEE code to reproduce our database or enable the international community to reconstruct another individual burned areas and fire severity data, with minimum input requirements. In the summary file is the list of reconstructed fire events. The identification number (ID) relates the initial information of the wildfires with fire scar and severity data. | ||||
| The Landscape Fire Scars Database: mapping historical burned area and fire severity in Chile | Earth System Science Data | Miranda, A.; Mentler, R.; Moletto-Lobos, Í.; Alfaro, G.; Aliaga, L.; Balbontín, D.; Barraza, M.; Baumbach, S.; Calderón, P.; Cárdenas, F.; Castillo, I.; Contreras, G.; de la Barra, F.; Galleguillos, M.; González, M.; Hormazábal, C.; Lara, A.; Mancilla, I.; Muñoz, F.; Oyarce, C.; Pantoja, F.; Ramírez... | 2022 | 10.5194/essd-14-3599-2022 | https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/14/3599/2022/ | 3599-3613 | Vol: 14 Issue: 8 | 1866-3516 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract. Achieving a local understanding of fire regimes requires high-resolution, systematic and dynamic databases. High-quality information can help to transform evidence into decision-making in the context of rapidly changing landscapes, particularly considering that geographical and temporal patterns of fire regimes and their trends vary locally over time. Global fire scar products at low spatial resolutions are available, but high-resolution wildfire data, especially for developing countries, are still lacking. Taking advantage of the Google Earth Engine (GEE) big-data analysis platform, we developed a flexible workflow to reconstruct individual burned areas and derive fire severity estimates for all reported fires. We tested our approach for historical wildfires in Chile. The result is the Landscape Fire Scars Database, a detailed and dynamic database that reconstructs 8153 fires scars, representing 66.6 % of the country's officially recorded fires between 1985 and 2018. For each fire event, the database contains the following information: (i) the Landsat mosaic of pre- and post-fire images; (ii) the fire scar in binary format; (iii) the remotely sensed estimated fire indexes (the normalized burned ratio, NBR, and the relative delta normalized burn ratio, RdNBR); and two vector files indicating (iv) the fire scar perimeter and (v) the fire scar severity reclassification, respectively. The Landscape Fire Scars Database for Chile and GEE script (JavaScript) are publicly available. The framework developed for the database can be applied anywhere in the world, with the only requirement being its adaptation to local factors such as data availability, fire regimes, land cover or land cover dynamics, vegetation recovery, and cloud cover. The Landscape Fire Scars Database for Chile is publicly available in https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.941127 (Miranda et al., 2022). |
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| Direct effects of tephra fallout from the Puyehue–Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex on Nothofagus pumilio ring widths in northern Patagonia | Dendrochronologia | Montiel, M.; González, M.; Christie, D.; Muñoz, A.; Crisafulli, C. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.dendro.2022.125998 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1125786522000789 | 125998 | Vol: 75 | 11257865 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We evaluated the radial growth response of adult Nothofagus pumilio (Poepp. et Endl) Krasser trees affected by tephra deposition following historical volcanic eruptions of the Puyehue–Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex (PCCVC) in northern Patagonia. Standard tree–ring width chronologies were developed for trees from two sites that were affected by up to 55 cm of tephra during the 2011 eruption, which allowed us to detect the general tree–growth response to eruptions VEI ≥ 3 and VEI ≤ 2. The tree growth trend satisfactorily followed the mean temperature record (r = 0.42); however, the analysis of studentized residuals identified outliers (≥ ± 2 SD) directly related to the volcanic eruptions of the years 1921–1922 and 2011 and the respective post–eruption years, while for the 1960 eruption and following year, they largely exceeded the mean value of the residuals. The large amount of tephra deposited during the 1921–22 and 2011 eruptions caused physical damage to the tree canopy leading to the appearance of white rings and to locally absent rings. The rate of change in radial growth of trees during these eruptions presented significant declines in relation to the growth of five years before the eruption and to the following year. The low amount of tephra deposited during the 1960 eruption did not cause damage to the stands and trees increased their radial growth. In general, trees that had reduced radial growth experienced a remarkable recovery starting in the second or third post–eruption year. The amount of tephra deposited and the time of year of the volcanic eruptions had an important influence on tree rings. Some ecophysiological causes that could explain the growth responses of N. pumilio to tephra fall are discussed herein. Our study may provide useful insights to clarify the uncertain characteristics of some eruptions in the past or to detect the occurrence of large, undocumented volcanic eruptions throughout the Andes. © 2022 Elsevier GmbH | ||
| El aporte jurisprudencial de los Tribunales Ambientales chilenos en materia de reparación del daño ambiental | Ius et Praxis | Moraga Sariego, P.; Delgado Schneider, V. | 2022 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.4067/S0718-00122022000200286 | https://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-00122022000200286&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en | 286-301 | Vol: 28 Issue: 2 | 0718-0012 | SciELO; Scopus | English | The Law of General Bases of the Environment introduced environmental liability in Chilean legislation and to two actions (remediation and penalty). In the nineties, the Ordinary Courts of Justice were competent to hear both actions. However, after the environmental reform and the Environmental Courts creation (2012), these Tribunals have been in charge to hear the environmental remediation claims. This change would have meant, in our opinion, a further development of this institution in a more protective sense of the environment, where what the doctrine has attributed to the specialized nature of environmental Courts, made up of lawyers and technical ministers. From now on, the environmental damage concept is amplified, which is contemplated in article 52 of Law 19,300. The legal and jurisprudential evolution greatest access to justice and the effectiveness of the reparation action for environmental damage. © 2022, Ius et Praxis. All Rights Reserved. | |
| Fortalecimiento de capacidades a nivel subnacional: La experiencia de los Comités Regionales de Cambio Climático en Chile | Moraga, P.; Gonzalez, B.; Martinez, F. | 2022 | https://www.cr2.cl/fortalecimiento-de-capacidades-a-nivel-subnacional-la-experiencia-de-los-comites-regionales-de-cambio-climatico-en-chile/ | 17 | cr2.cl | Spanish | La presente publicación “Policy Brief: Fortalecimiento de capacidades a nivel subnacional. La experiencia de los Comités Regionales de Cambio Climático de Chile” ha sido elaborada en el marco de la ejecución de la acción “fortalecimiento institucional y de generación de capacidades a nivel subnacional en el contexto de la elaboración de la Estrategia climática de desarrollo resiliente y bajo en emisiones al 2050 para Chile”, liderado por el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente en alianza con el Programa EUROCLIMA+ e implementado a través de la Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) con el apoyo del Centro de Ciencia del Clima y la Resiliencia (CR)2. La presente publicación ha sido elaborada con el apoyo financiero de la Unión Europea. Su contenido es responsabilidad exclusiva de la autora y autores y no necesariamente refleja los puntos de vista de la Unión Europea Se autoriza la reproducción total o parcial del presente documento, sin fines comerciales, citando: Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (2022). Policy Brief: Fortalecimiento de capacidades a nivel subnacional. La experiencia de los Comités Regionales de Cambio Climático de Chile, Santiago, Chile. 17 p. | ||||||
| Boletín especial N° 2 | Orden público climático y ecológico: Principios, derechos y deberes constitucionales para la acción climática y ecológica | Moraga, P.; Hervé, D.; Pulgar, A.; Billi, M. | 2022 | https://www.cr2.cl/boletin-especial-n-2-orden-publico-climatico-y-ecologico-principios-derechos-y-deberes-constitucionales-para-la-accion-climatica-y-ecologica/ | 8 | cr2.cl | Spanish | El proceso constituyente en Chile implica la oportunidad histórica de incluir en la carta fundamental orientaciones para afrontar la actual crisis climática y ecológica que afecta al país. La Declaración de Emergencia Climática y Ecológica suscrita por 137 miembros de la Convención Constitucional el 4 de octubre de 2021, supone el diseño de un nuevo ordenamiento jurídico e institucional, que posibilite respuestas efectivas frente a las distintas mani- festaciones del cambio climático y los riesgos que este supone. La nueva Constitución debe generar un orden público que permita que los retos climáticos y ecológicos se integren de manera transversal en la sociedad chilena. Esto implica articular distintas categorías jurídicas en el nuevo texto constitucional acorde a la magnitud del desa- fío que enfrentamos. En este boletín proveemos insumos para la discusión y justificación de iniciativas constitucionales en esta direc- ción. Una presentación completa de las propuestas de (CR)2 en esta materia se encuentra aqui: Boletin especial: Cambio Climático y Nueva Constitución |
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| A Song of Wind and Ice: Increased Frequency of Marine Cold‐Spells in Southwestern Patagonia and Their Possible Effects on Giant Kelp Forests | Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans | Mora‐Soto, A.; Aguirre, C.; Iriarte, J.; Palacios, M.; Macaya, E.; Macias‐Fauria, M. | 2022 | 10.1029/2021JC017801 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021JC017801 | arte2021JC017801 | Vol: 127 Issue: 6 | 2169-9275, 2169-9291 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | In contrast to other coastal regions of the world, the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) ecosystem in southwestern Patagonia has been persistent in area and associated biodiversity in the last decades. In this ecoregion, sea surface temperature (SST) records have consistently remained below the upper thermal threshold for kelp survival, however, no studies have analyzed the spatiotemporal variability of SSTs and their anomalies across the geographical diversity of the southwestern Patagonian coastline. We explored the geographical distribution of extreme warm and cold events in this region from latitudes 47°–56°S in a range of ∼1,000 km, identifying the dates and spatial distribution of marine heatwaves (MHWs) and marine cold-spells (MCSs) from 1982 to 2020. Results show that a peak in the number of MHWs occurred in the great El Niño year of 1998. Additionally, the 2014–2019 period has had more severe and extreme MCSs than the previous decades. We discuss the origin of these events with a focus on three main processes: (a) geographically constrained cold events caused by glacier melting, (b) regional cold events caused by extreme winds linked to the position of the polar front, and (c) extensive SST anomalies linked to planetary-scale events such as El Niño and La Niña. Overall, those processes were conductive to counteract global warming trends locally/regionally, highlighting southwestern Patagonia as a possible climatic refugium for the giant kelp ecosystem. Despite this, the effects of freshwater inputs and storm turbulence on the exposed coasts facing the Southern Ocean may cause new kinds of stress on this ecosystem. © 2022. The Authors. | ||
| Glacier and terrestrial ecosystem evolution in the Chilotan archipelago sector of northwestern Patagonia since the Last Glacial Termination | Earth-Science Reviews | Moreno, P.; Fercovic, E.; Soteres, R.; Ugalde, P.; Sagredo, E.; Villa-Martínez, R. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104240 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0012825222003245 | 104240 | Vol: 235 | 0012-8252 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We examine the glacier, terrestrial ecosystem, and climate evolution since the Last Glacial Termination (T1) based on glacial sediments/landform assemblages and palynological data from the Chilotan archipelago (41°30′S-43°30′S), northwestern Patagonia. Deglacial warming drove recession of the Golfo Corcovado glacier lobe from the Last Glacial Maximum moraines in the interior of Isla Grande de Chiloé (IGC) before ∼17.8 ka, along with a rapid and irreversible trend toward arboreal dominance. Subsequent glacier stabilization led to deposition of the innermost moraines in eastern IGC and adjacent islands sometime between ∼17.5–16.9 ka, followed by an acceleration in glacial retreat that vacated the Chilotan Interior Sea in ∼200 years or less. Early successional cold-tolerant shade-intolerant trees prevailed during the initial stages of T1, followed by temperate rainforests dominated by thermophilous shade-tolerant species between ∼15–14.5 ka. A mixed forest with cold-tolerant hygrophilous conifers established between ∼14.5–12.6 ka, implying cooler climate and stronger Southern Westerly Wind (SWW) influence during the Antarctic Cold Reversal. Stand-replacing fires favored early successional shade-intolerant trees, shrubs, and herbs between ∼12.6–10.8 ka in response to milder temperatures and weaker SWW during Younger Dryas time. The early Holocene (∼10.8–7.5 ka) features a maximum in shade-intolerant thermophilous trees, absence of conifers, and peak fire activity, signaling a warm/dry interval with minimum SWW influence. Cooler/wetter conditions have prevailed over the last ∼7500 years driven by strong SWW influence. We conclude that Patagonian glaciers and terrestrial ecosystems responded simultaneously to climate changes at regional, hemispheric, and global scales multiple times since T1. We adhere to the concept that millennial-scale variations in the SWW linked the response of the hydro- bio and cryosphere across the southern mid- and high southern latitudes, and were teleconnected with northern hemisphere events through the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases, latitudinal shifts in the Intertropical convergence zone, and deep ocean circulation. © 2022 Elsevier B.V. | ||
| Examining the potential of Austrocedrus chilensis tree rings as indicators of past late-spring frost events in central Chile | Dendrochronologia | Muñoz-Salazar, T.; LeQuesne, C.; Rozas, V.; Christie, D.; Rojas-Badilla, M. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.dendro.2022.125962 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S112578652200042X | 125962 | Vol: 74 | 11257865 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Austrocedrus chilensis is a South American conifer broadly distributed across the subtropical and extratropical Andes that is widely utilized in tree-ring studies. This species has clear annual growth rings that are sensitive to the moisture supply and has been extensively used to reconstruct the past hydroclimate during the last millennium. Despite a great number of dendrochronological studies based on tree-ring width, little is known about the potential of the species to record intra-annual anomalies and particularly frost rings. In this study, the main traits of A. chilensis frost rings were studied and the ability of this endemic Cupressaceae to record spring frosts at five sites across a latitudinal gradient between the Mediterranean and Northern Patagonian Andes was evaluated. The average ages of trees in the study sites varied from 168 to 343 years, with minimum and maximum ages of 33 and 919 years. The results indicated that 85% of the frost rings occurred at the beginning of the earlywood and 15% showed a mid intra-ring position. Regarding the portion of the ring circumference affected by frost damage in cross sections, 59% of the injuries partially affected the entire ring, 30% affected the complete ring circumference, and 11% resulted in a ring fracture. Freezing temperatures that generated frost rings in A. chilensis from the upper treeline coincided with events below 0 °C recorded in the agricultural Central Valley of Chile. We estimated the potential time window of the formation of A. chilensis frost rings over a two and a half month period from the end of September to mid-November (early spring). Our results indicated that tree age was a determinant factor affecting the ability of trees to record frost rings. The maximum frequency of frost rings occurred at 12 years and the maximum age at which 95% of the total frost injuries occurred within our network was about 120 years. Both the exceptional longevity and the excellent state of preservation of relict wood demonstrates that A. chilensis frost rings provide a reliable proxy for monitoring and reconstructing late-spring frost events in central Chile. © 2022 Elsevier GmbH | ||
| Characterization and genomic analysis of two novel psychrotolerant Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains from polar and subpolar environments | Frontiers in Microbiology | Muñoz-Villagrán, C.; Grossolli-Gálvez, J.; Acevedo-Arbunic, J.; Valenzuela, X.; Ferrer, A.; Díez, B.; Levicán, G. | 2022 | 10.3389/fmicb.2022.960324 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.960324/full | 960324 | Vol: 13 | 1664-302X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The bioleaching process is carried out by aerobic acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria that are mainly mesophilic or moderately thermophilic. However, many mining sites are located in areas where the mean temperature is lower than the optimal growth temperature of these microorganisms. In this work, we report the obtaining and characterization of two psychrotolerant bioleaching bacterial strains from low-temperature sites that included an abandoned mine site in Chilean Patagonia (PG05) and an acid rock drainage in Marian Cove, King George Island in Antarctic (MC2.2). The PG05 and MC2.2 strains showed significant iron-oxidation activity and grew optimally at 20°C. Genome sequence analyses showed chromosomes of 2.76 and 2.84 Mbp for PG05 and MC2.2, respectively, and an average nucleotide identity estimation indicated that both strains clustered with the acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans . The Patagonian PG05 strain had a high content of genes coding for tolerance to metals such as lead, zinc, and copper. Concordantly, electron microscopy revealed the intracellular presence of polyphosphate-like granules, likely involved in tolerance to metals and other stress conditions. The Antarctic MC2.2 strain showed a high dosage of genes for mercury resistance and low temperature adaptation. This report of cold-adapted cultures of the At. ferrooxidans species opens novel perspectives to satisfy the current challenges of the metal bioleaching industry. |
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| Using Commercial Aircraft Meteorological Data to Assess the Heat Budget of the Convective Boundary Layer Over the Santiago Valley in Central Chile | Boundary-Layer Meteorology | MuñozR, R.; Whiteman, C.; Garreaud, R.; Rutllant, J.; Hidalgo, J. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1007/s10546-021-00685-3 | https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10546-021-00685-3 | 295-319 | Vol: 183 Issue: 2 | 0006-8314, 1573-1472 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The World Meteorological Organization Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR) programme refers to meteorological data gathered by commercial aircraft and made available to weather services. It has become a major source of upper-air observations whose assimilation into global models has greatly improved their performance. Near busy airports, AMDAR data generate semi-continuous vertical profiles of temperature and winds, which have been utilized to produce climatologies of atmospheric-boundary-layer (ABL) heights and general characterizations of specific cases. We analyze 2017–2019 AMDAR data for Santiago airport, located in the centre of a $$40\times 100$$ 40 × 100 km $$^2$$ 2 subtropical semi-arid valley in central Chile, at the foothills of the Andes. Profiles derived from AMDAR data are characterized and validated against occasional radiosondes launched in the valley and compared with routine operational radiosondes and with reanalysis data. The cold-season climatology of AMDAR temperatures reveals a deep nocturnal inversion reaching up to 700 m above ground level (a.g.l.) and daytime warming extending up to 1000 m a.g.l. Convective-boundary-layer (CBL) heights are estimated based on AMDAR profiles and the daytime heat budget of the CBL is assessed. The CBL warming variability is well explained by the surface sensible heat flux estimated with sonic anemometer measurements at one site, provided advection of the cool coastal ABL existing to the west is included. However, the CBL warming accounts for just half of the mean daytime warming of the lower troposphere, suggesting that rather intense climatological diurnal subsidence affects the dynamics of the daytime valley ABL. Possible sources of this subsidence are discussed. |
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| Ensuring access to water in an emergency context: Towards an overexploitation and contamination of water resources? | Social & Legal Studies | Nicolas-Artero, C. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1177/09646639211031626 | http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09646639211031626 | 459-476 | Vol: 31 Issue: 3 | 1461-7390 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | This article shows how geo-legal devices created to deal with environmental crisis situations make access to drinking water precarious and contribute to the overexploitation and contamination of water resources. It relies on qualitative methods (interviews, observations, archive work) to identify and analyse two geo-legal devices applied in the case study of the Elqui Valley in Chile. The first device, generated by the Declaration of Water Scarcity, allows private sanitation companies to concentrate water rights and extend their supply network, thus producing an overexploitation of water resources. In the context of mining pollution, the second device is structured around the implementation of the Rural Drinking Water Programme and the distribution of water by tankers, which has made access to drinking water more precarious for the population and does nothing to prevent pollution. | |
| Les marges hydriques au Chili : une imbrication entre l’espace et les règles institutionnelles de l’eau | Géocarrefour | Nicolas-Artero, C. | 2022 | 10.4000/geocarrefour.19805 | http://journals.openedition.org/geocarrefour/19805 | 1-21 | Vol: 96 Issue: 1 | 1627-4873, 1960-601X | French | This paper studies the effects of the spread of monoculture on the irrigated systems of a semiarid valley in Chile. From legal geography, it proposes the notion of a fluvial geo-legal system to analyze the relationships between political economy, institutional rules of water and space. The ethnographic approach adopted reveals water margins, produced by the existence of a plural economy, represented by family or subsistence agriculture, whose water supply is based on preexisting irrigation practices. These margins are crossed by power relationships around the appropriation of space and water which crystallize in the seizure of institutional water rules. Their existence nuances the progress of an extractive frontier, the local effects of the Water Code and the modernization of techniques and conceptions of water. © 2022 Geocarrefour. All rights reserved. | |||
| De l’usage du droit dans les résistances paysannes au Chili | Cahiers d'Outre-Mer | Nicolas-Artero, C. | 2022 | 10.4000/com.13654 | http://journals.openedition.org/com/13654 | 53-85 | Vol: LXXV Issue: 285 | 0373-5834, 1961-8603 | DOAJ | ||||
| Modes of access to water for domestic use in rural Chile: a typological proposal | Water Policy | Nicolas-Artero, C.; Blanco, G.; Bopp, C.; Carrasco, N. | 2022 | 10.2166/wp.2022.026 | https://iwaponline.com/wp/article/24/7/1179/89257/Modes-of-access-to-water-for-domestic-use-in-rural | 1179-1194 | Vol: 24 Issue: 7 | 1366-7017, 1996-9759 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | A typology is proposed regarding the modes of access to water for the rural population in Chile as well as four explanatory dimensions of its heterogeneity. The typology emerges from a systematic review of the literature and an analysis of quantitative data based on rural water organizations' databases. The modes of access are defined by the following five criteria: their socio-technical system, their type of management, their level of spatial action, the source of their financing, and the type of technical assistance they received. The findings dispute the systemic vision of access to water in rural areas and invite us to consider the structural heterogeneity in regulations and public policies to guarantee the human right to water. | ||
| Generalised seed mortality driven by heat shock in woody plants from Mediterranean Chile | International Journal of Wildland Fire | Ocampo-Zuleta, K.; Gómez-González, S.; Paula, S. | 2022 | 10.1071/WF22027 | https://www.publish.csiro.au/WF/WF22027 | 1080-1088 | Vol: 31 Issue: 11 | 1049-8001, 1448-5516 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Background Wildfires have shaped plant traits and ecosystems worldwide. Most research on the relevance of fire on plant evolution comes from Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs), where a great proportion of the studied species have fire-stimulated germination. However, seed fire ecology is widely unknown for the woody flora of the Chilean matorral, the only MTE where natural fires are infrequent owing to the scarcity of non-anthropogenic ignition sources. Aim The study aimed to evaluate whether seed sensitivity to heat is generalised among the woody species of the matorral. Methods We performed heat shock experiments on the seeds of 21 woody plant species not previously assessed. These species and those from previous studies were classified according to their response as stimulated, tolerant and inhibited. The preponderance of any of these categories was statistically evaluated. Key results Exposure to 100°C for 5 min significantly decreased seed survival in all studied species. Conclusions Seed persistence to fire is less common than previously reported among woody plants from the Chilean MTE. Implications Increased wildfire events in the future may erode the genetic diversity of the Chilean flora. Germplasm banks may become crucial in post-fire restoration programs in this ecoregion, where the landscape has become increasingly flammable. | ||
| Water dynamics over a Western Patagonian watershed: Land surface changes and human factors | Science of The Total Environment | Olivera-Guerra, L.; Quintanilla, M.; Moletto-Lobos, I.; Pichuante, E.; Zamorano-Elgueta, C.; Mattar, C. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150221 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969721052980 | 150221 | Vol: 804 | 00489697 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Warming trends in Patagonia and severe droughts in recent decades are still poorly understood in terms of their hydrological effects. The effects of climate change on water dynamics in addition to human water management could generate a future water scarcity scenario in one of the regions with the most abundant water resources of Chile. The aim of this work is to focus on assessing the impacts of warming trends on water dynamics in the Patagonian Simpson River watershed during the last two decades. We estimated anomalies in the main components of water balance such as precipitation (P), snow cover (SC), evapotranspiration (ET) and streamflows (Q) as well as surface variables and meteorological forcing (i.e. air temperature - Ta, solar radiation - RS, land surface temperature - LST). The processed data were obtained from remote sensing, reanalysis and in-situ data. We implemented a trend analysis for each variable in the period 2000-2019 at monthly, seasonal and annual scale. Results showed a warming trend in Ta and LST of about 1.2 °C and 2.1 °C, respectively, concentrated mainly in the autumn and winter seasons. Although P showed non-significant trends, Q diminished significantly at rates of more than 9.1 m3/s/decade, representing 36% of its historical mean. However, the decreases in Q are seen only in the maximum (spring) and minimum (summer) seasonal flows. These decreases are explained by significant increases in ET, led by a positive feedback of its drivers (LST, Ta and RS), which is directly linked to the impact of warming and an associated vegetation greenness in the watershed, as well as a decrease in SC during winter that feeds the Simpson River during spring and summer. The decrease in Q is reinforced by the intensification of water withdrawals in recent decades, as shown by an accelerated increase in water rights for agricultural and drinking uses. In a context of water scarcity and increasing and extreme droughts, this work contributes to further understanding water dynamics in western Patagonia, providing support for policy and decision-making when defining sustainable productive practices at watershed scale. | |
| Transporte público eléctrico en Valparaíso y Medellín: Historias de movilidad intermodal sobre las que construir el futuro | Estudios de Transporte | Osses, M.; Ibarra, C.; Vila, W. | 2022 | https://estudiosdetransporte.org/sochitran/article/view/266 | 1-19 | Vol: 23 Issue: 1 | 2735-6299 | Latindex | Spanish | Este trabajo hace un recorrido histórico por las diversas formas de transporte público eléctrico de Valparaíso, que incluye ascensores, tranvías, trolebuses, tren y metro, y que se inició hace más de un siglo. Esta experiencia se compara con la de Medellín, Colombia, que es un ejemplo moderno de transporte público eléctrico multimodal, y que también tiene una historia relevante. Se plantea como hipótesis que una diferencia fundamental entre ambos sistemas está en la gobernanza de la planificación urbana y que la experiencia comparada inspira reflexiones para el futuro de la electromovilidad en Chile. Se establecen relaciones entre el transporte público, los procesos de planificación urbana y la participación de los vehículos eléctricos en la movilidad de Valparaíso y Medellín. Esta comparación muestra que los vehículos eléctricos son parte de la historia de estas ciudades, se adaptan a geografías irregulares y escarpadas, tienen un alto nivel de aceptación por parte de la población y, con procesos de planificación urbana integrales, pueden constituir una solución sustentable para la movilidad del futuro. | |||
| High-resolution spatial-distribution maps of road transport exhaust emissions in Chile, 1990–2020 | Earth System Science Data | Osses, M.; Rojas, N.; Ibarra, C.; Valdebenito, V.; Laengle, I.; Pantoja, N.; Osses, D.; Basoa, K.; Tolvett, S.; Huneeus, N.; Gallardo, L.; Gómez, B. | 2022 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.5194/essd-14-1359-2022 | https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/14/1359/2022/ | 1359-1376 | Vol: 14 Issue: 3 | 1866-3508 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract. This description paper presents a detailed and consistent estimate and analysis of exhaust pollutant emissions generated by Chile's road transport activity for the period 1990–2020. The complete database for the period 1990–2020 is available at the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.17632/z69m8xm843.2 (Osses et al., 2021). Emissions are provided at a high spatial resolution (0.01∘ × 0.01∘) over continental Chile from 18.5 to 53.2∘ S, including local pollutants (CO; volatile organic compounds, VOCs; NOx; PM2.5), black carbon (BC) and greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4). The methodology considers 70 vehicle types, based on 10 vehicle categories, subdivided into 2 fuel types and 7 emission standards. Vehicle activity was calculated based on official databases of vehicle records and vehicle flow counts. Fuel consumption was calculated based on vehicle activity and contrasted with fuel sales to calibrate the initial dataset. Emission factors come mainly from the Computer programme to calculate emissions from road transport version 5 (COPERT 5), adapted to local conditions in the 15 political regions of Chile, based on emission standards and fuel quality. While vehicle fleet grew 5-fold between 1990 and 2020, CO2 emissions have followed this trend at a lower rate, and emissions of air local pollutants have decreased due to stricter abatement technologies, better fuel quality and enforcement of emission standards. In other words, there has been decoupling between fleet growth and emissions' rate of change. Results were contrasted with global datasets (EDGAR, CAMS, CEDS), showing similarities in CO2 estimations and striking differences in PM, BC and CO; in the case of NOx and CH4 there is coincidence only until 2008. In all cases of divergent results, global datasets estimate higher emissions. |
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| Upwelled plankton community modulates surface bloom succession and nutrient availability in a natural plankton assemblage | Biogeosciences | Paul, A.; Bach, L.; Arístegui, J.; von der Esch, E.; Hernández-Hernández, N.; Piiparinen, J.; Ramajo, L.; Spilling, K.; Riebesell, U. | 2022 | 10.5194/bg-19-5911-2022 | https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/19/5911/2022/ | 5911-5926 | Vol: 19 Issue: 24 | 1726-4189 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract. Upwelling of nutrient-rich waters into the sunlit surface layer of the ocean supports high primary productivity in eastern boundary upwelling systems (EBUSs). However, subsurface waters contain not only macronutrients (N, P, Si) but also micronutrients, organic matter and seed microbial communities that may modify the response to macronutrient inputs via upwelling. These additional factors are often neglected when investigating upwelling impacts on surface ocean productivity. Here, we investigated how different components of upwelled water (macronutrients, organic nutrients and seed communities) drive the response of surface plankton communities to upwelling in the Peruvian coastal zone. Results from our short-term (10 d) study show that the most influential drivers in upwelled deep water are (1) the ratio of inorganic nutrients (NOx : PO43-) and (2) the microbial community present that can seed heterogeneity in phytoplankton succession and modify the stoichiometry of residual inorganic nutrients after phytoplankton blooms. Hence, this study suggests that phytoplankton succession after upwelling is modified by factors other than the physical supply of inorganic nutrients. This would likely affect trophic transfer and overall productivity in these highly fertile marine ecosystems. |
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| Irrigation management or climate change ? Which is more important to cope with water shortage in the production of table grape in a Mediterranean context | Agricultural Water Management | Pizarro, E.; Galleguillos, M.; Barría, P.; Callejas, R. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107467 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0378377422000142 | 107467 | Vol: 263 | 0378-3774 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Table grape production requires large amount of water, which can be problematic in semi-arid Mediterranean regions, where climate change projections anticipated reductions in water availability associated to decreases in precipitation and increases in temperature. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the effect of contrasting irrigation strategies and climate change scenarios on key water balance variables using a Chilean Table grape crop as case study. A standard and an improved irrigation management treatments were implemented in situ during the 2015/2016 and the 2016/2017–2017/2018 observed growing seasons, respectively. Then, the HYDRUS-1D water transfer model was run to simulate the three observed growing seasons and 27 near future growing seasons (2019/2020–2044/2015) under climate change conditions. Satisfactory calibration and validation results against soil moisture and water storage measurements were obtained within the first and the second observed growing seasons respectively (RRMSE values below 5%). Results during the observed seasons showed that by changing the standard irrigation by the improved irrigation management, the water use efficiency (WUEi) increases from 49.5% to 55.7%. For the near future, the calibrated model shows that under all the tested climate change scenarios, irrigation strategies based on supplying 80% and 50% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) (deficit irrigation scenarios) have larger efficiencies compared to the standard irrigation management (presenting a higher actual basal crop coefficient and lower percolation). Similar results were obtained under future extreme climate change years, defined as the ratio between model-based projections of reference evapotranspiration (ET0) and precipitation, with the deficit irrigation scenarios having larger efficiencies than the standard irrigation management. Based on these results, it is concluded that by mid- century, the irrigation management has more relevance than climate change impacts for tables grapes growing under a Mediterranean climate in central Chile. © 2022 | |
| Assessing the socio-economic and land-cover drivers of wildfire activity and its spatiotemporal distribution in south-central Chile | Science of The Total Environment | Pozo, R.; Galleguillos, M.; González, M.; Vásquez, F.; Arriagada, R. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152002 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969721070789 | 152002 | Vol: 810 | 00489697 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Sustained human pressures on the environment have significantly increased the frequency, extent, and severity of wildfires, globally. This is particularly the case in Mediterranean regions, in which human-caused wildfires represent up to 90% of all recorded wildfire ignitions. In Chile, it has been estimated that nearly 90% of wildfires are related to human activities, and that their frequency and distribution have steadily increased over the last decade. Despite this, the role of socio-economic factors in driving wildfire activity and its spatiotemporal distribution remains unclear. In this study, we assess the association between socio-economic drivers and spatiotemporal patterns of wildfires in the Mediterranean region of south-central Chile over the period 2010–2018. Our results show that 98.5% of wildfires are related to human activities, either accidentally (58.2%) or intentionally (36.6%). Wildfires occurred primarily during the summer months and their density at the commune-level was associated with increased road access, as well as with the percentage of land covered by agriculture, exotic tree plantations, and native forest. Wildfire activity at the commune-level was also related to socio-economic variables such as population density, proportion of indigenous population, and unemployment rate, although such associations varied considerably depending on the region and on whether the wildfire was started accidentally or intentionally. Our study provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary assessment of the complex ways in which land-cover and socio-economic factors drive the distribution of wildfire activity in south-central Chile. It represents an important guide for policy-making, as well a baseline for research into strategies aimed at predicting and mitigating wildfire activity at both local and national levels. | |
| Chlorine-36 Surface Exposure Dating of Late Holocene Moraines and Glacial Mass Balance Modeling, Monte Sierra Nevada, South-Central Chilean Andes (38°S) | Frontiers in Earth Science | Price, B.; Stansell, N.; Fernández, A.; Licciardi, J.; Lesnek, A.; Muñoz, A.; Sorensen, M.; Jaque Castillo, E.; Shutkin, T.; Ciocca, I.; Galilea, I. | 2022 | 10.3389/feart.2022.848652 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.848652/full | 848652 | Vol: 10 | 2296-6463 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The development of robust chronologies of Neoglaciation from individual glaciers throughout the high-altitude Andes can provide fundamental knowledge of influences such as regional temperature and precipitation variability, and aid in predicting future changes in the Andean climate system. However, records of Late Holocene glaciation from the Central Chilean Andes are sparse, and often poorly constrained. Here, we present 36 Cl surface exposure ages, dendrochronologic constraints, and glacial mass balance modeling simulations of Late Holocene glacier fluctuations in the Central-South Chilean Andes. A series of concentric moraine ridges were identified on Monte Sierra Nevada (38°S), where exposure dating of basaltic boulders was used to establish a chronology of ice recession. We infer that moraine abandonment of the most distal ridge in the valley commenced by ∼4.2 ka, and was followed by glacier margin retreat to an up-valley position. Exposure ages of the oldest Late Holocene boulders (∼2.5–0.8 ka) along the marginal extents of the moraine complex indicate fluctuations of the glacier terminus prior to ∼0.65 ka. A final expansion of the ice margin reoccupied the position of the 4.2 ka moraine, with abatement from the outermost composite moraine occurring by ∼0.70 ka, as constrained by tree-ring data from live Araucaria araucana trees. Finally, a series of nested moraines dating to ∼0.45–0.30 ka, formed from a pulsed ice recession during the latest Holocene when the lower reaches of the glacial snout was most likely debris mantled. A distributed temperature index model combined with a glacier flow model was used to quantify an envelope of possible climatic conditions of Late Holocene glaciation. The glacial modeling results suggest conditions were ∼1.5°C colder and 20% wetter during peak Neoglaciation relative to modern conditions. These records also suggest a near-coeval record of Late Holocene climate variability between the middle and high southern latitudes. Furthermore, this study presents some of the youngest 36 Cl exposure ages reported for moraines in the Andes, further supporting this method as a valuable geochronologic tool for assessing Late Holocene landscape development. |
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| Coping Strategies and Tactics to Deal With Social Vulnerability in the Flood Disaster of March 25, 2015, in Chañaral and Diego de Almagro, Chile | Frontiers in Climate | Pérez Tello, S.; Aldunce Ide, P.; Flores-Haverbeck, F.; Mena Maldonado, D.; Castro Correa, C.; Wyndham Vásquez, K. | 2022 | 10.3389/fclim.2022.763413 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.763413 | art: 763413 | Vol: 4 | 2624-9553 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | English | A socio-natural disaster event exacerbates pre-existing socio-economic crises and disrupts the life projects of the people affected, generating the deployment of strategic or tactical actions to deal with it. When societies have populations living in conditions of social vulnerability prior to disasters, such actions are more complex and difficult to manage. On March 25, 2015 (25M), the inhabitants of the towns of Chañaral and Diego de Almagro, in the Atacama Region of Chile, were faced with a flood that produced a crisis of great magnitude. This qualitative research describes the actions the inhabitants used to reduce social vulnerability, before, during and after the emergency. These actions were analyzed to describe the extent of planning, meanings, resources and structures of opportunities present in the actions. Content analysis was carried out on semi-structured interviews with 38 affected people, selected using intentional sampling technique together with snowball sampling. Subjective resources were identified: sense of family, solidarity, autonomy and restitution of rights. The superimposed mobilization of these resources resulted in a complex situation of resilience. It is concluded that the way of learning actions includes family and cultural habits, daily learning and previous experiences, and imitation, among others. Recommendations are made to be considered for the reduction of risks of socio-natural disasters. Specifically, policies that include educational strategies that are based on theways of acting shown by the communities. Copyright © 2022 Pérez Tello, Aldunce Ide, Flores-Haverbeck, Mena Maldonado, Castro Correa and Wyndham Vásquez. | ||
| Size matters: Physiological sensitivity of the scallop Argopecten purpuratus to seasonal cooling and deoxygenation upwelling-driven events | Frontiers in Marine Science | Ramajo, L.; Sola-Hidalgo, C.; Valladares, M.; Astudillo, O.; Inostroza, J. | 2022 | 10.3389/fmars.2022.992319 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.992319/full | 992319 | Vol: 9 | 2296-7745 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Environment imposes physiological constraints which are life-stage specific as growth-maintenance and/or growth-reproduction energetic requirements are size and volume-dependent. The scallop Argopecten purpuratus , one of the most important bivalve species subjected to fishery and aquaculture along the Humboldt Current System, inhabits spaces affected by continuous changes in temperature, pH, oxygen, and food availability driven by remote and local oceanographic processes. Specifically, in Chile, this species is mainly cultured in central-north Chile where is permanently affected by upwelling events of dissimilar intensity and duration which generate local conditions of acidification, deoxygenation, and cooling with different magnitudes. However, to date, it remains unknown how this economic valuable resource is physiologically affected throughout its life cycle by the continuous environmental changes driven by upwelling events of different intensities and duration along the year. Here, for the first time, A. purpuratus life-stage physiological sensitivity was assessed at a seasonal scale through a year-field experiment where growth, calcification, and survivorship were evaluated. Our study shows how seasonal differences in the upwelling phenology (here measured as changes in temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and primary productivity, but also as the number, duration, and intensity of cooling and de-oxygenation events) notably impacted the A. purpuratus physiological performance from juvenile to adult life-stages. This was especially noticeable during the spring season which showed the most intense cooling and deoxygenation events driven by stronger favorable-upwelling winds and the lowest growth and gross calcification rates (the highest decalcification rates) where adult stages showed the lowest performance. On the other hand, A. purpuratus survivorship was not significantly affected by upwelling intensity which would be providing evidence of the high physiological flexibility and well-locally adapted is this species to fluctuating and occasional stressful environmental conditions. Our results are significantly relevant in the climate change context as some upwelling systems are at risk to change shortly (i.e., an upwelling intensification in frequency and intensity) as a consequence of changes in the atmospheric pressures that modulate favourable-upwelling winds. These changes may certainly increase the climate related-risks of the entire socio-ecological systems related to the fishery and aquaculture of A. purpuratus along the Humboldt Current System. |
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| Microbial Biogeochemical Cycling of Nitrogen in Arid Ecosystems | Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews | Ramond, J.; Jordaan, K.; Díez, B.; Heinzelmann, S.; Cowan, D. | 2022 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1128/mmbr.00109-21 | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mmbr.00109-21 | e00109-21 | Vol: 86 Issue: 2 | 1092-2172, 1098-5557 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Arid ecosystems cover ∼40% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface and store a high proportion of the global nitrogen (N) pool. They are low-productivity, low-biomass, and polyextreme ecosystems, i.e., with (hyper)arid and (hyper)oligotrophic conditions and high surface UV irradiation and evapotranspiration. These polyextreme conditions severely limit the presence of macrofauna and -flora and, particularly, the growth and productivity of plant species. , SUMMARY Arid ecosystems cover ∼40% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface and store a high proportion of the global nitrogen (N) pool. They are low-productivity, low-biomass, and polyextreme ecosystems, i.e., with (hyper)arid and (hyper)oligotrophic conditions and high surface UV irradiation and evapotranspiration. These polyextreme conditions severely limit the presence of macrofauna and -flora and, particularly, the growth and productivity of plant species. Therefore, it is generally recognized that much of the primary production (including N-input processes) and nutrient biogeochemical cycling (particularly N cycling) in these ecosystems are microbially mediated. Consequently, we present a comprehensive survey of the current state of knowledge of biotic and abiotic N-cycling processes of edaphic (i.e., open soil, biological soil crust, or plant-associated rhizosphere and rhizosheath) and hypo/endolithic refuge niches from drylands in general, including hot, cold, and polar desert ecosystems. We particularly focused on the microbially mediated biological nitrogen fixation, N mineralization, assimilatory and dissimilatory nitrate reduction, and nitrification N-input processes and the denitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) N-loss processes. We note that the application of modern meta-omics and related methods has generated comprehensive data sets on the abundance, diversity, and ecology of the different N-cycling microbial guilds. However, it is worth mentioning that microbial N-cycling data from important deserts (e.g., Sahara) and quantitative rate data on N transformation processes from various desert niches are lacking or sparse. Filling this knowledge gap is particularly important, as climate change models often lack data on microbial activity and environmental microbial N-cycling communities can be key actors of climate change by producing or consuming nitrous oxide (N 2 O), a potent greenhouse gas. |
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| Isotopic Characterization of Water Masses in the Southeast Pacific Region: Paleoceanographic Implications | Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans | Reyes‐Macaya, D.; Hoogakker, B.; Martínez‐Méndez, G.; Llanillo, P.; Grasse, P.; Mohtadi, M.; Mix, A.; Leng, M.; Struck, U.; McCorkle, D.; Troncoso, M.; Gayo, E.; Lange, C.; Farías, L.; Carhuapoma, W.; Graco, M.; Cornejo‐D’Ottone, M.; De Pol Holz, R.; Fernandez, C.; Narvaez, D.; Vargas, C.; García‐Ar... | 2022 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1029/2021JC017525 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021JC017525 | art: e2021JC017525 | Vol: 127 Issue: 1 | 2169-9275, 2169-9291 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | In this study, we used stable isotopes of oxygen (δ18O), deuterium (δD), and dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13CDIC) in combination with temperature, salinity, oxygen, and nutrient concentrations to characterize the coastal (71°–78°W) and an oceanic (82°–98°W) water masses (SAAW—Subantarctic Surface Water; STW—Subtropical Water; ESSW—Equatorial Subsurface water; AAIW—Antarctic Intermediate Water; PDW—Pacific Deep Water) of the Southeast Pacific (SEP). The results show that δ18O and δD can be used to differentiate between SAAW-STW, SAAW-ESSW, and ESSW-AAIW. δ13CDIC signatures can be used to differentiate between STW-ESSW (oceanic section), SAAW-ESSW, ESSW-AAIW, and AAIW-PDW. Compared with the oceanic section, our new coastal section highlights differences in both the chemistry and geometry of water masses above 1,000 m. Previous paleoceanographic studies using marine sediments from the SEP continental margin used the present-day hydrological oceanic transect to compare against, as the coastal section was not sufficiently characterized. We suggest that our new results of the coastal section should be used for past characterizations of the SEP water masses that are usually based on continental margin sediment samples. © 2021. The Authors. | |
| Hydroclimate and ENSO Variability Recorded by Oxygen Isotopes From Tree Rings in the South American Altiplano | Geophysical Research Letters | Rodriguez‐Caton, M.; Andreu‐Hayles, L.; Daux, V.; Vuille, M.; Varuolo‐Clarke, A.; Oelkers, R.; Christie, D.; D’Arrigo, R.; Morales, M.; Palat Rao, M.; Srur, A.; Vimeux, F.; Villalba, R. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1029/2021GL095883 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021GL095883 | arte2021GL095883 | Vol: 49 Issue: 4 | 0094-8276, 1944-8007 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Hydroclimate variability in tropical South America is strongly regulated by the South American Summer Monsoon (SASM). However, past precipitation changes are poorly constrained due to limited observations and high-resolution paleoproxies. We found that summer precipitation and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability are well registered in tree-ring stable oxygen isotopes (δ18OTR) of Polylepis tarapacana in the Chilean and Bolivian Altiplano in the Central Andes (18–22°S, ∼4,500 m a.s.l.) with the northern forests having the strongest climate signal. More enriched δ18OTR values were found at the southern sites likely due to the increasing aridity toward the southwest of the Altiplano. The climate signal of P. tarapacana δ18OTR is the combined result of moisture transported from the Amazon Basin, modulated by the SASM, ENSO, and local evaporation, and emerges as a novel tree-ring climate proxy for the southern tropical Andes. © 2022. The Authors. | |
| ¿Un eclipse solar en el medio de la noche? El evento total del 4 diciembre de 2021 en la Antártica | Boletín Antártico Chileno | Rojo, P.; Garreaud, R. | 2022 | https://www.inach.cl/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Copia-de-BACh-41-1-vf.pdf | 20-27 | Vol: 41 Issue: 1 | |||||||
| Surface wave mitigation in a copper converter via H∞ mixed sensitivity control | IFAC-PapersOnLine 19th IFAC Symposium on Control, Optimization and Automation in Mining, Mineral and Metal Processing MMM 2022 Montreal, Canada, August 15-18, 2022 | Salas, F.; Torres, P.; Osses, A. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.ifacol.2022.09.260 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2405896322014951 | 156-161 | Vol: 55 Issue: 21 | 2405-8963 | English | In this paper, a robust control strategy for surface wave mitigation in copper converters is presented. In copper converters, the purification of copper is carried out by injection of air into the molten bath through lateral tuyeres. The constant rate of air injection produces undesirable oscillation and splashing of the bath in the surface diminishing the lifetime of the internal cover. An H∞mixed sensitivity approach is proposed to robustly control the air injection rate in order to eliminate the modes of oscillation in the surface even in the case when uncertainty in the parameters of the model and noise in the measurements are present. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is shown by simulations and by comparison with a non-robust LQG control strategy. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved. | |||
| Soil research, management, and policy priorities in Chile | Geoderma Regional | Salazar, O.; Casanova, M.; Fuentes, J.; Galleguillos, M.; Nájera, F.; Perez-Quezada, J.; Pfeiffer, M.; Renwick, L.; Seguel, O.; Tapia, Y. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.geodrs.2022.e00502 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2352009422000220 | e00502 | Vol: 29 | 2352-0094 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | ||
| Global phylogenomic novelty of the Cas1 gene from hot spring microbial communities | Frontiers in Microbiology | Salgado, O.; Guajardo-Leiva, S.; Moya-Beltrán, A.; Barbosa, C.; Ridley, C.; Tamayo-Leiva, J.; Quatrini, R.; Mojica, F.; Díez, B. | 2022 | 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1069452 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1069452 | art: 1069452 | Vol: 13 | 1664-302X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The Cas1 protein is essential for the functioning of CRISPR-Cas adaptive systems. However, despite the high prevalence of CRISPR-Cas systems in thermophilic microorganisms, few studies have investigated the occurrence and diversity of Cas1 across hot spring microbial communities. Phylogenomic analysis of 2,150 Cas1 sequences recovered from 48 metagenomes representing hot springs (42–80°C, pH 6–9) from three continents, revealed similar ecological diversity of Cas1 and 16S rRNA associated with geographic location. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of the Cas1 sequences exposed a broad taxonomic distribution in thermophilic bacteria, with new clades of Cas1 homologs branching at the root of the tree or at the root of known clades harboring reference Cas1 types. Additionally, a new family of casposases was identified from hot springs, which further completes the evolutionary landscape of the Cas1 superfamily. This ecological study contributes new Cas1 sequences from known and novel locations worldwide, mainly focusing on under-sampled hot spring microbial mat taxa. Results herein show that circumneutral hot springs are environments harboring high diversity and novelty related to adaptive immunity systems. Copyright © 2022 Salgado, Guajardo-Leiva, Moya-Beltrán, Barbosa, Ridley, Tamayo-Leiva, Quatrini, Mojica and Díez. | ||
| Are Citizens Ready for Active Climate Engagement or Stuck in a Game of Blame? Local Perceptions of Climate Action and Citizen Participation in Chilean Patagonia | Sustainability | Sapiains, R.; Azócar, G.; Moraga, P.; Valenzuela, C.; Aldunce, P.; Cornejo, C.; Rojas, M.; Pulgar, A.; Medina, L.; Bozkurt, D. | 2022 | 10.3390/su141912034 | https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/12034 | 12034 | Vol: 14 Issue: 19 | 2071-1050 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | Deep structural transformations aimed at strengthening climate action and community participation are occurring in Chile, especially after the social unrest of October 2019. The ongoing political crisis has even generated the unprecedented possibility of writing a new constitution through an entirely democratic process. This article explores to what extent these structural transformations are also associated with cognitive and relational changes in the population, especially in terms of community participation. An online survey (n = 1.117) was applied to people over 18 years old in Punta Arenas in November 2020. This is the southernmost city of the American continent, one of the areas most affected by climate change, highly isolated from the rest of the country, and with a strong regional ecological identity. Results show that climate change is perceived as the main environmental problem affecting the city, with multiple negative consequences, but also with some potentially positive impacts. At the same time, environmental and constitutional expectations suggest the state of the environment is deemed to be critical for the future of the city. However, a traditional top-down understanding of community participation still prevails as most participants perceive the citizens’ role in dealing with environmental issues as limited to individual, passive, and reactive actions, or reduced to being responsible consumers. These results show that transforming institutions, rules and regulations alone does not guarantee a broader engagement of local communities in more ambitious, committed, and lasting climate action, even with a high climate change concern in the population. Creating strategies aimed at more profound cognitive and relational changes from a bottom-up perspective will also be necessary to avoid negative transformation trajectories. | ||
| La libre appréciation de la preuve et le litige climatique au Chili | Revue juridique de l’environnement | Sariego, P. | 2022 | https://www.cairn.info/revue-juridique-de-l-environnement-2022-3-page-503.htm | 503-514 | Vol: 47 Issue: 3 | 0397-0299 | French | Les Tribunaux de l’environnement chiliens sont régis par les règles de la libre appréciation de la preuve selon lesquelles ils l’apprécient librement. Dans ce cadre, les juges spécialisés doivent exprimer les raisons juridiques, logiques, scientifiques, techniques ou issues de leur expérience, en vertu desquelles ils lui attribuent une valeur ou la rejettent. Ces règles, à la lumière du principe de précaution et de la formation technique des juges, ont favorisé par exemple la prise en considération des changements climatiques dans la détermination des impacts d’une activité productive (minière) sur les eaux souterraines d’une zone désertique au Chili. | ||||
| Socioeconomic inequalities and the surface heat island distribution in Santiago, Chile | Science of The Total Environment | Sarricolea, P.; Smith, P.; Romero-Aravena, H.; Serrano-Notivoli, R.; Fuentealba, M.; Meseguer-Ruiz, O. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155152 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969722022458 | 155152 | Vol: 832 | 00489697 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Surface urban heat islands (SUHIs) are an important socio-environmental problem associated with large cities, such as the Santiago Metropolitan Area (SMA), in Chile. Here, we analyze daytime and nighttime variations of SUHIs for each season of the year during the period 2000–2020. To evaluate socioeconomic inequities in the distribution of SUHIs, we establish statistical relationships with socioeconomic status, land price, and urban vegetation. We use the MODIS satellite images to obtain the land surface temperatures and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) through the Google Earth Engine platform. The results indicate more intense SUHIs during the nighttime in the eastern sector, coinciding with higher socioeconomic status and larger green areas. This area during the day is cooler than the rest of the city. The areas with lower and middle socioeconomic status suffer more intense SUHIs (daytime and nighttime) and match poor environmental and urban qualities. These results show the high segregation of SMA. Urban planning is subordinated to land prices with a structure maintained over the study period. The lack of social-climate justice is unsustainable, and such inequalities may be exacerbated in the context of climate change. Thus, these results can contribute to the planning of the SMA. © 2022 Elsevier B.V. | ||
| Acta de resúmenes | Conferencia Internacional 2021 Ciudades Resilientes desde el Sur Global | Sarricolea, P.; Urquiza, A.; Gallardo, L.; Gayo, E.; Lambert, F.; Boisier, J.; Garreaud, R.; Huneeus, N.; Osses, M.; Ibarra, C. | 2022 | https://www.cr2.cl/acta-de-resumenes-conferencia-internacional-2021-ciudades-resilientes-desde-el-sur-global/ | 246 | cr2.cl | La Conferencia Internacional 2021 Ciudades Resilientes desde el Sur Global, nace de una alianza entre el Centro de Desarrollo Urbano Sustentable CEDEUS, el Centro de Investigación para la Gestión Integrada del Riesgo de Desastres, CIGIDEN y el Centro de Ciencia del Clima y la Resiliencia (CR)2. Todas instituciones de investigación de excelencia FONDAP, financiados por la Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, ANID, e integradas por las mejores universidades chilenas. Anclada en la ciencia con impacto para la política pública, la Conferencia Internacional Ciudades Resilientes, abordó durante tres días el rol preponderante de las ciudades en los problemas globales, como las desigualdades sociales, las inequidades urbanas y territoriales, sumado a los impactos ambientales, las amenazas naturales, el cambio climático y las pandemias, entre otras. Pero, al mismo tiempo, estas ciudades ofrecen un espacio invaluable para crear e implementar soluciones innovadoras, para investigar y desarrollar ciencia con y para los territorios. | |||||||
| Photochemical sensitivity to emissions and local meteorology in Bogotá, Santiago, and São Paulo | Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene | Seguel, R.; Gallardo, L.; Osses, M.; Rojas, N.; Nogueira, T.; Menares, C.; de Fatima Andrade, M.; Belalcázar, L.; Carrasco, P.; Eskes, H.; Fleming, Z.; Huneeus, N.; Ibarra-Espinosa, S.; Landulfo, E.; Leiva, M.; Mangones, S.; Morais, F.; Moreira, G.; Pantoja, N.; Parraguez, S.; Rojas, J.; Rondanelli,... | 2022 | 10.1525/elementa.2021.00044 | https://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article/10/1/00044/169476/Photochemical-sensitivity-to-emissions-and-local | 00044 | Vol: 10 Issue: 1 | 2325-1026 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | This study delves into the photochemical atmospheric changes reported globally during the pandemic by analyzing the change in emissions from mobile sources and the contribution of local meteorology to ozone (O3) and particle formation in Bogotá (Colombia), Santiago (Chile), and São Paulo (Brazil). The impact of mobility reductions (50%–80%) produced by the early coronavirus-imposed lockdown was assessed through high-resolution vehicular emission inventories, surface measurements, aerosol optical depth and size, and satellite observations of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) columns. A generalized additive model (GAM) technique was also used to separate the local meteorology and urban patterns from other drivers relevant for O3 and NO2 formation. Volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) decreased significantly due to motorized trip reductions. In situ nitrogen oxide median surface mixing ratios declined by 70%, 67%, and 67% in Bogotá, Santiago, and São Paulo, respectively. NO2 column medians from satellite observations decreased by 40%, 35%, and 47%, respectively, which was consistent with the changes in mobility and surface mixing ratio reductions of 34%, 25%, and 34%. However, the ambient NO2 to NOx ratio increased, denoting a shift of the O3 formation regime that led to a 51%, 36%, and 30% increase in the median O3 surface mixing ratios in the 3 respective cities. O3 showed high sensitivity to slight temperature changes during the pandemic lockdown period analyzed. However, the GAM results indicate that O3 increases were mainly caused by emission changes. The lockdown led to an increase in the median of the maximum daily 8-h average O3 of between 56% and 90% in these cities. | ||
| The last millennium viewed from a fine-resolution freshwater diatom record from northwestern Patagonia | Quaternary Science Reviews | Sepúlveda-Zúñiga, E.; Maidana, N.; Villacís, L.; Sagredo, E.; Moreno, P. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107806 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0277379122004371 | 107806 | Vol: 296 | 0277-3791 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Little is known about the response of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to changes in climatic and human influences during the last millennium in northwestern Patagonia (NWP, 40°-44°S). By virtue of their sensitivity and specificity, diatoms are ideal for examining past changes in aquatic ecosystems and deciphering the ranges of variability under natural and human-induced conditions. To date, however, very few fossils diatom studies have examined in detail the environmental evolution during the last millennium throughout Patagonia. Here we present a fine-resolution diatom record from a lake-sediment core collected from Lago Pichilaguna (41°S), a closed-basin and shallow lake with a small catchment area located in the lowlands of the Chilean Lake District in NWP. The record spans the last millennium with a median time resolution of ∼12 years between samples, and shows abundant small Aulacoseira spp. between ∼1000-900 and ∼600-300 cal yr BP, which alternate in dominance with small fragilarioids and small raphid diatoms between ∼900-600 and ∼300-200 cal yr BP. A rapid shift to planktonic diatoms started at ∼200 cal yr BP and led to their modern dominance. We interpret centennial-scale changes in temperature, precipitation, and lake turbulence, with warm/dry/stratified phases between ∼1000-900 and ∼600-300 cal yr BP related to weak westerly winds, and intervals of cold/wet and mixed water column conditions between ∼900-600 and ∼300-200 cal yr BP, favored by stronger winds. The transition from periphytic to planktonic diatoms that started at ∼200 cal yr BP suggests juxtaposition of the warmest/driest phase of the last millennium and the onset of large-scale disturbance by Chilean/European settlers in NWP. Our results reveal that human disturbance during historical time surpassed the natural ranges of variability and resilience of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems over the last millennium, generating abrupt changes in biodiversity, species composition, and community structure. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd | ||
| Long-term airborne particle pollution assessment in the city of Coyhaique, Patagonia, Chile | Urban Climate | Solís, R.; Toro A., R.; Gomez, L.; Vélez-Pereira, A.; López, M.; Fleming, Z.; Fierro, N.; Leiva G., M. | 2022 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1016/j.uclim.2022.101144 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2212095522000621 | 101144 | Vol: 43 | 2212-0955 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | An air pollution assessment in a small city located in the heart of Chilean Patagonia is presented. Seven years (2014–2020) of PM concentration levels retrieved from two monitoring stations permits an evaluation of the city's pollution variability, the effect of meteorological variables and long-term trends of air pollution. The highest PM concentration levels observed during the coldest months are mainly related to an increasing emission associated with the intensive use of firewood for residential heating and cooking. The most polluted days are associated with low temperatures, low wind speed and high PM2.5/PM10 ratios, which is consistent with the predominance of local firewood sources over background emissions. A decrease in both PM fractions over time has been estimated (PM10: -4.1, CI99%: −5.7 to −2.9 and PM2.5: -2.2, CI99%: −3.5 to −1.3 μg m−3 year−1). However, the annual average PM mass concentrations in Coyhaique exceeded both national and international air quality thresholds. The city reported a percent of annual exceedances of the daily WHO guidelines of 57% for PM10 and 77% for PM2.5. These numbers highlight the serious air pollution problem of the city of Coyhaique, which exhibits air pollution levels comparable to those of many polluted megacities in the world. © 2022 Elsevier B.V. | |
| Glacier fluctuations in the northern Patagonian Andes (44°S) imply wind-modulated interhemispheric in-phase climate shifts during Termination 1 | Scientific Reports | Soteres, R.; Sagredo, E.; Kaplan, M.; Martini, M.; Moreno, P.; Reynhout, S.; Schwartz, R.; Schaefer, J. | 2022 | 10.1038/s41598-022-14921-4 | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-14921-4 | 10842 | Vol: 12 Issue: 1 | 2045-2322 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract The Last Glacial Termination (T1) featured major changes in global circulation systems that led to a shift from glacial to interglacial climate. While polar ice cores attest to an antiphased thermal pattern at millennial timescales, recent well-dated moraine records from both hemispheres suggest in-phase fluctuations in glaciers through T1, which is inconsistent with the bipolar see-saw paradigm. Here, we present a glacier chronology based on 30 new 10 Be surface exposure ages from well-preserved moraines in the Lago Palena/General Vintter basin in northern Patagonia (~ 44°S). We find that the main glacier lobe underwent profound retreat after 19.7 ± 0.7 ka. This recessional trend led to the individualization of the Cerro Riñón glacier by ~ 16.3 ka, which underwent minor readvances at 15.9 ± 0.5 ka during Heinrich Stadial 1, during the Antarctic Cold Reversal with successive maxima at 13.5 ± 0.4, 13.1 ± 0.4, and 13.1 ± 0.5 ka, and a minor culmination at 12.5 ± 0.4 ka during Younger Dryas time. We conclude that fluctuations of Patagonian glaciers during T1 were controlled primarily by climate anomalies brought by shifts in the Southern Westerly Winds (SWW) locus. We posit that the global covariation of mountain glaciers during T1 was linked to variations in atmospheric CO 2 (atmCO 2 ) promoted by the interplay of the SWW-Southern Ocean system at millennial timescales. |
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| Glacial geomorphology of the central and southern Chilotan Archipelago (42.2°S–43.5°S), northwestern Patagonia | Journal of Maps | Soteres, R.; Sagredo, E.; Moreno, P.; Lowell, T.; Alloway, B. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1080/17445647.2021.2008538 | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17445647.2021.2008538 | 1-17 | Vol: 18 | 1744-5647 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | We present a geomorphic map of the glacial landforms associated with the Golfo Corcovado ice lobe in northwestern Patagonia. Built upon prior studies, our map elaborates on the central and southern sectors of Isla Grande de Chiloé and neighboring islands. Through a combination of remote sensing techniques and exhaustive fieldwork, we identified a suite of ice-marginal, subglacial, and glaciofluvial features created by the Golfo Corcovado ice lobe during four maxima within the last glacial cycle, in none of which the ice-front reached the Pacific coast of Isla Grande de Chiloé. Our mapping builds a foundation and provides insights for future interdisciplinary research on the Late Quaternary sequence of glacial and paleoclimatic events in this key sector of northwestern Patagonia. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. | |
| Land cover in the Purapel fluvial catchment | Sotomayor, Benjamín; Tolorza, Violeta; Poblete-Caballero, Dagoberto; Leal, Claudia; Galleguillos, Mauricio | 2022 | 10.5281/ZENODO.6974312 | https://zenodo.org/record/6974312 | Zenodo | The dataset contains 6 Land Cover maps at a 30m/pixel spatial resolution for the Purapel river catchment located in South-Central Chile. They were generated for the summer periods of 1986, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2017. Maps of 1986-2015 were generated using atmospherically corrected Landsat CDR Scenes (images courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey) including VNIR and SWIR bands from the TM5, ETM+ and OLI sensors and vegetation indices as auxiliary bands to highlight phenological differences among covers. Specifically the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) (Rouse et al,. 1974), the Green NDVI (Gitelson et al., 1996) and NDVI winter-summer Difference Index (ΔNDVI). Training and validation points were defined from field trips to the area in 2014-2015, various mid resolution satellite imagery sources and high-resolution Google Earth imagery (Map data ©2015 Google) when available. A topographic correction was applied using the C-Correction method (Teillet et al 1982), as proposed by Hantson and Chuvieco (2011), and the SRTM v3 DEM to account for the effect of local relief in the scene’s lighting. Accuracy assessment resulted in Overall Accuracy (OA), ranging from 82% to 92% (table 1). Table 1. Overall Accuracies for Land Cover maps from 1986 to 2017 Year OA 1986 89.7 2000 92.2 2005 91.5 2010 89.8 2015 82.7 2017 0.98 The 2017 map was generated using Random Forest classifier using several SI from Sentinel 2, Sentinel 1 C-band radar data (imagery from European Space Agency courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey) and hydro-geomorphic indices obtained from 2009 LiDAR DTM data (Tolorza et al., 2022). Ninety polygons were used for training and thirty polygons and the classification of Zhao et al. (2016) were used for validation, obtaining an overall accuracy 0.98 (table 1). The 7 land cover classes defined following these codes and land use / covers: 0 = Unclassified 1 = Others (mainly crops and natural prairies in riverbeds) 2 = Native Forest (mainly secondary-growth deciduous Nothofagus sp. Stands) 3 = Shrubland (highly degraded formation of xerophytic and sclerophyllous shrubs such as Acacia caven, Quillaja saponaria and Lithraea caustica, among others). 4 =Tree Plantations (industrial monocultures of Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus spp. of various age and development) 5 = Seasonal grassland (annual pastures which wither in summer and urban areas) 6 = Clear cuts (bare lands within industrial forestry surface) Codes 7 to 9 are specific to 2015 y 2017 because of the occurrence of two large (>5,000 hectares) fire events, and represent different Fire Severity levels based on the dNBR index (López and Caselles, 1991) according to Key and Benson (2006). They represent the following cases: 7= Low Severity fire 8 = Moderate severity fire 9 = High severity fire Sources: Hantson, S. Chuvieco, E. 2011. Evaluation of different topographic correction methods for Landsat imagery. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 13:691-700. Rouse, J., R. Haas, J. Schell, and D. Deering. 1974. Monitoring vegetation systems in the Great Plains with erts. Third Earth Resources Technology Satellite-1 Symposium Volume I: Technical Presentations. NASA SP-351, compiled and edited by S.C. Freden, E.P. Mercanti, and M.A. Becker. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Gitelson, A., Y. Kaufman, and M. Merzlyak. 1996. Use of a green channel in remote sensing of global vegetation from EOS-MODIS. Remote Sensing of Environment 58(3):289-298. Teillet, P., B. Guindon, and D. Goodenough. 1982. On the slope-aspect correction of multispectral scanner data. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing 8:84–106. Key, C. Benson, N. 2006. Landscape Assessment: Ground measure of severity, the Composite Burn Index; and Remote sensing of severity, the Normalized Burn Ratio. FIREMON: Fire Effects Monitoring and Inventory System. Pp: 1-51. López, MJ. Caselles, V. 1991. Mapping burns and natural reforestation using Thematic Mapper data. Geocarto International (1) 1991: 31- 37. Tolorza, V. Poblete-Caballero, D. Banda, D. Little, C. Galleguillos, M. 2022. An operational method for mapping the composition of post-fire litter. Remote Sensing letters (13) 2022: 511-521. 10.1080/2150704X.2022.2040752 Zhao, Y. D. Feng, L. Yu, X. Wang, Y. Chen, Y. Bai, H. Hernández, et al. 2016. Detailed Dynamic Land Cover Mapping of Chile: Accuracy Improvement by Integrating Multi-temporal Data. Remote Sensing of Environment 183: 170–185. 10.1016/j.rse.2016.05.016. | |||||||
| Out of steam? A social science and humanities research agenda for geothermal energy | Energy Research & Social Science | Spijkerboer, R.; Turhan, E.; Roos, A.; Billi, M.; Vargas-Payera, S.; Opazo, J.; Armiero, M. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.erss.2022.102801 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2214629622003048 | 102801 | Vol: 92 | 2214-6296 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | The potential of geothermal energy for energy transition is increasingly recognized by governments around the world. Whether geothermal energy is a sustainable source of heat and/or electricity depends on how it is deployed in specific contexts. Therefore, it is striking that there is only limited attention to geothermal energy from a social science and humanities (SSH) perspective. Geothermal energy is largely conceptualized as a technological and/or geological issue in both science and practice. This perspective article aims to go beyond such conceptualizations by positioning social science research as an important lens to explore the promises and pitfalls of geothermal energy. We first provide an overview of the current state of geothermal energy as a decarbonization strategy. Second, we move on to review the existing literature. This review shows that studies that do address geothermal energy from an SSH perspective tend to be of a descriptive nature and lack analytical diversity. Third, we discuss three complementary theoretical approaches that are used in the social sciences to observe and address other forms of energy and energy transition. We believe that socio-technical assemblages, systems, and imaginaries can provide fruitful analytical lenses to study the promises, pitfalls and spatialization of geothermal energy. We conclude the paper with a research agenda and call for further engagement with this topic in SSH research, with attention to specificities of global South and North contexts. © 2022 The Authors | ||
| Short-Interval, Severe Wildfires Alter Saproxylic Beetle Diversity in Andean Araucaria Forests in Northwest Chilean Patagonia | Forests | Tello, F.; González, M.; Micó, E.; Valdivia, N.; Torres, F.; Lara, A.; García-López, A. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.3390/f13030441 | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/3/441 | 441 | Vol: 13 Issue: 3 | 1999-4907 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The occurrence of short-interval, severe wildfires are increasing drastically at a global scale, and appear as a novel phenomenon in areas where fire historically returns in large time lapses. In forest ecosystems, these events induce drastic changes in population dynamics, which could dramatically impact species diversity. Here, we studied the effect on diversity of recent short-interval, severe wildfires (SISF), which occurred in rapid succession in the summers of 2002 and 2015 in Chilean Northern Patagonian Araucaria–Nothofagus forests. We analyzed the diversity of deadwood-dependent (i.e., saproxylic) and fire-sensitive beetles as biological indicators across four conditions: 2002-burned areas, 2015-burned areas, SISF areas (i.e., burned in 2002 and again in 2015), and unburned areas. Saproxylic beetles were collected using window traps in 2017 to 2019 summer seasons. To investigate the mechanisms underpinning the fire-related disturbance of the assemblage, we evaluated the effects of post-fire habitat quality (e.g., dead wood decomposition) and quantity (e.g., burned dead wood volume and tree density) on the abundances and species richness of the entire assemblage and also multiple trophic groups. Compared with the unburned condition, SISF drastically reduced species richness, evenness, and Shannon’s diversity and altered the composition of the saproxylic beetle assemblages. The between-condition variation in composition was accounted for by a species replacement (turnover) between SISF and 2015-burned areas, but both species replacement and extinction (nestedness) between SISF and unburned areas. Dead wood decomposition and tree density were the variables with the strongest effects on the abundance and species richness of the entire saproxylic beetle assemblage and most trophic groups. These results suggest that SISF, through degraded habitat quality (dead wood decomposition) and quantity (arboreal density), have detrimental impacts on diversity and population dynamics of saproxylic beetle assemblages. Therefore, habitat loss is a central mechanism underpinning fire-related biodiversity loss in these forest ecosystems. | |
| An operational method for mapping the composition of post-fire litter | Remote Sensing Letters | Tolorza, V.; Poblete-Caballero, D.; Banda, D.; Little, C.; Leal, C.; Galleguillos, M. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1080/2150704X.2022.2040752 | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2150704X.2022.2040752 | 511-521 | Vol: 13 Issue: 5 | 2150-704X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Recent increase in the frequency and spatial extent of wildfires motivates the quick recognition of the affected soil properties over large areas. Digital Soil Mapping is a valuable approach to map soil attributes based on remote sensing and field observations. We predicted the spatial distribution of post-fire litter composition in a 40,600 ha basin burned on the 2017 wildfire of Chile. Remotely sensed data of topography, vegetation structure and spectral indices (SI) were used as predictors of random forest (RF) models. Litter sampled in 60 hillslopes after the fire provided training and validation data. Predictors selected by the Variable Selection Using Random Forests (VSURF) algorithm resulted in models for litter composition with acceptable accuracy (coefficient of determination, R 2 = 0.51–0.64, Normalized Root Mean Square Error, NRMSE = 16.9–22.1, percentage bias, pbias = −0.35%-0.5%). Modelled litter parameters decrease in concentration respect to the degree of burn severity, and the pre-fire biomass. Because pre-fire vegetation was conditioned by land cover and by a previous (2 years old) wildfire event, our results highlight the cumulative effect of severe wildfires in the depletion of litter composition. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. | |
| A pilot study for climate risk assessment in agriculture: a climate-based index for cherry trees | Natural Hazards | Tudela, V.; Sarricolea, P.; Serrano-Notivoli, R.; Meseguer-Ruiz, O. | 2022 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1007/s11069-022-05549-8 | https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11069-022-05549-8 | 163-185 | Vol: 115 | 0921-030X, 1573-0840 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Cherry trees are one of Chile’s most important specialty crop activities. Its commercial orchards have an extensive spatial distribution between the 31° S and 48° S, spreading from semiarid to tundra climates, but the trees appear primarily in the Mediterranean climate. Different extreme weather events, such as frosts, precipitation, and high temperatures, affect this crop at different phenological stages, especially in bloom, ripening, and floral differentiation. Based on a high-resolution climatic-gridded dataset of daily temperature and precipitation data, we defined an integrated risk index (RI) representing the frequency of occurrence of the events throughout the plant development period and considering each type of risk affecting each concrete phenological stage. High RI values indicate high climatic risk. The RI follows a meridional pattern influenced by elevation, with higher values in the highest elevations between 36° S and 40° S, sensitive to the simultaneous occurrence of frosts and precipitation events. The northern coast exhibited the lowest risk values, while a general gradient from low values in coastal areas to higher ones in inland elevated zones revealed an altitudinal pattern. Low-risk areas have a sparse distribution of crops, which can be explained by several factors restricting cherry cultivation such as soil limitations, high slopes, lack of productive support infrastructure, and competition with other profitable forestry and agricultural activities in the north and forest production in the south. These results will help to improve climate impact assessments for production systems, which can be conducted by following an easy-to-understand tool. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. | |
| Revisión de indicaciones a las normas sobre crisis climática; medio ambiente, biodiversidad, principios de la bioética y bienes naturales comunes; y derechos de la naturaleza en la propuesta de nueva Constitución | Ubilla, K. | 2022 | https://www.cr2.cl/revision-de-indicaciones-a-las-normas-sobre-crisis-climatica-medio-ambiente-biodiversidad-principios-de-la-bioetica-y-bienes-naturales-comunes-y-derechos-de-la-naturaleza-en-la-propuesta-de-nueva/ | 11 | cr2.cl | Spanish | En el marco del trabajo de investigadoras e investigadores del (CR)2 de la línea Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia-Política en apoyo a las propuestas de contenidos para las normas elaboradas por las y los convencionales constituyentes en temas de cambio climático, crisis climática y relacionados, se presenta una revisión de las indicaciones discutidas y aprobadas por la comisión de medio ambiente, derechos de la naturaleza, bienes naturales comunes y modelo económico de la Convención Constitucional en la sesión Nº47 del 22 de febrero del 2022. En dicha jornada se realizó la votación del bloque A de indicaciones, relativo a las temáticas: 1) Crisis climática, 2) Medio ambiente, biodiversidad, principios de la bioética y bienes naturales comunes; o Ekuwuwun/Itxofill mogen; Suma Qamaña, Sumak Kawsay, Ckayahia Ckausama, buen vivir, como principio orientador en materia de derechos de la naturaleza o derecho a la montaña y senderos ancestrales o política plurinacional de residuos, 3) Derechos de la naturaleza. |
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| Revisión de indicaciones a las normas sobre Derechos de la Vida no Humana, delitos ambientales y democracia ambiental en la propuesta de nueva Constitución | Ubilla, K. | 2022 | https://www.cr2.cl/normas-sobre-derechos-de-la-vida-no-humana-delitos-ambientales-y-democracia-ambiental-en-la-propuesta-de-nueva-constitucion/ | 14 | cr2.cl | En el marco del trabajo de investigadoras e investigadores del (CR)2 de la línea Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia-Política en apoyo a las propuestas de contenidos para las normas elaboradas por las y los convencionales constituyentes en temas de cambio climático, crisis climática y relacionados, se presenta una revisión de las indicaciones discutidas y aprobadas por la comisión de medio ambiente, derechos de la naturaleza, bienes naturales comunes y modelo económico de la Convención Constitucional en la sesión Nº48 del 23 de febrero del 2022. En dicha jornada se realizó la votación del bloque A de indicaciones, relativo a las temáticas: 4) Derechos de la vida no humana, 5) Deber de protección, justicia intergeneracional, delitos ambientales y principios de no regresión ambiental, preventivo, precautorio y otros; o Principio Correctivo, Reparativo y Pedagógico o Reparación de “zonas de sacrificio”, restauración ecológica 6) Democracia ambiental, derechos de acceso a la participación, información y justicia ambiental. |
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| Informe a las naciones: "Marea roja" y cambio global: Elementos para la construcción de una gobernanza integrada de las Floraciones de Algas Nocivas (FAN) | Ugarte, A.; Romero, J.; Farías, L.; Sapiains, R.; Aparicio, P.; Ramajo, L.; Aguirre, C.; Masotti, I.; Jacques, M.; Aldunce,, P.; Alonso, C.; Azócar, G.; Bada, R.; Barrera, F.; Billi, M.; Boisier, J.; Carbonell, P.; de la Maza, L.; de la Torre, M.; Espinoza-González, O.; Faúndez, J.; Garreaud, R.; Gu... | 2022 | https://www.cr2.cl/fan/ | 88 | Spanish | ||||||||
| Resilience and organization: Innovation as a challenge for universities; [Resiliencia y organización: La innovación como desafío de las universidades] | Revista Mad | Urquiza, A.; Labraña, J.; Rahmer, B.; Puyol, F.; Allendes, Á.; Gómez, y. | 2022 | 10.5354/0719-0527.2023.70849 | https://revistamad.uchile.cl/index.php/RMAD/article/view/70849/74162 | 1-10 | Vol: - Issue: 47 | 07180527 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | Spanish | Innovation has become a central dimension of contemporary universities. However, there are still no guidelines on how to encourage universities to advance organizationally in this direction. Using elements of social systems theory, this article addresses the challenges faced by contemporary universities in relation to the relevance of innovation, suggesting guidelines for their reform. The organization of the resilient university, centered on the implementation of the principles of reflection, participation, and anticipation, allows progress in this direction. The article ends with a summary and a general reflection on the resilient university. © 2022 Universidad de Chile. All rights reserved. | ||
| An extraordinary dry season precipitation event in the subtropical Andes: Drivers, impacts and predictability | Weather and Climate Extremes | Valenzuela, R.; Garreaud, R.; Vergara, I.; Campos, D.; Viale, M.; Rondanelli, R. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.wace.2022.100472 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2212094722000548 | 100472 | Vol: 37 | 2212-0947 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | A major storm impacted the subtropical Andes during 28–31 January 2021 producing 4-days accumulated precipitation up to 100 mm over central-south Chile. These are high accumulations even for winter events but the storm occurred in the middle of the summer when precipitation is virtually absent, conferring it an extraordinary character. Similar storms have occurred only 2–3 times in the past century. The January 2021 event included periods of high rainfall intensity, hail and lighting, causing dozens of landslides and flash floods with the concomitant social impacts and economical losses. Here we examine the meteorological drivers of this storm at multiples scales, its climatological context, the associated surface impacts, and some aspects of its predictability. About a week before the storm development over central Chile, a large-scale perturbation in the central South Pacific set the stage for the formation of a zonal jet aloft and zonal atmospheric river (ZAR) that extended eastward until reaching the west coast of South America. The ZAR landfalled at 39°S and its subsequent northward displacement resulted in copious orographic precipitation over the Andes and adjacent lowlands, concomitant with a relatively warm environment during the first phase of the storm (28–29 January). During the second phase (30–31 January) the ZAR decayed rapidly but left behind significant amount of water vapor and the formation of a cut-off low (COL) in its poleward flank. The COL facilitated both advection of cyclonic vorticity and cold air at mid-levels, setting the environment for deep convection, intense rain showers, significant lightning activity, and hail. An assessment of the quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) from the operational Global Forecast System (GFS) indicates that the model captured well the 96-h precipitation accumulation (28–31 January) in terms of timing and spatial extent. However, specific zones with the largest accumulations varied as a function of lead time. The more stable precipitation during the ZAR phase was better predicted than the convective precipitation during the COL phase. Proper dissemination of these forecast and recently established infrastructure contributed to ease the impact of this extraordinary event on the general population. © 2022 The Authors | ||
| Sclerophyllous Forest Tree Growth Under the Influence of a Historic Megadrought in the Mediterranean Ecoregion of Chile | Ecosystems | Venegas-González, A.; Muñoz, A.; Carpintero-Gibson, S.; González-Reyes, A.; Schneider, I.; Gipolou-Zuñiga, T.; Aguilera-Betti, I.; Roig, F. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1007/s10021-022-00760-x | https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10021-022-00760-x | 344-361 | Vol: 26 | 1432-9840, 1435-0629 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The Mediterranean-type Ecosystems of Central Chile is one of the most threatened regions in South America by global change, particularly evidenced by the historical megadrought that has occurred in central Chile since 2010. The sclerophyllous forest stands out, whose history and relationship with drought conditions has been little studied. Cryptocarya alba and Beilschmiedia miersii (Lauraceae), two large endemic trees, represent an opportunity to analyze the incidence of intense droughts in the growth of sclerophyllous forests by analyzing their tree rings. Here, we considered > 400 trees from nineteen populations of C. alba and B. miersii growing across a latitudinal gradient (32°–35° S). To study the influence of local and large-scale climatic variability on tree growth, we first grouped the sites by species and explored the relationships between tree-growth patterns of C. alba and B. miersii with temperature, precipitation, and climate water deficit (CWD). Second, we performed Principal Component Analysis to detect common modes of variability and to explore relationships between growth patterns and their relationship to Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), ENSO and SAM indices. We detected a breaking point as of 2002 at regional level, where a persistent and pronounced decrease in tree growth occurred, mainly influenced by the increase in CWD and the decrease in winter-spring rainfall. In addition, a positive (negative) relationship was showed between PC1 growth-PDSI and PC1 growth-ENSO (growth-SAM), that is, growth increases (decreases) in the same direction as PDSI and ENSO (SAM). Despite the fact that sclerophyllous populations are highly resistant to drought events, we suggest that the sclerophyllous populations studied here experienced a generalized growth decline, and possibly the natural dynamics of their forests have been altered, mainly due to the accumulating effects of the unprecedented drought since 2010. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. | |
| Sharp Increase of Extreme Turbidity Events Due To Deglaciation in the Subtropical Andes | Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface | Vergara, I.; Garreaud, R.; Ayala, Á. | 2022 | 10.1029/2021JF006584 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021JF006584 | arte2021JF006584 | Vol: 127 Issue: 6 | 2169-9003, 2169-9011 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Climate change may affect sediment fluvial export from high mountain regions, leading to downstream environmental disruptions and direct impacts on human activities. In this paper, three decades (1990–2020) of turbidity measurements, along with climate and hydro-glaciological variables, were used to investigate the interannual and interdecadal variability in the number of extreme turbidity events (ETE) in the glacierized Maipo River basin, located in the western subtropical Andes. ETE are defined as a sequence of days (most often 1 or 2) during which the daily maximum turbidity was in the 99% quantile of the entire study period. Some of these events compromised the drinking water provision for the city of Santiago, with more than 6 million inhabitants. ETE are more frequent during summer and are mostly associated with melt-favourable conditions. The number of ETE tends to increase in summers with large glacier ice melt and low snowmelt (outside or over glaciers). Most notable, the mean annual number of ETE exhibits a 6-fold increase in the last decade compared with the 1990–2010 period. After 2010, ETE also shifted their seasonal maximum from late spring to mid-summer and their occurrence became strongly coupled with large ice melt rates. We hypothesize that such regime change was caused by an enhanced hydrological connectivity of subglacial sediment pools that increased the sensitivity of the sediment system to glacier melt. The latter is in line with recent research and is consistent with the ongoing glacier retreat due to strong regional warming and drying. © 2022. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. | ||
| Exploring the association between landslides and fluvial suspended sediment in a semi-arid basin in central Chile | Geomorphology | Vergara, I.; Garreaud, R.; Moreiras, S.; Araneo, D.; Beigt, D. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.geomorph.2022.108129 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0169555X22000228 | 108129 | Vol: 402 | 0169-555X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The systematic monitoring of landslides is an essential input for their characterization and subsequent reduction of their risk. Along the western subtropical Andes, field monitoring is scarce, so alternative methods that can improve the monitoring are valuable. In this work, the capacity of fluvial suspended sediment to detect the occurrence of landslides in a basin was explored, emphasizing how the relationship varies depending on the hydro-sedimentological variable, the triggering causal factor and the landslide type. The values of suspended sediment concentration (SSC), water discharge (Q) and specific suspended sediment yield (SSY) associated with mass movements were collected from a fluviometric station, as well as maxima of these variables that were not associated with landslides. With these data, different General Linear Models were constructed considering possible non-linear effects of the covariates. Flow-type landslides triggered by rain (most of the events) are correctly predicted, especially using the linear effects of SSC and Q. For this mass movement type the prediction is suitable even for events triggered by isolated, short-lived rains, which are difficult to detect in mountainous areas with meteorological devices. © 2022 Elsevier B.V. | |
| Compensatory Transcriptional Response of Fischerella thermalis to Thermal Damage of the Photosynthetic Electron Transfer Chain | Molecules | Vergara-Barros, P.; Alcorta, J.; Casanova-Katny, A.; Nürnberg, D.; Díez, B. | 2022 | 10.3390/molecules27238515 | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/23/8515 | 8515 | Vol: 27 Issue: 23 | 1420-3049 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Key organisms in the environment, such as oxygenic photosynthetic primary producers (photosynthetic eukaryotes and cyanobacteria), are responsible for fixing most of the carbon globally. However, they are affected by environmental conditions, such as temperature, which in turn affect their distribution. Globally, the cyanobacterium Fischerella thermalis is one of the main primary producers in terrestrial hot springs with thermal gradients up to 60 °C, but the mechanisms by which F. thermalis maintains its photosynthetic activity at these high temperatures are not known. In this study, we used molecular approaches and bioinformatics, in addition to photophysiological analyses, to determine the genetic activity associated with the energy metabolism of F. thermalis both in situ and in high-temperature (40 °C to 65 °C) cultures. Our results show that photosynthesis of F. thermalis decays with temperature, while increased transcriptional activity of genes encoding photosystem II reaction center proteins, such as PsbA (D1), could help overcome thermal damage at up to 60 °C. We observed that F. thermalis tends to lose copies of the standard G4 D1 isoform while maintaining the recently described D1INT isoform, suggesting a preference for photoresistant isoforms in response to the thermal gradient. The transcriptional activity and metabolic characteristics of F. thermalis, as measured by metatranscriptomics, further suggest that carbon metabolism occurs in parallel with photosynthesis, thereby assisting in energy acquisition under high temperatures at which other photosynthetic organisms cannot survive. This study reveals that, to cope with the harsh conditions of hot springs, F. thermalis has several compensatory adaptations, and provides emerging evidence for mixotrophic metabolism as being potentially relevant to the thermotolerance of this species. Ultimately, this work increases our knowledge about thermal adaptation strategies of cyanobacteria. | ||
| Comité Científico de Cambio Climático: Desalinización: Oportunidades y desafíos para abordar la inseguridad hídrica en Chile. | Vicuña, S.; Daniele, L.; Farías, L.; González, H.; Marquet, P.; Palma-Behnke, R.; Stehr, A.; Urquiza, A.; Wagemann, E.; Arenas-Herrera, M.; Borquez, R.; Cornejo-Ponce, L.; Delgado, V.; Etcheberry, G.; Fragkou, M.; Fuster, R.; Gelcich, S.; Melo, O.; Monsalve, T.; Olivares, M.; Ramajo, L.; Ramirez-Pas... | 2022 | Ciudades Resilientes | https://repositoriodirplan.mop.gob.cl/biblioteca/items/b38407dc-f89b-45fb-a37b-ea0d02773e05 | 1-189 | Frente al problema de escasez hídrica forzada por el cambio climático en Chile, particularmente en la zona norte del país, se han instalado plantas desalinizadoras de distintos tamaños, con varias más en proceso de estudio y evaluación. La masificación de esta tecnología nos plantea el desafío de planificar su desarrollo futuro tomando decisiones con bases científicas considerando las ventajas y desventajas de este tipo de tecnología. El presente documento fue elaborado en respuesta a la solicitud formal del Ministerio de Medio Ambiente para que el Comité Asesor Ministerial Científico para el Cambio Climático (C4) redactase un informe sobre el desarrollo de plantas desalinizadoras en el país. A partir de dicha solicitud, el Comité trabajó recopilando antecedentes y organizando talleres de trabajo con la comunidad científica a lo largo de varias etapas. Como resultado se prepararon una serie de recomendaciones, no siempre consensuadas, acerca del desarrollo de esta tecnología en el país. | |||||||
| Evolution of Glacial Lake Cochrane During the Last Glacial Termination, Central Chilean Patagonia (∼47°S) | Frontiers in Earth Science | Vásquez, A.; Flores-Aqueveque, V.; Sagredo, E.; Hevia, R.; Villa-Martínez, R.; Moreno, P.; Antinao, J. | 2022 | Agua y Extremos | 10.3389/feart.2022.817775 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.817775/full | 817775 | Vol: 10 | 2296-6463 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Large ice-dammed lakes developed along the eastern margin of the Patagonian Ice Sheet (PIS) during the Last Glacial Termination (T1). Their spatial/temporal evolution, however, remains poorly constrained despite their importance for deciphering fluctuations of the shrinking PIS, isostatic adjustments, and climate forcing. Here we examine the distribution and age of shoreline features deposited or sculpted by Glacial Lake Cochrane (GLC) in the Lago Cochrane/Pueyrredón (LCP) basin, Central Patagonia, following recession of the LCP glacier lobe from its final Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) moraines. GLC drained initially toward the Atlantic Ocean and continuing ice shrinking opened new drainage routes allowing the discharge toward the Pacific Ocean. We identify five clusters of lake terraces, shorelines, and deltas between elevations ∼600–500 (N5), ∼470–400 (N4), ∼360–300 (N3), ∼230–220 (N2), and ∼180–170 masl (N1) throughout the LCP basin. The distribution of these clusters and associated glaciolacustrine deposits provide constraints for the evolving position of the damming glacier bodies. Elevation gradients within the landform clusters reveal glacio-isostatic adjustments that enable us to quantify the magnitude of deglacial rebound and construct isostatically corrected surfaces for the different phases in the evolution of GLC. Our chronology, based principally on radiocarbon dates from lake sediment cores and new OSL dating, suggests that these phases developed between ∼20.7–19.3 ka (N5), ∼19.3–14.8 ka (N4), ∼14.8–11.3 ka (N3), and shortly thereafter (N2 and N1). The N3 landforms are the most ubiquitous, well-preserved, and voluminous, attributes that resulted from a ∼3,500-year long period of glacial stability, enhanced sediment supply by peak precipitation regime, and profuse snow and ice melting during the most recent half of T1. This scenario differs from the cold and dry conditions that prevailed during the brief N5 phase and the moderate amount of precipitation during the N4 phase. We interpret the limited development of the N2 and N1 landforms as ephemeral stabilization events following the final and irreversible disappearance of GLC after N3. This event commenced shortly after the onset of an early Holocene westerly minimum at pan-Patagonian scale at ∼11.7 ka, contemporaneous with peak atmospheric and oceanic temperatures in the middle and high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. | |
| Seed dispersal distance, seed morphology, and recruitment in the Chilean sclerophyllous tree Quillaja saponaria: implications for passive restoration in a semiarid ecosystem | Plant Ecology | Vásquez, I.; Miranda, A.; Delpiano, C.; Becerra, P. | 2022 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1007/s11258-021-01207-4 | https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11258-021-01207-4 | 273-283 | Vol: 223 Issue: 3 | 1385-0237, 1573-5052 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Recolonization of wind-dispersed tree species in degraded areas may decline with distance from remnant forest fragments because seed rain frequently decreases with distance from the seed source. However, regeneration of these species may be even more limited to sites close to the seed source if dispersal distance is negatively affected by seed mass, and germination probability is positively affected by seed mass. We evaluated these hypotheses in a Mediterranean-type ecosystem of central Chile, using the wind-dispersed tree species Quillaja saponaria. We assessed the seed rain curve in a degraded open area adjacent to a remnant forest fragment of this species, and related seed mass with dispersal distance from the seed source. Then, we evaluated the relationship between seed mass, germination, and seedling growth, and if seeds that fall nearer the seed source have greater germination probability. We found a decreasing seed rain with the distance from the seed source. Seed mass was not related to dispersal distance, although seeds with higher wing area dispersed further. Germination probability was significantly and positively related to the seed mass. We observed no significant relationship between distance and germination probability. We conclude that germination probability of this species does not vary along the seed rain curve, and that the recruitment density would be greater near the seed source only due to decreasing seed rain with distance. Our results suggest that this species has the potential to be passively restored in degraded areas, especially within the first 70 m from the remnant forest fragments. | |
| Analysis of Climate-Related Risks for Chile’s Coastal Settlements in the ARClim Web Platform | Water | Winckler, P.; Contreras-López, M.; Garreaud, R.; Meza, F.; Larraguibel, C.; Esparza, C.; Gelcich, S.; Falvey, M.; Mora, J. | 2022 | 10.3390/w14223594 | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/22/3594 | 3594 | Vol: 14 Issue: 22 | 2073-4441 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The web-based tool ARClim provides an atlas of climate change-related risk assessments spanning over 50 environmental and productive sectors in Chile. This paper illustrates the implementation of ARClim on two coastal sectors, operational downtime in fishing coves and flooding in coastal settlements, aiming to provide a tool to visualize comparative estimates of risk, which may enable decision makers and stakeholders to prioritize adaptation measures. The risk is calculated as a function of the hazard, exposure, and sensitivity. Exposure and sensitivity are characterized using present day information. To assess the hazard, wave climate for a historical period (1985–2004) and a projection (2026–2045) were modeled with six general circulation models (GCMs) for an RCP8.5 scenario. Similarly, sea-level rise was computed from 21 GCMs. Results show that the flooding hazard is mostly dependent on sea-level rise, with waves playing a minor role. However, the flooding risk is highly variable along the coast, due to differences in the exposure, which strongly depends on the population of each settlement. The analysis of increased operational downtime in fishing coves also shows risk, which is dependent of the size of each site. Lastly, limitations of the analysis and opportunities for improvement are discussed. | ||
| Impact of mining on the metal content of dust in indigenous villages of northern Chile | Environment International | Zanetta-Colombo, N.; Fleming, Z.; Gayo, E.; Manzano, C.; Panagi, M.; Valdés, J.; Siegmund, A. | 2022 | 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107490 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0160412022004172 | 107490 | Vol: 169 | 0160-4120 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Indigenous communities from northern Chile have historically been exposed to the impacts of massive copper industrial activities conducted in the region. Some of the communities belonging to the Alto El Loa Indigenous Development Area are located less than 10 km from the “Talabre'' tailings dam, which contains residues from copper production and other metals that can be toxic to human health (e.g., As, Sb, Cd, Mo, Pb). Given the increasing demand of copper production to achieve net-zero emission scenarios and concomitant expansions of the tailings, the exposure to toxic metals is a latent risk to local communities. Despite the impact that copper production could generate on ancestral communities from northern Chile, studies and monitoring are limited and the results are often not made accessible for local communities. Here, we evaluate such risks by characterizing metal concentrations in dust collected from roofs and windows of houses from the Alto El Loa area. Our results showed that As, Sb, Cd, Cu, Mo, Ag, S, and Pb concentrations in these matrices can be connected to local copper mining activities. Additionally, air transport models indicate that high concentrations of toxic elements (As, Sb, and Cd) can be explained by the atmospheric transport of particles from the tailings in a NE direction up to 50 km away. Pollution indices and Health Risk Assessment suggested a highly contaminated region with a health risk for its inhabitants. Our analysis on a local scale seeks to make visible the case of northern Chile as a critical territory where actions should be taken to mitigate the effects of mining in the face of this new scenario of international demand for the raw materials necessary for the transition to a net-zero carbon global society. © 2022 The Authors | ||
| High-resolution inventory of atmospheric emissions from transport, industrial, energy, mining and residential activities in Chile | Earth System Science Data | Álamos, N.; Huneeus, N.; Opazo, M.; Osses, M.; Puja, S.; Pantoja, N.; Denier van der Gon, H.; Schueftan, A.; Reyes, R.; Calvo, R. | 2022 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.5194/essd-14-361-2022 | https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/14/361/2022/ | 361-379 | Vol: 14 Issue: 1 | 1866-3516 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Abstract. This study presents the first high-resolution national inventory of anthropogenic emissions for Chile (Inventario Nacional de Emisiones Antropogénicas, INEMA). Emissions for the vehicular, industrial, energy, mining and residential sectors are estimated for the period 2015–2017 and spatially distributed onto a high-resolution grid (approximately 1 km×1 km). The pollutants included are CO2, NOx, SO2, CO, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), NH3 and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) for all sectors. CH4 and black carbon are included for transport and residential sources, while arsenic, benzene, mercury, lead, toluene, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furan (PCDD/F) are estimated for energy, mining and industrial sources. New activity data and emissions factors are compiled to estimate emissions, which are subsequently spatially distributed using census data and Chile's road network information. The estimated annual average total national emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 during the study period are 191 and 173kt a−1 (kilotons per year), respectively. The residential sector is responsible for over 90 % of these emissions. This sector also emits 81 % and 87 % of total CO and VOC, respectively. On the other hand, the energy and industry sectors contribute significantly to NH3, SO2 and CO2 emissions, while the transport sector dominates NOx and CO2 emissions, and the mining sector dominates SO2 emissions. In general, emissions of anthropogenic air pollutants and CO2 in northern Chile are dominated by mining activities as well as thermoelectric power plants, while in central Chile the dominant sources are transport and residential emissions. The latter also mostly dominates emissions in southern Chile, which has a much colder climate. Preliminary analysis revealed the dominant role of the emission factors in the final emission uncertainty. Nevertheless, uncertainty in activity data also contributes as suggested by the difference in CO2 emissions between INEMA and EDGAR (Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research). A comparison between these two inventories also revealed considerable differences for all pollutants in terms of magnitude and sectoral contribution, especially for the residential sector. EDGAR presents larger emissions for most of the pollutants except for CH4 and PM2.5. The differences between both inventories can partly be explained by the use of different emission factors, in particular for the residential sector, where emission factors incorporate information on firewood and local operation conditions. Although both inventories use similar emission factors, differences in CO2 emissions between both inventories indicate biases in the quantification of the activity. This inventory (available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4784286, Alamos et al., 2021) will support the design of policies that seek to mitigate climate change and improve air quality by providing policymakers, stakeholders and scientists with qualified scientific spatially explicit emission information. |
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| A distributed resistance inverse method for flow obstacle identification from internal velocity measurements | Inverse Problems | Aguayo, J.; Bertoglio, C.; Osses, A. | 2021 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1088/1361-6420/abced8 | https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6420/abced8 | 025010 | Vol: 37 Issue: 2 | 0266-5611, 1361-6420 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We present a penalization parameter method for obstacle identification in an incompressible fluid flow for a modified version of the Oseen equations. The proposed method consists in adding a high resistance potential to the system such that some subset of its boundary support represents the obstacle. This allows to work in a fixed domain and highly simplify the solution of the inverse problem via some suitable cost functional. Existence of minimizers and first and second order optimality conditions are derived through the differentiability of the solutions of the Oseen equation with respect to the potential. Finally, several numerical experiments using Navier–Stokes flow illustrate the applicability of the method, for the localization of a bi-dimensional cardiac valve from MRI and ultrasound flow type imaging data. | |
| Hydrological droughts in the southern Andes (40–45°S) from an ensemble experiment using CMIP5 and CMIP6 models | Scientific Reports | Aguayo, R.; León-Muñoz, J.; Garreaud, R.; Montecinos, A. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1038/s41598-021-84807-4 | http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84807-4 | 5530 | Vol: 11 Issue: 1 | 2045-2322 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The decrease in freshwater input to the coastal system of the Southern Andes (40–45°S) during the last decades has altered the physicochemical characteristics of the coastal water column, causing significant environmental, social and economic consequences. Considering these impacts, the objectives were to analyze historical severe droughts and their climate drivers, and to evaluate the hydrological impacts of climate change in the intermediate future (2040–2070). Hydrological modelling was performed in the Puelo River basin (41°S) using the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model. The hydrological response and its uncertainty were compared using different combinations of CMIP projects (n = 2), climate models (n = 5), scenarios (n = 3) and univariate statistical downscaling methods (n = 3). The 90 scenarios projected increases in the duration, hydrological deficit and frequency of severe droughts of varying duration (1 to 6 months). The three downscaling methodologies converged to similar results, with no significant differences between them. In contrast, the hydroclimatic projections obtained with the CMIP6 and CMIP5 models found significant climatic (greater trends in summer and autumn) and hydrological (longer droughts) differences. It is recommended that future climate impact assessments adapt the new simulations as more CMIP6 models become available. | |
| Recent Changes in the Low-Level Jet along the Subtropical West Coast of South America | Atmosphere | Aguirre, C.; Flores-Aqueveque, V.; Vilches, P.; Vásquez, A.; Rutllant, J.; Garreaud, R. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Zonas Costeras | 10.3390/atmos12040465 | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/4/465 | 465 | Vol: 12 Issue: 4 | 2073-4433 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Surface winds along the subtropical west coast of South America are characterized by the quasi-weekly occurrences of low-level jet events. These short lived but intense wind events impact the coastal ocean environment. Hence, identifying long-term trends in the coastal low-level jet (CLLJ) is essential for understanding changes in marine ecosystems. Here we use ERA5 reanalysis (1979–2019) and an objective algorithm to track anticyclones to investigate recent changes in CLLJ events off central Chile (25–43 °S). Results present evidence that the number of days with intense wind (≥10 ms−1), and the number and duration of CLLJ events have significantly changed off central Chile in recent decades. There is an increase in the number of CLLJ events in the whole study area during winter (June-July-August; JJA), while during summer (December–January–February; DJF) a decrease is observed at lower latitudes (29–34 °S), and an increase is found at the southern boundary of the Humboldt system. We suggest that changes in the central pressures and frequency of extratropical, migratory anticyclones that reach the coast of South America, which force CLLJs, have played an important role in the recent CLLJ changes observed in this region. | |
| High-Frequency Variability of the Surface Ocean Properties Off Central Chile During the Upwelling Season | Frontiers in Marine Science | Aguirre, C.; Garreaud, R.; Belmar, L.; Farías, L.; Ramajo, L.; Barrera, F. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Zonas Costeras | 10.3389/fmars.2021.702051 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.702051/full | 702051 | Vol: 8 | 2296-7745 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The ocean off south-central Chile is subject to seasonal upwelling whose intensity is mainly controlled by the latitudinal migration of the southeast Pacific subtropical anticyclone. During austral spring and summer, the mean flow is equatorward favoring coastal upwelling, but periods of strong southerly winds are intermixed with periods of relaxed southerlies or weak northerly winds (downwelling favorable). This sub-seasonal, high-frequency variability of the coastal winds results in pronounced changes in oceanographic conditions and air-sea heat and gas exchanges, whose quantitative description has been limited by the lack of in-situ monitoring. In this study, high frequency fluctuations of meteorological, oceanographic and biogeochemical near surface variables were analyzed during two consecutive upwelling seasons (2016–17 and 2017–18) using observations from a coastal buoy located in the continental shelf off south-central Chile (36.4°S, 73°W), ∼10 km off the coast. The radiative-driven diel cycle is noticeable in meteorological variables but less pronounced for oceanographic and biogeochemical variables [ocean temperature, nitrate (NO 3 −), partial pressure of carbon dioxide ( p CO 2 sea ), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO)]. Fluorescence, as a proxy of chlorophyll- a , showed diel variations more controlled by biological processes. In the synoptic scale, 23 active upwelling events (strong southerlies, lasting between 2 and 15 days, 6 days in average) were identified, alternated with periods of relaxed southerlies of shorter duration (4.5 days in average). Upwelling events were related to the development of an atmospheric low-level coastal jet in response to an intense along-shore pressure gradient. Physical and biogeochemical surface seawater properties responded to upwelling favorable wind stress with approximately a 12-h lag. During upwelling events, SST, DO and pH decrease, while NO 3 −, p CO 2 sea , and air-sea fluxes increases. During the relaxed southerly wind periods, opposite tendencies were observed. The fluorescence response to wind variations is complex and diverse, but in many cases there was a reduction in the phytoplankton biomass during the upwelling events followed by higher values during wind relaxations. The sub-seasonal variability of the coastal ocean characterized here is important for biogeochemical and productivity studies. |
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| Ecogenomics and Adaptation Strategies of Southern Ocean Viral Communities | mSystems | Alarcón-Schumacher, T.; Guajardo-Leiva, S.; Martinez-Garcia, M.; Díez, B. | 2021 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1128/mSystems.00396-21 | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSystems.00396-21 | e00396-21 | Vol: 6 Issue: 4 | 2379-5077 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Viruses are the most abundant biologic entities in marine systems and strongly influence the microbial community composition and diversity. However, little is known about viral communities’ adaptation and diversification in the ocean. , ABSTRACT The Southern Ocean (SO) represents up to one-fifth of the total carbon drawdown worldwide. Intense selective pressures (low temperature, high UV radiation, and strong seasonality) and physical isolation characterize the SO, serving as a “natural” laboratory for the study of ecogenomics and unique adaptations of endemic viral populations. Here, we report 2,416 novel viral genomes from the SO, obtained from newly sequenced viral metagenomes in combination with mining of publicly available data sets, which represents a 25% increase in the SO viral genomes reported to date. They comprised 567 viral clusters (defined as approximately genus-level groups), with 186 genera endemic to the SO, demonstrating that the SO viral community is predominantly constituted by a large pool of genetically divergent viral species from widespread viral families. The predicted proteome from SO viruses revealed that several protein clusters related to cold-shock-event responses and quorum-sensing mechanisms involved in the lysogenic-lytic cycle shift decision were under positive selection, which is ultimately important for fine adaptation of viral populations in response to the strong selective pressures of the SO. Finally, changes in the hydrophobicity patterns and amino acid frequencies suggested marked temperature-driven genetic selection of the SO viral proteome. Our data provide valuable insights into how viruses adapt and remain successful in this extreme polar marine environment. IMPORTANCE Viruses are the most abundant biologic entities in marine systems and strongly influence the microbial community composition and diversity. However, little is known about viral communities’ adaptation and diversification in the ocean. In this work, we take advantage of the geographical isolation and the intense selective pressures of the SO, to which viruses are exposed, to identify potential viral adaptations due to positive environmental selection and dispersal limitation. To that end, we recovered more than two thousand novel viral genomes, revealing a high degree of divergence in these SO endemic communities. Furthermore, we describe remarkable viral adaptations in amino acid frequencies and accessory proteins related to cold shock response and quorum sensing that allow them to thrive at lower temperatures. Consequently, our work greatly expands the understanding of the diversification of the viral communities of the SO and their particular adaptations to low temperatures. |
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| Coastal Bacterial Community Response to Glacier Melting in the Western Antarctic Peninsula | Microorganisms | Alcamán-Arias, M.; Fuentes-Alburquenque, S.; Vergara-Barros, P.; Cifuentes-Anticevic, J.; Verdugo, J.; Polz, M.; Farías, L.; Pedrós-Alió, C.; Díez, B. | 2021 | Zonas Costeras | 10.3390/microorganisms9010088 | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/1/88 | 88 | Vol: 9 Issue: 1 | 2076-2607 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Current warming in the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) has multiple effects on the marine ecosystem, modifying the trophic web and the nutrient regime. In this study, the effect of decreased surface salinity on the marine microbial community as a consequence of freshening from nearby glaciers was investigated in Chile Bay, Greenwich Island, WAP. In the summer of 2016, samples were collected from glacier ice and transects along the bay for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while in situ dilution experiments were conducted and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metatranscriptomic analysis. The results reveal that certain common seawater genera, such as Polaribacter, Pseudoalteromonas and HTCC2207, responded positively to decreased salinity in both the bay transect and experiments. The relative abundance of these bacteria slightly decreased, but their functional activity was maintained and increased the over time in the dilution experiments. However, while ice bacteria, such as Flavobacterium and Polaromonas, tolerated the increased salinity after mixing with seawater, their gene expression decreased considerably. We suggest that these bacterial taxa could be defined as sentinels of freshening events in the Antarctic coastal system. Furthermore, these results suggest that a significant portion of the microbial community is resilient and can adapt to disturbances, such as freshening due to the warming effect of climate change in Antarctica. | |
| Learning from Each Other: An Experience of Capturing Learning for Adaptation to Climate Change | The International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses | Aldunce, P.; Lillo-Ortega, G.; Araya-Valenzuela, D.; Adler, C.; Ugarte, A. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.18848/1835-7156/CGP/v13i01/75-90 | https://cgscholar.com/bookstore/works/learning-from-each-other | 75-90 | Vol: 13 Issue: 1 | 1835-7156 | English | Local communities are the populations most exposed and the first to respond to the impacts of climate change, and their response capacity depends on several factors. Knowledge acquired about adaptation is one of the most relevant of such determinants. The present study advances an understanding of what people know (or do not know) about climate change adaptation, adaptation measures, and criteria for evaluating adaptation. The applied case study, related to the Chilean Mega Drought, involved a series of workshops carried out to evaluate adaptation practices. Questionnaires, including open questions, applied both before and after the workshop the observation of new learning results from the workshop participation. Results indicate a major knowledge gap in regard to relevant variables for evaluating adaptation practices. New knowledge was gained by the workshop participants, primarily regarding those variables but also related to adaptation practices implemented by other participants. This study provides helpful insights for identifying knowledge gaps and directing efforts to inform adaptation theory and strengthen adaptation practice. © Common Ground Research Networks, Paulina Aldunce, Gloria Lillo-Ortega, Dámare Araya-Valenzuela, Carolina Adler, Ana María Ugarte, All Rights Reserved. | ||
| Evaluating adaptation to drought in a changing climate: experience at the local scale in the Aconcagua Valley | Climate and Development | Aldunce, P.; Lillo-Ortega, G.; Araya-Valenzuela, D.; Maldonado-Portilla, P.; Gallardo, L. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1080/17565529.2021.1893150 | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17565529.2021.1893150 | 121-132 | Vol: 14 Issue: 2 | 1756-5529, 1756-5537 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | Since 2010, a severe drought has affected central Chile, resulting in losses that prompt the need to evaluate and improve adaptation responses. The evaluation process requires the engagement of multiple actors in order to collect knowledge of their experiences and to inform future design and implementation of adaptation responses. A case study was conducted in four counties of the Aconcagua Valley, Chile, to evaluate the usefulness of existing drought response measures, and to identify strengths and weaknesses, and relevant actors’ recommendations for overcoming them. We applied the Index for the Usefulness of Adaptation Practices (IUPA), a multi-criteria tool that systematically identifies the perceived usefulness of measures. The most salient strengths of the evaluated measures were: replicability, pertinence, and efficacy; representing key factors that could facilitate the implementation of drought responses in similar contexts. The most salient weaknesses were: lack of integration with other policy domains and projects, low environmental protection, diminished autonomy in decision-making, and inequity. Proposed recommendations to overcome these weaknesses have real potential for implementation because they emerged from local actors. Results present empirical evidence of the utility of participatory approaches for a context-specific evaluation of measures, contributing to enhance adaptation to climate variability and change. | |
| Enfoque Transformación: Adaptación | Aldunce, P.; Rojas, M.; Guevara, G.; Álvarez, C.; Billi, M.; Ibarra, C.; Sapiains, R. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Ciudades Resilientes; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | https://www.cr2.cl/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/transformacion_adaptacion.pdf | El presente documento es un marco conceptual para la incorporación del enfoque de transformación en las investigaciones de cambio climático con énfasis en la adaptación y tiene el propósito de apoyar la aplicación del enfoque al trabajo de investigación del (CR)2 a través de los Temas Integrativos de Floración de Algas Nocivas (FAN), de Seguridad Hídrica (TISHi) y de Gobernanza climática de los elementos. El enfoque de transformación se compone de distintos conceptos y alcances, de los que este documento presenta lo medular en tres secciones: (1) Conceptualización de la transformación y conceptos relacionados; (2) Transformación y adaptación; y (3) Preguntas orientadoras para la implementación del enfoque de la transformación. |
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| La emergencia de los territorios y la condición socioambiental: poder, naturaleza, ciudadanía y la necesidad de conocimiento transdisciplinar | Revista Anales de la Universidad de Chile | Aliste, E. | 2021 | 10.5354/0717-8883.2021.66069 | https://anales.uchile.cl/index.php/ANUC/article/view/66069 | 197-206 | Vol: 19 Issue: 7 | 0717-8883 | Latindex | Escuchar a los territorios. Dejar que hablen los territorios. No actuar sin el consentimiento de los territorios. Algunas frases como las anteriores o de similar talante se han hecho cada vez más comunes en los últimos años, posicionándose con fuerza y convicción como expresión clara de que tras esta idea hay una conceptualización compleja que abarca muchísimo más que una unidad espacial capaz de ser plasmada en una cartografía remarcando sus delimitaciones. De ello muchísimas discusiones han dado cuenta en los últimos años, pero hay algo aún más poderoso y relevante en torno a aquello, y se trata del modo en que la expresión se usa por estos días, dando cuenta de algo que hace sentido, da coherencia y se entiende como dialogante entre quienes habitan y se sienten parte de un espacio que se significa y apropia como parte extendida de una cotidianidad | |||
| Conocimiento técnico-científico en el conflicto hídrico en Chile | Revista Mad | Allendes, A.; Silva, F.; Fragkou, M.; Moraga, P.; Urquiza, A. | 2021 | Ciudades Resilientes; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.5354/0719-0527.2021.65874 | https://revistas.uchile.cl/index.php/RMAD/article/view/65874 | 99-119 | Issue: 45 | 0718-0527 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | Spanish | El presente artículo propone un análisis del uso del cono | |
| Progressive water deficits during multiyear droughts in basins with long hydrological memory in Chile | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences | Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Boisier, J.; Garreaud, R.; Seibert, J.; Vis, M. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos | 10.5194/hess-25-429-2021 | https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/25/429/2021/ | 429-446 | Vol: 25 Issue: 1 | 1607-7938 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | A decade-long (2010–2020) period with precipitation deficits in central–south Chile (30–41∘ S), the so-called megadrought (MD), has led to streamflow depletions of larger amplitude than expected from precipitation anomalies, indicating an intensification in drought propagation. We analysed the catchment characteristics and runoff mechanisms modulating such intensification by using the CAMELS-CL dataset and simulations from the HBV hydrological model. We compared annual precipitation–runoff (P–R) relationships before and during the MD across 106 basins with varying snow-/rainfall regimes and identified those catchments where drought propagation was intensified. Our results show that catchments' hydrological memory – modulated by snow and groundwater – is a key control of drought propagation. Snow-dominated catchments (30–35∘ S) feature larger groundwater contribution to streamflow than pluvial basins, which we relate to the infiltration of snowmelt over the Western Andean Front. This leads to longer memory in these basins, represented by a significative correlation between autumn streamflow (when snow has already melted) and the precipitation from the preceding year. Hence, under persistent drought conditions, snow-dominated catchments accumulate the effects of precipitation deficits and progressively generate less water, compared with their historical behaviour, notably affecting central Chile, a region with limited water supply and which concentrates most of the country's population and water demands. Finally, we addressed a general question: what is worse – an extreme single-year drought or a persistent moderate drought? In snow-dominated basins, where water provision strongly depends on both the current and previous precipitation seasons, an extreme drought induces larger absolute streamflow deficits; however persistent deficits induce a more intensified propagation of the meteorological drought. Hence, the worst scenario would be an extreme meteorological drought following consecutive years of precipitation below average, as occurred in 2019. In pluvial basins of southern Chile (35–41∘ S), hydrologic memory is still an important factor, but water supply is more strongly dependant on the meteorological conditions of the current year, and therefore an extreme drought would have a higher impact on water supply than a persistent but moderate drought. |
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| Radiocarbon bomb-peak signal in tree-rings from the tropical Andes register low latitude atmospheric dynamics in the Southern Hemisphere | Science of The Total Environment | Ancapichún, S.; De Pol-Holz, R.; Christie, D.; Santos, G.; Collado-Fabbri, S.; Garreaud, R.; Lambert, F.; Orfanoz-Cheuquelaf, A.; Rojas, M.; Southon, J.; Turnbull, J.; Creasman, P. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Ciudades Resilientes; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145126 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969721001923 | 145126 | Vol: 774 | 00489697 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | South American tropical climate is strongly related to the tropical low-pressure belt associated with the South American monsoon system. Despite its central societal role as a modulating agent of rainfall in tropical South America, its long-term dynamical variability is still poorly understood. Here we combine a new (and world's highest) tree-ring 14C record from the Altiplano plateau in the central Andes with other 14C records from the Southern Hemisphere during the second half of the 20th century in order to elucidate the latitudinal gradients associated with the dissemination of the bomb 14C signal. Our tree-ring 14C record faithfully captured the bomb signal of the 1960's with an excellent match to atmospheric 14C measured in New Zealand but with significant differences with a recent record from Southeast Brazil located at almost equal latitude. These results imply that the spreading of the bomb signal throughout the Southern Hemisphere was a complex process that depended on atmospheric dynamics and surface topography generating reversals on the expected north-south gradient in certain years. We applied air-parcel modeling based on climate data to disentangle their different geographical provenances and their preformed (reservoir affected) radiocarbon content. We found that air parcel trajectories arriving at the Altiplano during the bomb period were sourced i) from the boundary layer in contact with the Pacific Ocean (41%), ii) from the upper troposphere (air above the boundary layer, with no contact with oceanic or continental carbon reservoirs) (38%) and iii) from the Amazon basin (21%). Based on these results we estimated the ∆14C endmember values for the different carbon reservoirs affecting our record which suggest that the Amazon basin biospheric 14C isoflux could have been reversed from negative to positive as early as the beginning of the 1970's. This would imply a much faster carbon turnover rate in the Amazon than previously modelled. | |
| Spatiotemporal Peatland Productivity and Climate Relationships Across the Western South American Altiplano | Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences | Anderson, T.; Christie, D.; Chávez, R.; Olea, M.; Anchukaitis, K. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1029/2020JG005994 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020JG005994 | art: e2020JG005994 | Vol: 126 Issue: 6 | 2169-8953, 2169-8961 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The South American Altiplano is one of the largest semiarid high-altitude plateaus in the world. Within the Altiplano, peatlands known as “bofedales” are important components of regional hydrology and provide key water resources and ecosystem services to Andean communities. Warming temperatures, changes in hydroclimate, and shifting atmospheric circulation patterns all affect peatland dynamics and hydrology. It is therefore urgent to better understand the relationships between climate variability and the spatiotemporal variations in peatland productivity across the Altiplano. Here, we explore climate influences on peatland vegetation using 31 years of Landsat data. We focus specifically on the bofedal network in the western Altiplano, the driest sector of the plateau, and use the satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as an indicator of productivity. We develop temporally and spatially continuous NDVI products at multiple scales in order to evaluate relationships with climate variables over the past three decades. We demonstrate that cumulative precipitation and snow persistence over the prior 2 years are strongly associated with growing season productivity. A step change in peatland productivity between 2013–2015 drives an increasing trend in NDVI and is likely a response to consecutive years of anomalously high snow accumulation and rainfall. Early summer minimum temperatures emerge as a secondary influence on productivity. Understanding large-scale productivity dynamics and characterizing the response of bofedales to climate variability over the last three decades provides a baseline to monitor the responses of Andean peatlands to climate change. | |
| Fire-induced loss of the world’s most biodiverse forests in Latin America | Science Advances | Armenteras, D.; Dávalos, L.; Barreto, J.; Miranda, A.; Hernández-Moreno, A.; Zamorano-Elgueta, C.; González-Delgado, T.; Meza-Elizalde, M.; Retana, J. | 2021 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1126/sciadv.abd3357 | https://advances.sciencemag.org/lookup/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abd3357 | eabd3357 | Vol: 7 Issue: 33 | 2375-2548 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Fire plays a dominant role in deforestation, particularly in the tropics, but the relative extent of transformations and influence of fire frequency on eventual forest loss remain unclear. Here, we analyze the frequency of fire and its influence on postfire forest trajectories between 2001 and 2018. We account for ~1.1% of Latin American forests burnt in 2002–2003 (8,465,850 ha). Although 40.1% of forests (3,393,250 ha) burned only once, by 2018, ~48% of the evergreen forests converted to other, primarily grass-dominated uses. While greater fire frequency yielded more transformation, our results reveal the staggering impact of even a single fire. Increasing fire frequency imposes greater risks of irreversible forest loss, transforming forests into ecosystems increasingly vulnerable to degradation. Reversing this trend is indispensable to both mitigate and adapt to climate change globally. As climate change transforms fire regimes across the region, key actions are needed to conserve Latin American forests. | |
| Lipschitz Stability for Backward Heat Equation with Application to Fluorescence Microscopy | SIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis | Arratia, P.; Courdurier, M.; Cueva, E.; Osses, A.; Palacios, B. | 2021 | 10.1137/20M1374183 | https://epubs.siam.org/doi/10.1137/20M1374183 | 5948-5978 | Vol: 53 Issue: 5 | 0036-1410, 1095-7154 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | In this work we study a Lipschitz stability result in the reconstruction of a compactly supported initial temperature for the heat equation in Rn, from measurements along a positive time interval and over an open set containing its support. We employ a nonconstructive method which ensures the existence of the stability constant, but it is not explicit in terms of the parameters of the problem. The main ingredients in our method are the compactness of support of the initial condition and the explicit dependency of solutions to the heat equation with respect to it. By means of Carleman estimates we obtain an analogous result for the case when the observation is made along an exterior region ω × (τ, T), such that the unobserved part Rn\ω is bounded. In the latter setting, the method of Carleman estimates gives a general conditional logarithmic stability result when initial temperatures belong to a certain admissible set, without the assumption of compactness of support and allowing an explicit stability constant. Furthermore, we apply these results to deduce similar stability inequalities for the heat equation in R and with measurements available on a curve contained in R ×[0, ∞), leading to the derivation of stability estimates for an inverse problem arising in 2D fluorescence microscopy. In order to further understand this Lipschitz stability, in particular, the magnitude of its stability constant with respect to the parameters of the problem, a numerical reconstruction is presented based on the construction of a linear system for the inverse problem in fluorescence microscopy. We investigate the stability constant by analyzing the condition number of the corresponding matrix. © 2021 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics | ||
| Climate change perception, vulnerability, and readiness: inter-country variability and emerging patterns in Latin America | Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences | Azócar, G.; Billi, M.; Calvo, R.; Huneeus, N.; Lagos, M.; Sapiains, R.; Urquiza, A. | 2021 | Ciudades Resilientes; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1007/s13412-020-00639-0 | http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13412-020-00639-0 | 23-36 | Vol: 11 Issue: 1 | 2190-6483, 2190-6491 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | English | In Latin America, there is scarce comparative research on variables associated with the perception of climate change. This hinders the ability of governments to take mitigation and adaptation measures in the face of the phenomenon, as well as the ability of the population to cope with its effects. In order to fill that void, this research studies the relationship between climate change perception, vulnerability, and readiness in 17 countries of the region. To that end, perception indicators included in the Latinobarómetro 2017 survey are analyzed, contrasted with vulnerability and readiness indexes provided by the University of Notre Dame’s Global Adaptation Index. The analytical strategy includes the statistical description of the variables associated with the perception of climate change in countries of the region, clustering together those countries that display similar behavioral patterns in relation to their vulnerability and readiness indicators, as well as crosstabs with climate change indicators. The key findings indicate that it is possible to identify 3 patterns of behavior regarding the countries’ vulnerability and readiness, which account for high, intermediate, and low levels in those variables. These patterns indicate cross-cutting trends concerning variables such as the level of education and affinity for the market economy, as well as particularities differentiating each country from the rest. The main conclusion is the existence of a negative association between the affinity people express for the market economy and their acknowledgment of climate change as a relevant problem. © 2020, AESS. | |
| On the selection of precipitation products for the regionalisation of hydrological model parameters | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences | Baez-Villanueva, O.; Zambrano-Bigiarini, M.; Mendoza, P.; McNamara, I.; Beck, H.; Thurner, J.; Nauditt, A.; Ribbe, L.; Thinh, N. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos | 10.5194/hess-25-5805-2021 | https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/25/5805/2021/ | 5805-5837 | Vol: 25 Issue: 11 | 1607-7938 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Over the past decades, novel parameter regionalisation techniques have been developed to predict streamflow in data-scarce regions. In this paper, we examined how the choice of gridded daily precipitation (P) products affects the relative performance of three well-known parameter regionalisation techniques (spatial proximity, feature similarity, and parameter regression) over 100 near-natural catchments with diverse hydrological regimes across Chile. We set up and calibrated a conceptual semi-distributed HBV-like hydrological model (TUWmodel) for each catchment, using four P products (CR2MET, RF-MEP, ERA5, and MSWEPv2.8). We assessed the ability of these regionalisation techniques to transfer the parameters of a rainfall-runoff model, implementing a leave-one-out cross-validation procedure for each P product. Despite differences in the spatio-temporal distribution of P, all products provided good performance during calibration (median Kling–Gupta efficiencies (KGE′s) > 0.77), two independent verification periods (median KGE′s >0.70 and 0.61, for near-normal and dry conditions, respectively), and regionalisation (median KGE′s for the best method ranging from 0.56 to 0.63). We show how model calibration is able to compensate, to some extent, differences between P forcings by adjusting model parameters and thus the water balance components. Overall, feature similarity provided the best results, followed by spatial proximity, while parameter regression resulted in the worst performance, reinforcing the importance of transferring complete model parameter sets to ungauged catchments. Our results suggest that (i) merging P products and ground-based measurements does not necessarily translate into an improved hydrologic model performance; (ii) the spatial resolution of P products does not substantially affect the regionalisation performance; (iii) a P product that provides the best individual model performance during calibration and verification does not necessarily yield the best performance in terms of parameter regionalisation; and (iv) the model parameters and the performance of regionalisation methods are affected by the hydrological regime, with the best results for spatial proximity and feature similarity obtained for rain-dominated catchments with a minor snowmelt component. | |
| Niche differentiation of Dinophysis acuta and D. acuminata in a stratified fjord | Harmful Algae | Baldrich, Á.; Pérez-Santos, I.; Álvarez, G.; Reguera, B.; Fernández-Pena, C.; Rodríguez-Villegas, C.; Araya, M.; Álvarez, F.; Barrera, F.; Karasiewicz, S.; Díaz, P. | 2021 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.hal.2021.102010 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1568988321000378 | 102010 | Vol: 103 | 15689883 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Dinophysis acuta and D. acuminata are associated with lipophilic toxins in Southern Chile. Blooms of the two species coincided during summer 2019 in a highly stratified fjord system (Puyuhuapi, Chilean Patagonia). High vertical resolution measurements of physical parameters were carried out during 48 h sampling to i) explore physiological status (e.g., division rates, toxin content) and ii) illustrate the fine scale distribution of D. acuta and D. acuminata populations with a focus on water column structure and co-occurring plastid-bearing ciliates. The species-specific resources and regulators defining the realized niches (sensu Hutchinson) of the two species were identified. Differences in vertical distribution, daily vertical migration and in situ division rates (with record values, 0.76 d−1, in D. acuta), in response to the environmental conditions and potential prey availability, revealed their niche differences. The Outlying Mean Index (OMI) analysis showed that the realized niche of D. acuta (cell maximum 7 × 103 cells L−1 within the pycnocline) was characterized by sub-surface estuarine waters (salinity 23 – 25), lower values of turbulence and PAR, and a narrow niche breath. In contrast, the realized niche of D. acuminata (cell maximum 6.8 × 103 cells L−1 just above the pycnocline) was characterized by fresher (salinity 17 – 20) outflowing surface waters, with higher turbulence and light intensity and a wider niche breadth. Results from OMI and PERMANOVA analyses of co-occurring microplanktonic ciliates were compatible with the hypothesis of species such as those from genera Pseudotontonia and Strombidium constituting an alternative ciliate prey to Mesodinium. The D. acuta cell maximum was associated with DSP (OA and DTX-1) toxins and pectenotoxins; that of D. acuminata only with pectenotoxins. Results presented here contribute to a better understanding of the environmental drivers of species-specific blooms of Dinophysis and management of their distinct effects in Southern Chile. | |
| Major atmospheric particulate matter sources for glaciers in Coquimbo Region, Chile | Environmental Science and Pollution Research | Barraza, F.; Lambert, F.; MacDonell, S.; Sinclair, K.; Fernandoy, F.; Jorquera, H. | 2021 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1007/s11356-021-12933-7 | https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11356-021-12933-7 | 36817-36827 | Vol: 28 Issue: 27 | 0944-1344, 1614-7499 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Tapado Glacier is a subtropical mountain glacier in the Coquimbo region of Chile that has been continuously retreating during the last 60 years due to diminishing precipitation rates and rising temperatures and likely due to a currently unknown influence from atmospheric pollutant deposition. Climatic and meteorological impacts on this, and other, Andean glacier have been previously studied; however, cryosphere changes driven by aerosols are still largely unknown. To contribute to the understanding of the origin of aerosols and their dispersion, this study aims to identify natural and anthropogenic sources of air pollution deposited on the Tapado Glacier (4500–5536 m a.s.l.) and their transport by using a receptor model (positive matrix factorization) together with the concentration of major ions as proxies of air pollution deposited on this glacier. This model’s outcomes were complemented with daily wind backward trajectories computed for a whole year using the HYSPLYT meteorological model. Four sources were identified as the main contributors to major soluble ions in the Tapado surface snow. These sources are natural Aeolian dust (38%) from the Atacama Desert (including mining sites), natural weathered sulphates (27%), anthropogenic nitrates (25%), and coastal aerosols (10%). Coastal nitrate emissions and coastal aerosols are both sources with an important anthropogenic component, coming from La Serena and Coquimbo’s coastal cities. The crustal components and sulphate profiles are similar to detritus dispersed from the glacier after wind erosion. Although the glacier is located over 4000 m above sea level, anthropogenic pollutants reached this location. However, their contributions were smaller compared to natural contaminants. Our findings can likely be extended to the nearest glaciers in Northern Chile, which have similar potential contaminant sources from cities, ports, and thriving mining activity. However, these findings may not be suitable for southern Chilean glaciers, which are closer to bigger cities and to smoke from residential heating prevalent in winter months and wildfires during the summer. |
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| Water management or megadrought: what caused the Chilean Aculeo Lake drying? | Regional Environmental Change | Barría, P.; Chadwick, C.; Ocampo-Melgar, A.; Galleguillos, M.; Garreaud, R.; Díaz-Vasconcellos, R.; Poblete, D.; Rubio-Álvarez, E.; Poblete-Caballero, D. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1007/s10113-021-01750-w | http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10113-021-01750-w | 19 | Vol: 21 Issue: 1 | 1436-3798, 1436-378X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | The Aculeo Lake is an important natural reservoir of Central Chile, which provides valuable ecosystem services. This lake has suffered a rapid shrinkage of the water levels from year 2010 to 2018, and since October 2018, it is completely dry. This natural disaster is concurrent with a number of severe and uninterrupted drought years, along with sustained increases in water consumption associated to land use/land cover (LULC) changes. Severe water shortages and socio-environmental impacts were triggered by these changes, emphasizing the need to understand the causes of the lake desiccation to contribute in the design of future adaptation strategies. Thereby, the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) hydrological model was used as a tool to quantify the water balance in the catchment. The model was run under a combination of three land use/land cover and two different climate scenarios that sample the cases with and without megadrought and with or without changes in land use. According to the results, the main triggering factor of the lake shrinkage is the severe megadrought, with annual rainfall deficits of about 38%, which resulted in amplified reductions in river flows (44%) and aquifer recharges (24%). The results indicate that the relative impact of the climate factor is more than 10 times larger than the impact of the observed LULC changes in the lake balance, highlighting the urgent need for adaptation strategies to deal with the projected drier futures. | |
| Water allocation under climate change | Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene | Barría, P.; Sandoval, I.; Guzman, C.; Chadwick, C.; Alvarez-Garreton, C.; Díaz-Vasconcellos, R.; Ocampo-Melgar, A.; Fuster, R. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1525/elementa.2020.00131 | https://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article/9/1/00131/117183/Water-allocation-under-climate-changeA-diagnosis | 00131 | Vol: 9 Issue: 1 | 2325-1026 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Chile is positioned in the 20th rank of water availability per capita. Nonetheless, water security levels vary across the territory. Around 70% of the national population lives in arid and semiarid regions, where a persistent drought has been experienced over the last decade. This has led to water security problems including water shortages. The water allocation and trading system in Chile is based on a water use rights (WURs) market, with limited regulatory and supervisory mechanisms, where the volume to be granted as permanent and eventual WURs is calculated from statistical analyses of historical streamflow records if available, or from empirical estimations if they are not. This computation of WURs does not consider the nonstationarity of hydrological processes nor climatic projections. This study presents the first large sample diagnosis of water allocation system in Chile under climate change scenarios. This is based on novel anthropic intervention indices (IAI), which were computed as the ratio between the total granted water volume to the water availability within 87 basins in north-central and southern Chile (30°S–42°S). The IAI were evaluated for the historical period (1979–2019) and under modeled-based climatic projections (2055–2080). According to these IAI levels, to date, there are 20 out of 87 overallocated basins, which under the assumption that no further WURs will be granted in the future, increases up to 25 basins for the 2055–2080 period. The results show that, to date most of north-central Chilean catchments already have a large anthropic intervention degree, and the increases for the future period occurs mostly in the southern region of the country (approximately 38°S), which has been considered as possible source of water for large water transfer projects (i.e., water roads). These indices and diagnosis are proposed as a tool to help policy makers to address water scarcity under climate change. | |
| Carleman-Based Reconstruction Algorithm for Waves | SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis | Baudouin, L.; de Buhan, M.; Ervedoza, S.; Osses, A. | 2021 | 10.1137/20M1315798 | https://epubs.siam.org/doi/10.1137/20M1315798 | 998-1039 | Vol: 59 Issue: 2 | 0036-1429, 1095-7170 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | We present a globally convergent numerical algorithm based on global Carleman estimates to reconstruct the speed of wave propagation in a bounded domain with Dirichlet boundary conditions from a single measurement of the boundary flux of the solutions in a finite time interval. The global convergence of the proposed algorithm naturally arises from the proof of the Lipschitz stability of the corresponding inverse problem for both sufficiently large observation time and boundary using global Carleman inequalities. The speed of propagation is supposed to be independent of time but varying in space with a trace and normal derivative known at the boundary and belonging to a certain admissible set that limits the speed fluctuations with respect to a given exterior point x0. In order to recover the speed, we also require a single experiment with null initial velocity and initial deformation having some monotonicity properties in the direction of x - x0. We perform numerical simulations in the discrete setting in order to illustrate and to validate the feasibility of the algorithm in both one and two dimensions in space. As proved theoretically, we verify that the numerical reconstruction is achieved for any admissible initial guess, even in the presence of small random disturbances on the measurements. © 2021 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics | ||
| Methodology to analyse the impact of an emissions trading system in Chile | Climate Policy | Benavides, C.; Díaz, M.; Ryan, R.; Gwinner, S.; Sierra, E. | 2021 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1080/14693062.2021.1954869 | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14693062.2021.1954869 | 1099-1110 | Vol: 21 Issue: 8 | 1469-3062, 1752-7457 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | In the context of updating the 2015 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the government of Chile has updated its estimates of compliance costs for a series of mitigation actions with an emphasis on the energy sector as the main source of its greenhouse gas emissions. Using the information developed in this process, we assess the impact on compliance costs of increasing the flexibility for sources by introducing different emissions trading schemes. For this we develop a detailed optimization model that represents the operational and investment decisions that could be taken by the energy generation, industrial and mining sectors if an Emissions Trading System (ETS) was implemented. An ETS with two cap and trade options is analysed together with an offset mechanism for sources not included in the ETS. Also, two policy goals are considered: a stringent 76% sectoral reduction goal in 2050 similar to Chile’s current strict NDC, and a more lax 46% goal similar to Chile’s initial 2015 NDC proposal. The results show that (i) cost reductions from increased flexibility for Chile’s current strict NDC are significant, and that offsets can play an important role; (ii) the stringency of the reduction goal affects the magnitude of the cost savings related to flexibility and, surprisingly, total abatement costs are negative (i.e. there are benefits) for the 46% reduction goal. In this latter case, the most significant cost reductions result from compelling firms to comply with their allowances in each sector, not increased flexibility. These results highlight the policy relevance of case by case analysis using a modelling approach similar to the one we develop here. |
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| Mapping water ecosystem services: Evaluating InVEST model predictions in data scarce regions | Environmental Modelling & Software | Benra, F.; De Frutos, A.; Gaglio, M.; Álvarez-Garretón, C.; Felipe-Lucia, M.; Bonn, A. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.envsoft.2021.104982 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1364815221000256 | 104982 | Vol: 138 | 13648152 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Sustainable management of water ecosystem services requires reliable information to support decision making. We evaluate the performance of the InVEST Seasonal Water Yield Model (SWYM) against water monitoring records in 224 catchments in southern Chile. We run the SWYM in three years (1998, 2007 and 2013) to account for recent land-use change and climatic variations. We computed squared Pearson correlations between SWYM monthly quickflow predictions and streamflow observations and applied a generalized mixed‐effects model to evaluate annual estimations. Results show relatively low monthly correlations with marked latitudinal and temporal variations while annual estimates show a good match between observed and modeled values, especially for values under 1000 mm/year. Better predictions were observed in regions with high rainfall and in dry years while poorer predictions were found in snow dominated and drier regions. Our results improve SWYM performance and contribute to water supply and regulation decision-making, particularly in data scarce regions. | |
| Aporte de un sistema predictivo de contraloría médica en la gestión de licencias médicas electrónicas | Revista Chilena de Salud Pública | Bernales, B.; Bravo, S.; Causa, L.; Gómez, N.; Valdés, M. | 2021 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.5354/0719-5281.2020.61265 | https://revistasaludpublica.uchile.cl/index.php/RCSP/article/view/61265 | 115 | Vol: 24 Issue: 2 | 0719-5281, 0717-3652 | Introducción: El retraso del procesamiento de las licencias médicas (LMs) representa un problema de salud pública en Chile, considerando que esto afecta el pago del subsidio a las personas destinado a realizar el reposo médico prescrito mientras no se pueda trabajar. El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar las diferencias en el tiempo de procesamiento de las licencias médicas electrónicas (LMEs) evaluadas por contraloría médica (CM) y las evaluadas por un sistema predictivo de contraloría médica (SPCM) basado en redes neuronales artificiales. Materiales y métodos: El tiempo de procesamiento de LMEs procesadas con SPCM fue comparado con el tiempo de procesamiento de LMEs examinadas solo con CM, usando curvas de Kaplan Meier, prueba de log-rank y modelos multivariados de Cox. Resultados: La tasa de procesamiento del SPCM fue entre 1,7 a 5,5 veces más rápida que la tasa de procesamiento de la CM, ajustando por potenciales confusores. Discusión: La implementación del SPCM permitió disminuir el tiempo de procesamiento de las LMEs, beneficiando a los trabajadores afiliados al seguro público. | |||
| Chemical Signals in Tree Rings from Northern Patagonia as Indicators of Calbuco Volcano Eruptions since the 16th Century | Forests | Bertin, L.; Christie, D.; Sheppard, P.; Muñoz, A.; Lara, A.; Alvarez, C. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.3390/f12101305 | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/10/1305 | 1305 | Vol: 12 Issue: 10 | 1999-4907 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The Calbuco volcano ranks third in the specific risk classification of volcanoes in Chile and has a detailed eruption record since 1853. During 2015, Calbuco had a sub-Plinian eruption with negative impacts in Chile and Argentina, highlighting the need to determine the long-term history of its activity at a high-resolution time scale to obtain a better understanding of its eruptive frequency. We developed a continuous eruptive record of Calbuco for the 1514–2016 period by dendrochemical analysis of Fitzroya cupressoides tree rings at a biennium resolution using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. After comparing the chemical record of 20 elements contained in tree rings with historical eruptions, one group exhibited positive anomalies during (Pb/Sn) and immediately after (Mo/P/Zn/Cu) eruptions, with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) ≥ 3, and so were classified as chemical tracers of past eruptions (TPE). The tree-ring width chronology also exhibited significant decreases in tree growth associated with eruptions of VEI ≥ 3. According to these records, we identified 11 new eruptive events of Calbuco, extending its eruptive chronology back to the 16th century and determining a mean eruptive frequency of ~23 years. Our results show the potential to use dendrochemical analysis to infer past volcanic eruptions in Northern Patagonia. This information provides a long-term perspective for assessing eruptive history in Northern Patagonia, with implications for territorial planning. | |
| Tracing Social Movements' Influence Beyond Agenda-Setting: Waves of Protest, Chaining Mechanisms and Policy Outcomes in the Chilean Student Movement (2006-2018) | PArtecipazione e COnflitto | Bidegain, G.; Maillet, A. | 2021 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1285/i20356609v14i3p1057 | http://siba-ese.unisalento.it/index.php/paco/article/view/24483/20313 | 1057-1075 | Vol: 14 Issue: 3 | 1972-7623 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | English | The literature on social movements' policy outcomes agrees on the need for an intertemporal perspective that goes beyond a short-term action-reaction logic to account for the effects of mobilization on policies. However, little attention has been given to the causal mechanisms that link different waves of mobilization with related policy outcomes over time. To do so, we propose the concept of chaining mechanisms as a means to connect different iterations of protest, electoral cycles and policy responses within a mid-term perspective. We distinguish between two types of chaining mechanisms, strategic and inertial, and apply this conceptual framework to the Chilean student movement in the 2006 and 2018 period. We assert that its success in chaining different waves of protest is a crucial factor in accounting for the recent major education reform that took place under Bachelet's government (2014-2018). Beyond the case, the concept contributes to the understanding of the complex interactions between social mobilization and public policy. | |
| Governing sustainability or sustainable governance? Semantic constellations on the sustainability-governance intersection in academic literature | Journal of Cleaner Production | Billi, M.; Mascareño, A.; Edwards, J. | 2021 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123523 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S095965262033568X | 123523 | Vol: 279 | 0959-6526 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The concepts of sustainability and governance share an implicit relationship: sustainability has often been asserted to require suitable governance arrangements, which should, in turn, be sustainable. However, this semantic intersection requires more study. To contribute to this gap, this paper aims at: 1) identifying the meanings and interests that are mobilized when the two terms of sustainability and governance intersect within academic communication; and 2) observe semantic structures allowing for the sustainability-governance intersection to translate meanings between different academic communities. To pursue this aim, the study employed a computer-aided algorithm, called Latent Dirichlet Analysis, to produce and examine a topic model of 7.358 Web of Science-indexed papers published between 1992 and 2017. The analysis output 29 topics condensing key themes, concepts, and approaches in academic literature associating sustainability and governance. These were subsequently grouped into four semantic constellations of transversal meanings providing coherence to the heterogeneity of the field: a) governance of State-level sustainable development; b) governance of the sustainable use of natural resources; c) sustainable governance of integration and autonomy in a globalized world; and d) sustainable corporate governance. These results led to the conclusion that the growingly differentiated literature on sustainability and governance has tended to organize in a tightly-knit field, articulating distinct methodological and theoretical perspectives within a shared set of value commitments -the promotion of a sustainable future. Arguably, this has been made possible by the ‘hybrid’ character of the concept of sustainability, as much a description of the world as it is as a prescription of the world-to-be. Additionally, the study unveiled that the implicit relationship linking sustainability and governance has been running both ways, i.e. that governance may be framed as a way to achieve sustainability as much as sustainability can be depicted as a way to achieve governance. | |
| Informe a las Naciones: Gobernanza Climática de los Elementos. Hacia una gobernanza climática del agua, el aire, el fuego y la tierra en Chile, integrada, anticipatoria, socio-ecosistémica y fundada en evidencia. | Billi, M.; Moraga, P.; Aliste, E, E.; Maillet, A.; O'Ryan, R.; Sapiains A., R.; Bórquez, R.; Aldunce, P.; Azócar, G.; Blanco, G.; Carrasco, N.; Galleguillos, M.; Hervé, D.; Ibarra, C.; Gallardo, L.; Inostroza, V.; Lambert, F.; Manuschevic, D.; Martínez, F.; Osses, M.; Rivas, N.; Rojas, M.; Seguel, R... | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Cambio de Uso de Suelo; Ciudades Resilientes; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | https://bit.ly/3JdvVbd | 69 | La humanidad se ha vuelto una de las mayores fuerzas transformadoras del planeta, generando cambios significativos (y en ocasiones irreversibles) en los equilibrios geofísicos y ecológicos, con consecuencias potencialmente catastróficas y en parte aún desconocidas (Foster et al., 2017; Rockström et al., 2009; Steffen et al., 2007). Entre todas estas alteraciones, el cambio climático adquiere una importancia preponderante debido a la magnitud y escala de sus posibles consecuencias, así como por la complejidad y las controversias que ha caracterizado los intentos de hacerle frente (de Coninck et al., 2018; IPCC, 2018). Contemplar este escenario implica un doble dilema. Por un lado, supone la necesidad de acciones urgentes, concertadas y transformativas, en múltiples escalas y dominios, que lleven a hacerse cargo de los forzantes que causan el cambio climático, sus efectos significativos y desiguales en distintos territorios y poblaciones. Por el otro, se enfrenta a la insuficiencia, parcialidad y limitación demostrada por los modelos tradicionales de gobernanza para enfrentar estos desafíos. |
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| Report to the Nations Climate Governance of the Elements. Towards an Integrated, anticipatory, socio- ecosystemic and evidence- based climate governance of water, air, fire and land. | Billi, M.; Moraga, P.; Aliste, E, E.; Maillet, A.; O'Ryan, R.; Sapiains A., R.; Bórquez, R.; Aldunce, P.; Azócar, G.; Blanco, G.; Carrasco, N.; Galleguillos, M.; Hervé, D.; Ibarra, C.; Gallardo, L.; Inostroza, V.; Lambert, F.; Manuschevic, D.; Martínez, F.; Osses, M.; Rivas, N.; Rojas, M.; Seguel, R... | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Cambio de Uso de Suelo; Ciudades Resilientes; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | https://bit.ly/3JdvVbd | 69 | Humanity has become one of the greatest transformative forces of the planet, generating significant (and sometimes irreversible) changes in geophysical and ecological balances with potentially catastrophic and partly still unknown consequences (Foster et al., 2017; Rockström et al., 2009; Steffen et al, 2007). Among all these alterations, climate change possesses predominant importance due to the magnitude and scale of its potential consequences, as well as the complexity and the controversies that have characterized the attempts to address it (Coninck et al, 2018; IPCC, 2018). Contemplating this scenario entails a double dilemma. On one hand, it implies the need for urgent, coordinated and transformative actions on multiple scales and domains that address the drivers that cause climate change, as well as its significant and unequal effects on different territories and populations. On the other, it faces the insufficiency, biases and limitations shown by traditional governance models in dealing with these challenges. |
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| Boletín especial N° 1 | Cambio climático y nueva Constitución | Billi, M.; Moraga, P.; Bórquez, R.; Azócar, G.; Cordero, L.; Ibarra, C.; Maillet, A.; Martínez, F.; O'Ryan, R.; Pulgar, A.; Rojas, M.; Sapiains, R. | 2021 | https://www.cr2.cl/cambio-climatico-y-nueva-constitucion/ | 7 | Este documento se basa en: Billi, M., Moraga, P., Aliste, E., Maillet, A., O’Ryan, R., Sapiains, R., Bórquez, R. et al. (2021). Gobernanza Climática de los Elementos. Hacia una gobernanza climática del agua, el aire, el fuego y la tierra en Chile, integrada, anticipatoria, socio-ecosistémica y fundada en evidencia. Centro de Ciencia del Clima y la Resiliencia (CR)2, (ANID/FONDAP/15110009), 69 pp. Disponible en www.cr2.cl/gobernanza-elementos/ | ||||||||
| Ecologies of Repair: A Post-human Approach to Other-Than-Human Natures | Frontiers in Psychology | Blanco-Wells, G. | 2021 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.633737 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.633737/full | 633737 | Vol: 12 | 1664-1078 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | This conceptual paper explores the theoretical possibilities of posthumanism and presents ecologies of repair as a heuristic device to explore the association modes of different entities, which, when confronted with the effects of human-induced destructive events, seek to repair the damage and transform the conditions of coexistence of various life forms. The central idea is that severe socio-environmental crisis caused by an intensification of industrial activity are conducive to observing new sociomaterial configurations and affective dispositions that, through the reorganization of practices of resistance, remediation, and mutual care, are oriented to generating reparative and/or transformative processes from damaged ecologies and communities. Crises constitute true ontological experimentation processes where the presence of other-than-human natures, and of artifacts or devices that participate in reparative actions, become visible. A post-human approach to nature allows us to use languages and methodologies that do not restrict the emergence of assemblages under the assumption of their a priori ontological separation, but rather examine their reparative potential based on the efficacy of situated relationships. Methodologically, transdisciplinarity is relevant, with ethnography and other engaged methods applied over units of observation and experience called socio-geo-ecologies. The relevant attributes of these socio-geo-ecologies, beyond the individual, community, or institutional aspects, are the specific geological characteristics that make possible an entanglement of interdependent relationships between human and non-human agents. The conceptual analysis is illustrated with empirical examples stemming from socio-geo-ecologies researched in Southern Chile. |
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| Plagues, past, and futures for the Yagan canoe people of Cape Horn, southern Chile | Maritime Studies | Blanco-Wells, G.; Libuy, M.; Harambour, A.; Rodríguez, K. | 2021 | 10.1007/s40152-021-00217-2 | http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40152-021-00217-2 | 101-113 | Vol: 20 Issue: 1 | 1872-7859, 2212-9790 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | English | The manner in which the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the indigenous Yagan people of Navarino Island in southern Chile is the topic of this paper. Like other First Nation communities, these nomadic people suffered decimation and disease in successive encounters with Europeans, and then, in the mid-twentieth century, forced sedentarization by the Chilean State. More recently, the Yagan have fought the expansion of salmon aquaculture to the Island. Making use of a sociomaterial approach, we examine how the threat of past and present viruses and diseases, added to the tragic effects of colonization, become part of a broader sociohistorical debate on the right of coastal peoples to their maritories. Paradoxically, our results suggest that COVID-19 has become part of an assemblage of ethnic revitalization, opening possibilities for the Yagan clans to make some of their envisioned futures possible. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature. | ||
| Estado, medio ambiente y desarrollo: pasado, presente y futuro de la gobernanza ambiental chilena | Revista Anales de la Universidad de Chile | Borquez, R.; Billi, M.; Moraga Sariego, P. | 2021 | 10.5354/0717-8883.2022.66074 | https://anales.uchile.cl/index.php/ANUC/article/view/66074 | Vol: 19 Issue: 7 | 0717-8883 | Latindex | Chile, con su impronta neoliberal plasmada en la Constitución que lo ha regido por cuarenta años, se ha mantenido hasta ahora firmemente ubicado entre los países de la periferia del capitalismo global (Urquiza, Amigo, Billi, Cortés & Labraña, 2019). Esto se ha visto reflejado en una marcada lógica extractivista, una inmadurez institucional y la persistencia de importantes desigualdades sociales que han potenciado los efectos de la degradación ambiental y la sobreexplotación de los recursos naturales (Urquiza, Amigo, Billi, Cortés & Labraña, 2019). Hoy el país se encuentra en un punto de inflexión: mientras se redactan estas páginas en la Convención Constitucional se está escribiendo la hoja de ruta que nos permitirá navegar durante las próximas décadas. El presente artículo busca reflexionar sobre Estado, medio ambiente y desarrollo realizando un análisis crítico del pasado y presente de la gobernanza ambiental chilena con miras de los desafíos futuros que nos impone la crisis social, ambiental y climática. Frente a eso proponemos una aproximación sistémica que deje atrás la gobernanza fragmentada, reactiva, mercadocéntrica, pues se requieren acciones incrementales y transformadoras: una gobernanza climática integrada. | ||||
| Temperature and precipitation projections for the Antarctic Peninsula over the next two decades: contrasting global and regional climate model simulations | Climate Dynamics | Bozkurt, D.; Bromwich, D.; Carrasco, J.; Rondanelli, R. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Zonas Costeras | 10.1007/s00382-021-05667-2 | http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00382-021-05667-2 | 3853-3874 | Vol: 56 Issue: 11-12 | 0930-7575, 1432-0894 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | This study presents near future (2020–2044) temperature and precipitation changes over the Antarctic Peninsula under the high-emission scenario (RCP8.5). We make use of historical and projected simulations from 19 global climate models (GCMs) participating in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5). We compare and contrast GCMs projections with two groups of regional climate model simulations (RCMs): (1) high resolution (15-km) simulations performed with Polar-WRF model forced with bias-corrected NCAR-CESM1 (NC-CORR) over the Antarctic Peninsula, (2) medium resolution (50-km) simulations of KNMI-RACMO21P forced with EC-EARTH (EC) obtained from the CORDEX-Antarctica. A further comparison of historical simulations (1981–2005) with respect to ERA5 reanalysis is also included for circulation patterns and near-surface temperature climatology. In general, both RCM boundary conditions represent well the main circulation patterns of the historical period. Nonetheless, there are important differences in projections such as a notable deepening and weakening of the Amundsen Sea Low in EC and NC-CORR, respectively. Mean annual near-surface temperatures are projected to increase by about 0.5–1.5 ∘C across the entire peninsula. Temperature increase is more substantial in autumn and winter (∼ 2 ∘C). Following opposite circulation pattern changes, both EC and NC-CORR exhibit different warming rates, indicating a possible continuation of natural decadal variability. Although generally showing similar temperature changes, RCM projections show less warming and a smaller increase in melt days in the Larsen Ice Shelf compared to their respective driving fields. Regarding precipitation, there is a broad agreement among the simulations, indicating an increase in mean annual precipitation (∼ 5 to 10%). However, RCMs show some notable differences over the Larsen Ice Shelf where total precipitation decreases (for RACMO) and shows a small increase in rain frequency. We conclude that it seems still difficult to get consistent projections from GCMs for the Antarctic Peninsula as depicted in both RCM boundary conditions. In addition, dominant and common changes from the boundary conditions are largely evident in the RCM simulations. We argue that added value of RCM projections is driven by processes shaped by finer local details and different physics schemes that are introduced by RCMs, particularly over the Larsen Ice Shelf. | |
| Influence of African Atmospheric Rivers on Precipitation and Snowmelt in the Near East's Highlands | Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres | Bozkurt, D.; Sen, O.; Ezber, Y.; Guan, B.; Viale, M.; Caglar, F. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1029/2020JD033646 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020JD033646 | art: e2020JD033646 | Vol: 126 Issue: 4 | 2169-897X, 2169-8996 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Atmospheric rivers (ARs) traveling thousands of kilometers over arid North Africa could interact with the highlands of the Near East (NE), and thus affect the region's hydrometeorology and water resources. Here, we use a state-of-the-art AR tracking database, and reanalysis and observational datasets to investigate the climatology (1979–2017) and influences of these ARs in snowmelt season (March–April). The Red Sea and northeast Africa are found to be the major source regions of these ARs, which are typically associated with the eastern Mediterranean trough positioned over the Balkan Peninsula and a blocking anticyclone over the NE-Caspian region, triggering southwesterly air flow toward the NE's highlands. Approximately 8% of the ARs are relatively strong (integrated water vapor transport>275kg m1 s1). AR days exhibit enhanced precipitation over the crescent-shaped orography of the NE region. Mean AR days indicate wetter (up to+2mm day1) and warmer (up to+1.5°C) conditions than all-day climatology. On AR days, while snowpack tends to decrease (up to 30%) in the Zagros Mountains, it can show decreases or increases in the Taurus Mountains depending largely on elevation. A further analysis with the observations and reanalysis indicates that extreme ARs coinciding with large scale sensible heat transport can significantly increase the daily discharges. These results suggest that ARs can have notable impacts on the hydrometeorology and water resources of the region, particularly of lowland Mesopotamia, a region that is famous with great floods in the ancient narratives. | |
| Projected increases in surface melt and ice loss for the Northern and Southern Patagonian Icefields | Scientific Reports | Bravo, C.; Bozkurt, D.; Ross, A.; Quincey, D. | 2021 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1038/s41598-021-95725-w | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95725-w | 16847 | Vol: 11 Issue: 1 | 2045-2322 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The Northern Patagonian Icefield (NPI) and the Southern Patagonian Icefield (SPI) have increased their ice mass loss in recent decades. In view of the impacts of glacier shrinkage in Patagonia, an assessment of the potential future surface mass balance (SMB) of the icefields is critical. We seek to provide this assessment by modelling the SMB between 1976 and 2050 for both icefields, using regional climate model data (RegCM4.6) and a range of emission scenarios. For the NPI, reductions between 1.5 m w.e. (RCP2.6) and 1.9 m w.e. (RCP8.5) were estimated in the mean SMB during the period 2005–2050 compared to the historical period (1976–2005). For the SPI, the estimated reductions were between 1.1 m w.e. (RCP2.6) and 1.5 m w.e. (RCP8.5). Recently frontal ablation estimates suggest that mean SMB in the SPI is positively biased by 1.5 m w.e., probably due to accumulation overestimation. If it is assumed that frontal ablation rates of the recent past will continue, ice loss and sea-level rise contribution will increase. The trend towards lower SMB is mostly explained by an increase in surface melt. Positive ice loss feedbacks linked to increasing in meltwater availability are expected for calving glaciers. | |
| Escuelas Seguras en tiempos del COVID-19 | Brevis, W.; Cortés, S.; Duarte, I.; Fica, D.; Förster, F.; Martínez, S.; Rojas, M.; Repetto, P.; Rondanelli, R.; Valdés, M. | 2021 | Ciudades Resilientes; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política; Zonas Costeras | https://portaluchile.uchile.cl/documentos/escuelas-seguras-en-tiempos-del-covid-19_176441_0_4940.pdf | v1.3 | ||||||||
| Past abrupt changes, tipping points and cascading impacts in the Earth system | Nature Geoscience | Brovkin, V.; Brook, E.; Williams, J.; Bathiany, S.; Lenton, T.; Barton, M.; DeConto, R.; Donges, J.; Ganopolski, A.; McManus, J.; Praetorius, S.; de Vernal, A.; Abe-Ouchi, A.; Cheng, H.; Claussen, M.; Crucifix, M.; Gallopín, G.; Iglesias, V.; Kaufman, D.; Kleinen, T.; Lambert, F.; van der Leeuw, S.;... | 2021 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1038/s41561-021-00790-5 | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00790-5 | 550-558 | Vol: 14 Issue: 8 | 1752-0894, 1752-0908 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The geological record shows that abrupt changes in the Earth system can occur on timescales short enough to challenge the capacity of human societies to adapt to environmental pressures. In many cases, abrupt changes arise from slow changes in one component of the Earth system that eventually pass a critical threshold, or tipping point, after which impacts cascade through coupled climate–ecological–social systems. The chance of detecting abrupt changes and tipping points increases with the length of observations. The geological record provides the only long-term information we have on the conditions and processes that can drive physical, ecological and social systems into new states or organizational structures that may be irreversible within human time frames. Here, we use well-documented abrupt changes of the past 30 kyr to illustrate how their impacts cascade through the Earth system. We review useful indicators of upcoming abrupt changes, or early warning signals, and provide a perspective on the contributions of palaeoclimate science to the understanding of abrupt changes in the Earth system. | |
| Energy and Water Policies in Chile, Two Different Endings with Implications in the Water-Energy Nexus | Energies | Bórquez, R.; Fuster, R. | 2021 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.3390/en14113286 | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/11/3286 | 3286 | Vol: 14 Issue: 11 | 1996-1073 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Energy and water have faced important levels of conflicts in the last 20–25 years in Chile. However, the way that they have been politically addressed in the last decade differs. These differences emerge from how these fields have been historically configurated, impacting on how the policy problems and policy options have been framed. Using thematic analysis of 93 interviews and documentary analysis, this article analyzes by contrasting two participatory processes which nourish the formulation of the energy and water policies in Chile in 2014–2015. It seeks to understand the factors that may influence why the development, impact and inclusion of new voices in public policies related to water and energy have been different, and how that can impact the water–energy nexus. Five factors emerge as determinants in this difference: structure of use, number of actors, governance and institutional framework, elite conformation, and legal framework. These factors impacted the policy processes and the scope of the policy outcomes, generating two different results: a long-term energy policy, and a water policy that did not survive the presidential period. Thus, the water–energy nexus is under pressure as a result of the tension between power structures, social responses to environmental issues and decision-making, environmental limitations, and climate change stressors, creating greater vulnerability and conflicts. | |
| Northern Chile intermediate-depth earthquakes controlled by plate hydration | Geophysical Journal International | Cabrera, L.; Ruiz, S.; Poli, P.; Contreras-Reyes, E.; Osses, A.; Mancini, R. | 2021 | 10.1093/gji/ggaa565 | https://academic.oup.com/gji/article/226/1/78/5998227 | 78-90 | Vol: 226 Issue: 1 | 0956-540X, 1365-246X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | SUMMARY We investigate the variations of the seismic source properties and aftershock activity using kinematic inversions and template-matching for six large magnitude intermediate-depth earthquakes occurred in northern Chile. Results show similar rupture geometry and stress drop values between 7 and 30 MPa. Conversely, aftershock productivity systematically decreases for the deeper events within the slab. Particularly, there is a dramatic decrease in aftershock activity below the 400–450 °C isotherm depth, which separates high- and low-hydrated zones. The events exhibit tensional focal mechanisms at unexpected depths within the slab, suggesting a deepening of the neutral plane, where the extensional regimen reaches the 700–800 °C isotherm depth. We interpret the reduction of aftershocks in the lower part of the extensional regime as the absence of a hydrated-slab at those depths. Our finding highlights the role of the thermal structure and fluids in the subducting plate in controlling the intermediated-depth seismic activity and shed new light in their causative mechanism. |
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| Desarrollo de indicadores de pobreza energética en América Latina y el Caribe | Recursos naturales y desarrollo, Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) | Calvo, R.; Alamos, N.; Billi, M.; Urquiza, A.; Contreras Lisperguer, R. | 2021 | Ciudades Resilientes; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | https://www.cepal.org/es/publicaciones/47216-desarrollo-indicadores-pobreza-energetica-america-latina-caribe | 1-88 | Vol: Santiago, Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) Issue: 207 | 2664-4541 | Spanish | Garantizar el acceso a una energía asequible, segura y sostenible para todos y todas es un pilar fundamentalde los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible, siendo uno de los elementos base para la satisfacción de una gran variedad de necesidades humanas, el desarrollo económico y humano. Sin embargo, estudios recientes en América Latina y el Caribe han evidenciado las condiciones de acceso desigual a servicios energéticos de calidad en la región, documentando la exposición de una proporción relevante de la población a diversas barreras en el acceso a energía: falta de electrificación, uso de combustibles contaminantes, nula o deficiente aislación térmica de las viviendas, alto gasto en servicios energéticos, entre otras. En este marco, el Observatorio Regional de Energías Sostenibles (ROSE) de la CEPAL, está realizando esfuerzos para poder cuantificar en la región la pobreza energética. Este informe complementa el reporte anterior publicado por la CEPAL, “Seguridad hídrica y energética en América Latina y el Caribe: definición y aproximación territorial para el análisis de brechas y riesgos de la población”, en dos aspectos. En primer lugar, se busca aportar en el debate de política pública sobre pobreza energética en América Latina y el Caribe, en base a la propuesta conceptual que define a la pobreza energética como un fenómeno multidimensional y situado desde una perspectiva territorial introducida por la CEPAL, facilitando una mejor integración de los conceptos de seguridad y transición que permita una perspectiva integral de los desafíos en materia de energía de los países de la región. Y, en segundo lugar, profundiza el trabajo realizado por la CEPAL ampliando la mirada de la pobreza energética más allá de la electrificación, evidenciando, a través de diversos indicadores, las múltiples formas de privación del acceso equitativo a energía de calidad y los diversos impactos que esto tiene en los hogares que la enfrentan. |
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| Territorial Energy Vulnerability Assessment to Enhance Just Energy Transition of Cities | Frontiers in Sustainable Cities | Calvo, R.; Amigo, C.; Billi, M.; Fleischmann, M.; Urquiza, A.; Álamos, N.; Navea, J. | 2021 | Ciudades Resilientes; Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.3389/frsc.2021.635976 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2021.635976/full | 635976 | Vol: 3 | 2624-9634 | Thomson Reuters ISI (ESCI) | English | Energy poverty is a crucial concept in current global energy policy, both for the importance of securing equitable access to high-quality energy services to all human populations and to advance toward a just energy transition to a decarbonized economy. Nonetheless, one of the limitations of this concept due to its focus at the household scale, it has tended to omit relevant energy conditions at a territorial scale, which can also be a dimension of significant deprivation (e.g., transportation, schools, hospitals, public services, industrial uses among others.). On the other hand, energy services are highly dependent on context: on the geographic, ecological, technical, economic, and sociocultural conditions. This context-dependency determines the range of energy and technological alternatives available in a territory. Hence, a conceptual framework is required to better understand the starting point to a just energy transition, capable of integrating the complexity of socio-techno-ecological systems. To fill this gap, we present a framework based on the concept of Territorial Energy Vulnerability (TEV), defined as the propensity of a territory to not guarantee equitable access—in quantity and quality—to resilient energy services that allow the sustainable human and economic development of its population. That is a greater probability of inequity in access to energy services or a significant impacts derived from socio-natural risks that make it incapable of guaranteeing a sustainable and resilient provision of these services. Built on state-of-the-art conceptualizations of risk, we develop an indicator-based framework on vulnerability understood as the combination of sensitivity and resilience characteristics of socio-techno-ecological systems. Sensitivity relates to economic, demographic, infrastructure, technology, culture, and knowledge characteristics of socio-techno-ecological components. Meanwhile, resilience is presented in a three-dimensional framework based on flexibility, register, and self-transformation capacity of socio-techno-ecological systems. An application of this framework is developed using three case studies: Arica, Los Andes and Coyhaique, all Chilean cities with diverse ecological, technical, economic, and sociocultural conditions that shape territorial vulnerability. Using this framework as a diagnostic tool, the development of a just energy transition could adapt existing concepts of energy poverty and decarbonization pathways into context-specific guidelines and policies. | |
| Observatorio de Nieve en los Andes de Argentina y Chile. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología, y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA-CONICET). Centro de Ciencia del Clima y la Resiliencia (CR)². | Cara, L.; Masiokas, M.; Villalba, R.; Garreaud, R.; Christie, D. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos | 10.13140/RG.2.2.11321.70245 | http://rgdoi.net/10.13140/RG.2.2.11321.70245 | Spanish | |||||||
| Exploring the multidimensional effects of human activity and land cover on fire occurrence for territorial planning | Journal of Environmental Management | Carrasco, J.; Acuna, M.; Miranda, A.; Alfaro, G.; Pais, C.; Weintraub, A. | 2021 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113428 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0301479721014900 | 113428 | Vol: 297 | 03014797 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The strong link between climate change and increased wildfire risk suggests a paradigm change on how humans must co-exist with fire and the environment. Different studies have demonstrated that human-induced fire ignitions can account for more than 90 % of forest fires, so human co-existence with wildfires requires informed decision making via preventive policies in order to minimize risk and adapt to new conditions. In this paper, we address the multidimensional effects of three groups of drivers (human activity, geographic and topographic, and land cover) that can be managed to assist in territorial planning under fire risk. We found critical factors of strong interactions with the potential to increase the likelihood of starting a fire. Our solution approach included the application of a Machine Learning method called Random Undersampling and Boosting (RUSBoost) to assess risk (fire occurrence probability), which was subsequently accompanied by a sensitivity analysis that revealed interactions of various levels of risk. The prediction performance of the proposed model was assessed using several statistical measures such as the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC) and the Area Under the Curve (AUC). The results confirmed the high accuracy of our model, with an AUC of 0.967 and an overall accuracy over test data of 93.01 % after applying a Bayesian approach for hyper-parameter optimization. The study area to test our solution approach comprised the entire geographical territory of central Chile. | |
| A review of the observed air temperature in the Antarctic Peninsula. Did the warming trend come back after the early 21st hiatus? | Polar Science | Carrasco, J.; Bozkurt, D.; Cordero, R. | 2021 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.polar.2021.100653 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1873965221000189 | 100653 | Vol: 28 | 18739652 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Recent changes in the near-surface air temperature (nSAT) in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) suggests that the absence of 21st century warming on Antarctic Peninsula may be coming to end. To examine this, the long-term annual and seasonal variability of the nSAT at eight Antarctic stations located in the AP are analyzed using available data from the SCAR Reader database, complemented with data from the Chilean Weather Service (Frei and O’Higgins). An exponential lter was applied to the original annual and seasonal mean series to obtain a decadal-like variation of the nSAT. A stacked and the standardized anomaly of the nSAT record was constructed to examine the average regional behavior in the AP. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) and changepoint analysis were applied through the stacked nSAT series to highlight signi cant changes caused by variation in weather and climate. The CUSUM and bootstrapping analysis revealed two statistically signi cant breaking points during the 1978–2020 period. The rst one occurred in the late nineties ending a warming period and making the beginning of a cooling period; the second one may have taken place in the mid-2010s and could mark the end of the warming pause. These trends appear to be consistent with the changes observed in the large-scale climate modes (i.e., the Antarctic Annular Mode – AAO). | |
| Embedding effect and the consequences of advanced disclosure: evidence from the valuation of cultural goods | Empirical Economics | Carrasco, M.; Vasquez-Lavin, F.; Ponce Oliva, R.; Bustamante Oporto, J.; Barrientos, M.; Cerda, A. | 2021 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1007/s00181-020-01897-1 | http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00181-020-01897-1 | 1039-1062 | Vol: 61 Issue: 2 | 0377-7332, 1435-8921 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | This study revisits the embedding effect, a long-standing problem in the nonmarket valuation literature. The embedding effect was a popular research topic during the 1990s, especially following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. It has resurfaced after a special issue of The Journal of Economic Perspectives in 2012 in which Jerry Hausmann asserts that among the three long-standing problems with contingent valuation, the embedding effect is the most challenging. In this study, we focus on how information disclosure regarding the nested structure of goods affects both the willingness to pay and the presence of the embedding effect. Our results suggest that the level of embedding can be reduced with a more complete description of the nested structure of the goods under valuation. Therefore, it is highly important for each valuation study to test whether sufficient information is provided on the goods’ nested structure to ensure that the relationships among the goods’ subsets are correctly understood by respondents. We show that by providing respondents with more high-quality information, it is possible to mitigate the embedding effect. | |
| Estimating the implicit discount rate for new technology adoption of wood-burning stoves | Energy Policy | Carrasco-Garcés, M.; Vásquez-Lavín, F.; Ponce Oliva, R.; Diaz Pincheira, F.; Barrientos, M. | 2021 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112407 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0301421521002779 | 112407 | Vol: 156 | 03014215 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | In the last decade, there have been several initiatives to incentivize Efficient Energy Technologies (EET) to reduce air pollution caused by wood-burning in developing countries. More efficient woodstoves can improve health, reduce family expenditures, CO2 emissions, and forest degradation. Despite these benefits, there is low level of adoption of EETs. This paper contributed to the literature in three ways. First, it estimates the implicit discount rate (IDR) used by individuals to decide whether to adopt EET using exponential and hyperbolic specifications. Second, it includes sociodemographic characteristics in the definition of the IDR. Third, it evaluates how the adoption curve changes by different policy designs. Since the interest rate is part of the policy design, comparing the interest rate and the IDR is relevant to increasing adoption. Our monthly estimated IDR is between 1.7% and 5.4% with a significant overlap with market interest rate. The IDR is affected by the perception of the future economic situation, trust in environmental authorities, happiness, and gender. We found that using an interest rate lower than the IDR increases the probability of adoption significantly. An understanding of the effects of copayments, payment frequencies, and difference between interest rates and IDR is needed to maximize adoption. | |
| Extreme sea levels at Rapa Nui (Easter Island) during intense atmospheric rivers | Natural Hazards | Carvajal, M.; Winckler, P.; Garreaud, R.; Igualt, F.; Contreras-López, M.; Averil, P.; Cisternas, M.; Gubler, A.; Breuer, W. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1007/s11069-020-04462-2 | http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11069-020-04462-2 | 1619-1637 | Vol: 106 Issue: 2 | 0921-030X, 1573-0840 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | In addition to the tsunami hazard posed by distant great earthquakes, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), in the Southeast Pacific Ocean, is exposed to frequent and intense coastal storms. Here, we use sea-level records and field surveys guided by video and photographic footage to show that extreme sea levels at Rapa Nui occur much more frequent than previously thought and thus constitute an unrecognized hazard to the inland’s maritime supply chain. We found that extreme sea-level events, including the two most extreme (March 5th and May 5th, 2020) in our 17-month-long analyzed period (from January 1st, 2019, to May 31st, 2020), resulted from constructive superpositions of seiches on the shelf, storm surges and high tides. By further analyzing time series of atmospheric and wind-generated wave data, we conclude that these extreme sea levels are ultimately driven by the breaking of large waves near the coastline (i.e., wave setup), with lesser contribution of barometric setup and even less of wind setup. We also propose that these large waves were mainly generated from strong, long-lasting, NW winds associated with intense atmospheric rivers (long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that transport abundant water vapor) passing over Rapa Nui. Given that the intensity of atmospheric rivers and sea level are thought to increase as climate changes, a deeper understanding of the relation between meteorological and oceanographic processes at Rapa Nui is strongly needed. | |
| Dissolved nitrous oxide distribution in the central South Pacific | Charpentier, J.; Farías, L.; Pizarro, O. | 2021 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1594/PANGAEA.928664 | https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.928664 | Pangaea | English | Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important atmospheric trace gas involved in tropospheric warming and stratospheric ozone depletion. The ocean is a net source of this gas, contributing around 25% of global N2O sources, although this emission is highly variable. It is the case of eastern South Pacific, a region with marked zonal gradients, ranging from highly productive and suboxic conditions in coastal upwelling systems to oligotrophic and oxygenated conditions in the subtropical gyre. Indeed, South Pacific Ocean has the largest permanent anticyclonic oceanic gyre which has been described as the most oligotrophic zone in the world ocean. Nitrous oxide concentration in the water column was measured on a transect crossing the Subtropical South Pacific Gyre during the BIOSOPE cruise (austral spring, 2004). This dataset includes nitrous oxide and nutrient concentrations at different depths from French program BIOSOPE, funded by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the Institut des Sciences de l'Univers (INSU), the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the European Space Agency (ESA), The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Nitrous oxide measurements belong to Concepción University. | |||||
| Effect of urban tree diversity and condition on surface temperature at the city block scale | Urban Forestry & Urban Greening | Chinchilla, J.; Carbonnel, A.; Galleguillos, M. | 2021 | Cambio de Uso de Suelo | 10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127069 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1618866721000947 | 127069 | Vol: 60 | 16188667 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE; SSCI) | English | Urban forests affect land surface temperature (LST) within a city due to the cooling effect of transpiration. The latter depends on tree health, but it can also be affected by the structure and composition of forest, as a mono-species environment may potentially worsen the health of urban forest. The following hypotheses are therefore proposed: a) greater tree diversity within urban forest results in lower LST at the city block scale; and b) the state of biotic disturbance of urban forest is negatively correlated with LST. The present research explores the relationship between urban forest tree diversity and health based on a survey of 38,950 individuals in the district of Providencia in the city of Santiago, Chile, and compares this information against LST data from the ASTER satellite instrument at the city block scale. The health of the urban forest was determined by expert knowledge means of a field survey that collected data concerning growth stage, phytosanitary state, and state of biotic disturbance. The first hypothesis could not be tested by the lack of urban tree diversity which showed strong domination of three species with more than 52 % of abundance (Robinia pseudoacacia, Platanus orientalis and Acer negundo). The second hypothesis was proved since the results revealed a positive and significant correlation between urban forest diversity and LST, with a Spearman's correlation coefficient of between 0.56 and 0.7. A positive and significant correlation of 0.55 was found between mean biotic disturbance (BDSm) and median LST (Med), indicating a direct relationship between higher LST and poorer urban forest health. A possible explanation is that, among the trees surveyed within the urban forest, the effect of biotic disturbance is greater than that of species diversity. As such, it may be concluded that planting of trees on city streets as a means of temperature moderation is made less effective if specimens are maintained in a poor general condition of health. | |
| Proteorhodopsin Phototrophy in Antarctic Coastal Waters | mSphere | Cifuentes-Anticevic, J.; Alcamán-Arias, M.; Alarcón-Schumacher, T.; Tamayo-Leiva, J.; Pedrós-Alió, C.; Farías, L.; Díez, B. | 2021 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1128/mSphere.00525-21 | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00525-21 | 1-17 | Vol: 6 Issue: 4 | 2379-5042 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Proteorhodopsin-bearing microorganisms in the Southern Ocean have been overlooked since their discovery in 2000. The present study identify taxonomy and quantify the relative abundance of proteorhodopsin-bearing bacteria and proteorhodopsin gene transcription in the West Antarctic Peninsula’s coastal waters. , ABSTRACT Microbial proton-pumping rhodopsins are considered the simplest strategy among phototrophs to conserve energy from light. Proteorhodopsins are the most studied rhodopsins thus far because of their ubiquitous presence in the ocean, except in Antarctica, where they remain understudied. We analyzed proteorhodopsin abundance and transcriptional activity in the Western Antarctic coastal seawaters. Combining quantitative PCR (qPCR) and metagenomics, the relative abundance of proteorhodopsin-bearing bacteria accounted on average for 17, 3.5, and 29.7% of the bacterial community in Chile Bay (South Shetland Islands) during 2014, 2016, and 2017 summer-autumn, respectively. The abundance of proteorhodopsin-bearing bacteria changed in relation to environmental conditions such as chlorophyll a and temperature. Alphaproteobacteria , Gammaproteobacteria , and Flavobacteriia were the main bacteria that transcribed the proteorhodopsin gene during day and night. Although green light-absorbing proteorhodopsin genes were more abundant than blue-absorbing ones, the latter were transcribed more intensely, resulting in >50% of the proteorhodopsin transcripts during the day and night. Flavobacteriia were the most abundant proteorhodopsin-bearing bacteria in the metagenomes; however, Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were more represented in the metatranscriptomes, with qPCR quantification suggesting the dominance of the active SAR11 clade. Our results show that proteorhodopsin-bearing bacteria are prevalent in Antarctic coastal waters in late austral summer and early autumn, and their ecological relevance needs to be elucidated to better understand how sunlight energy is used in this marine ecosystem. IMPORTANCE Proteorhodopsin-bearing microorganisms in the Southern Ocean have been overlooked since their discovery in 2000. The present study identify taxonomy and quantify the relative abundance of proteorhodopsin-bearing bacteria and proteorhodopsin gene transcription in the West Antarctic Peninsula’s coastal waters. This information is crucial to understand better how sunlight enters this marine environment through alternative ways unrelated to chlorophyll-based strategies. The relative abundance of proteorhodopsin-bearing bacteria seems to be related to environmental parameters (e.g., chlorophyll a , temperature) that change yearly at the coastal water of the West Antarctic Peninsula during the austral late summers and early autumns. Proteorhodopsin-bearing bacteria from Antarctic coastal waters are potentially able to exploit both the green and blue spectrum of sunlight and are a prevalent group during the summer in this polar environment. |
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| La participación ciudadana en los planes de descontaminación atmosférica. Una evaluación sin romance | Revista de Derecho Ambiental | Cordero, L.; Insunza, X. | 2021 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.5354/0719-4633.2021.58361 | https://revistaderechoambiental.uchile.cl/index.php/RDA/article/view/58361 | 77 | Vol: 15 | 0719-4633, 0718-0101 | Scopus | English | Este es un trabajo exploratorio que tiene por finalidad analizar la participación ciudadana como mecanismo de incidencia en la definición de actos administrativos o políticas públicas. Para ello, se estudia el proceso de elaboración de los planes de prevención y/o descontaminación como instrumentos que manifiestan un problema global en un territorio donde resulta indispensable la adopción de medidas y en que la incidencia de la participación debería ser gravitante y efectiva. Con tal finalidad, se expone el marco regulatorio nacional, el proceso de elaboración de los planes y los resultados de la participación, demostrando que no existe consistencia entre lo normativamente pretendido y la implementación de los procedimientos participativos. | |
| Evaluation of multiple indices of the South American monsoon | International Journal of Climatology | Correa, I.; Arias, P.; Rojas, M. | 2021 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1002/joc.6880 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/joc.6880 | joc.6880 | Vol: 41 Issue: s1 | 0899-8418, 1097-0088 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | In this article, multiple methods for estimating the onset and demise of the South American Monsoon System (SAMS) are evaluated during the period 1979–2018. The results obtained from indices based on precipitation, outgoing longwave radiation and combined empirical orthogonal functions (LISAM) show a delay in the SAMS onset while the demise dates do not show marked changes during the considered period. The latter indicates that the observed shortening of the SAMS (and the consistent lengthening of the southern Amazon dry season) mainly depend on variations at the onset stage of the SAMS, as identified in previous studies based on different databases and methodologies. This result is independent on the observational dataset considered. This allows resolving previously inconsistent results on the shortening of the SAMS. Furthermore, the climatological patterns of precipitation and atmospheric circulation at surface and upper levels associated with SAMS are best represented by the precipitation‐based index; however, all indices exhibit general difficulties in representing the evolution of the atmospheric circulation at 200 hPa. Finally, our analyses suggest that including northeastern (NE) Brazil in the domain considered to characterize the SAMS tends to alter the estimates of SAMS timing, primarily its onset. In particular, the trend towards late onsets of the SAMS is evidenced by all indices over spatial domains that do not include NE Brazil, while this trend is considerably weakened or not significant when this area is included. This denotes a strong sensitivity of the different indices to the spatial domain considered for SAMS characterization. | |
| Present‐Day Patagonian Dust Emissions: Combining Surface Visibility, Mass Flux, and Reanalysis Data | Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres | Cosentino, N.; Gaiero, D.; Lambert, F. | 2021 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.1029/2020JD034459 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020JD034459 | art: e2020JD034459 | Vol: 126 Issue: 16 | 2169-897X, 2169-8996 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | The magnitude of the climatic forcing associated with mineral dust aerosols remains uncertain due in part to a lack of observations on dust sources. While modeling and satellite studies provide spatially extensive constraints, they must be supported by surface-validating dust monitoring. Southern South America is the main dust source to the southern oceans (>45°S), a region of low biological productivity potentially susceptible to increased micronutrient fertilization through dust deposition, as well as one of the main dust sources to Antarctica, implying long-range transport of dust from Patagonia and potentially affecting snow cover albedo. We present multiyear time series of dust-related visibility reduction (DRVR) and dust mass flux in Patagonia. We find that local DRVR is partly controlled by long-term (i.e., months) water deficit, while same-day conditions play a smaller role, reflective of water retention properties of fine-grained dust-emitting soils in low-moisture conditions. This is supported independently by reanalysis data showing that large-scale dust outbreaks are usually associated with anomalously high long-term water deficit. By combining visibility data, surface dust sampling, and particle dispersion modeling, we derive regional dust emission rates. Our results suggest that the inclusion of long-term soil hydrologic balance parameterizations under low-moisture conditions may improve the performance of dust emission schemes in Earth system models. | |
| Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk in Women with Periodontal Diseases According to C-reactive Protein Levels | Biomolecules | Da Venezia, C.; Hussein, N.; Hernández, M.; Contreras, J.; Morales, A.; Valdés, M.; Rojas, F.; Matamala, L.; Hernández-Ríos, P. | 2021 | Ciudades Resilientes | 10.3390/biom11081238 | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/8/1238 | 1238 | Vol: 11 Issue: 8 | 2218-273X | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are highly prevalent non-communicable diseases worldwide. Periodontitis may act as a non-traditional cardiovascular risk (CVR) factor, linked by a low-grade systemic inflammation mediated by C-reactive protein (CRP). Patients with periodontitis reported higher serum CRP levels; however, a CRP systemic and periodontal correlation in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and its CVR impact have been barely studied. We aimed to assess the association between periodontal diseases and CVR in a group of adult women, based on serum high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels; and secondly, to determine the association between serum and GCF CRP levels. Gingival crevicular fluid and blood samples were obtained from women with periodontitis, gingivitis, and healthy controls. Serum and GCF CRP were determined by turbidimetric method and Luminex technology, respectively. Data were analyzed and adjusted by CVR factors. All women presented moderate CVR, without an evident association between serum hs-CRP levels and periodontal diseases. While serum hs-CRP concentrations did not significantly differ between groups, patients with gingivitis and periodontitis showed higher CRP levels in GCF, which positively correlated to CRP detection in serum. | |
| More Money, More Problems: Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Chile (2006–2018) | Bulletin of Latin American Research | Davila, M.; Maillet, A. | 2021 | Gobernanza e Interfaz Ciencia y Política | 10.1111/blar.13190 | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/blar.13190 | 534-548 | Vol: 40 Issue: 4 | 0261-3050, 1470-9856 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SSCI) | English | Since the radical neoliberal reforms to Chilean higher education of the 1980s, the creation of a quality regulatory system has been gradual and unfinished. It was only in 2006 that a law created the National Commission for Accreditation and two instruments: programmes and institutions accreditation. This article analyses the design and implementation of the latter policy instrument using mixed methods, including in-depth interviews with key actors. Our findings show that, although regulations have introduced quality assurance as a key element in higher education policy, the link established between accreditation and financing has generated incentives that dangerously weaken these quality mechanisms. | |
| Electrochemical enrichment of marine denitrifying bacteria to enhance nitrate metabolization in seawater | Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering | De La Fuente, M.; De la Iglesia, R.; Farías, L.; Daims, H.; Lukumbuzya, M.; Vargas, I. | 2021 | Zonas Costeras | 10.1016/j.jece.2021.105604 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2213343721005819 | 105604 | Vol: 9 Issue: 4 | 2213-3437 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | High concentrations of nitrate from industrial discharges to coastal marine environments are a matter of concern owing to their ecological consequences. In the last years, Bioelectrochemical Denitrification Systems (BEDS) have emerged as a promising nitrate removal technology. However, they still have limitations, such as the enrichment strategy for specific microbial communities in the electrodes under natural conditions. In this study, three-electrode electrochemical cells were used to test microbial enrichment from natural seawater by applying three reported potentials associated with the dissimilatory denitrification process (−130, −260, and −570 mV vs. Ag/AgCl). The microbial community analysis showed that by applying −260 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) to the working electrode, it was possible to significantly enrich denitrifying microorganisms, specifically Marinobacter, in comparison with the control. Furthermore, −260 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) led to a significantly higher nitrate removal than other conditions, which, combined with cyclic voltammetry analysis, suggested that the polarized electrodes worked as external electron donors for nitrate reduction. Hence, this work demonstrates for the first time that it is possible to enrich marine denitrifying microorganisms by applying an overpotential of −260 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) without the need for a culture medium, the addition of an exogenous electron donor (i.e., organic matter) or a previously enriched inoculum. | |
| Identifying key driving mechanisms of heat waves in central Chile | Climate Dynamics | Demortier, A.; Bozkurt, D.; Jacques-Coper, M. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos; Zonas Costeras | 10.1007/s00382-021-05810-z | https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00382-021-05810-z | 2415-2432 | Vol: 57 Issue: 9-10 | 0930-7575, 1432-0894 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | This study explores the main drivers of heat wave (HW) events in central Chile using state-of-the-art reanalysis data (ERA5) and observations during the extended austral summer season (November to March) for the period 1979–2018. Frequency and intensity aspects of the HW events are considered using the total number of the HW events per season and the amplitude. We first contrast ERA5 with several surface meteorological stations in central Chile to evaluate its ability to capture daily maximum temperature variability and the HW events. We then use synoptic- and large-scale fields and teleconnection patterns to address the most favorable conditions of the HW events from a climatological perspective as well as from the extreme January 2017 HW event that swept central Chile with temperature records and wildfires. ERA5 tends to capture temperature extremes and the HW events at the inland stations; on the contrary, it has difficulties in capturing the maximum temperature variability at the coastal stations, which is plausible given the complex terrain features and confined coastal climate zone (only ∼ 7% of all grid boxes within central Chile). The composite HW days based on ERA5 reveals a mid-level trough-ridge dipole pattern exhibiting a blocking anticyclone on the surface over a large part of southwest South America. Relatively dry and warm easterly flow appears to accompany the anomalous warming in a large part of central Chile. The temporal evolution of the HW events yields a wave-like propagation pattern and enhancement of trough-ridge pattern along the South Pacific. This meridional dipole pattern is found to be largely associated with the Pacific South American pattern. In addition, the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) appears to be a key component of the HW events in central Chile. In particular, while active MJO phases 2 and 7 promote sub-seasonal patterns that favor the South Pacific dipole mode, synoptic anomalies can superimpose on them and favor the formation of a migrating anticyclone over central-southern Chile and coastal lows over central Chile. Agreeing with the climatological findings, the extreme January 2017 HW analysis suggests that an eastward migratory mid-latitude trough-ridge pattern associated with MJO phase 2 was at work. We highlight that in addition to large- and synoptic-scale features, sub-synoptic processes such as coastal lows can have an important role in shaping the HW events and can lead to amplification of temperature extremes during the HW events. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. | |
| Multiscale physical background to an exceptional harmful algal bloom of Dinophysis acuta in a fjord system | Science of The Total Environment | Díaz, P.; Peréz-Santos, I.; Álvarez, G.; Garreaud, R.; Pinilla, E.; Díaz, M.; Sandoval, A.; Araya, M.; Álvarez, F.; Rengel, J.; Montero, P.; Pizarro, G.; López, L.; Iriarte, L.; Igor, G.; Reguera, B. | 2021 | Agua y Extremos | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145621 | https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969721006896 | 145621 | Vol: 773 | 00489697 | Thomson Reuters ISI (SCIE) | English | Dinophysis acuta produces diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins and pectenotoxins (PTX). It blooms in thermally-stratified shelf waters in late summer in temperate to cold temperate latitudes. Despite its major contribution to shellfish harvesting bans, little effort has been devoted to study its population dynamics in Chilean Patagonia. In 2017–2018, mesoscale distribution of harmful algal species (75 monitoring stations) revealed the initiation (late spring) and seasonal growth of a dense D. acuta population in the Aysén region, with maximal values at Puyuhuapi Fjord (PF). Vertical phytoplankton distribution and fine-resolution measurements of physical parameters along a 25-km transect in February 16th identified a 15-km (horizontal extension) subsurface thin layer of D. acuta from 4 to 8 m depth. This layer, disrupted at the confluence of PF with the Magdalena Sound, peaked at the top of the pycnocline (6 m, 15.9 °C, 23.4 psu) where static stability was maximal. By February 22nd, it deepened (8 m, 15.5 °C; 23.62 psu) following the excursions of the pycnocline and reached the highest density ever recorded (664 × 103 cells L−1) for this species. Dinophysis acuta was the dominant Dinophysis species in all microplankton net-tows/bottle samples; they all contained DSP toxins (OA, DTX-1) and PTX-2. Modeled flushing rates showed that Puyuhuapi, the only fjord in the area with 2 connections with the open sea, had the highest water residence time. Long term climate variability in the Southern hemisphere showed the effects of a Southern Annular Mode (SAM) in positive mode (+1.1 hPa) overwhelming a moderate La Niña. These effects included positive spring precipitation anomalies with enhanced salinity gradients and summer drought with positive anomalies in air (+1 °C) and sea surface (+2 °C) temperature. Locally, persistent thermal stratification in PF seemed to provide an optimal physical habitat for initiation and bloom development of D. acuta. Thus, in summer 2018, a favourable combination of meteorological and hydrographic processes of multiple scales created conditions that promoted the development of a widespread bloom of D. acuta with its epicentre at the head of Puyuhuapi fjord. | |
| Más de 20 años de monitoreo del sistema de surgencia costera de Chile central | Universidad de Concepción | Farías, L.; Manríquez, V.; De la Maza, L. | 2021 | Zonas Costeras | 10.48665/udec/CMHMEQ | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355484145_Mas_de_20_anos_de_monitoreo_del_sistema_de_surgencia_costera_de_Chile_central_final | El océano actúa como el regulador del estado medio climático en el planeta Tierra, absorbiendo calor, controlando la concentración de gases de efecto invernadero en la atmósfera y manteniendo el ciclo hidrológico que suministra agua dulce al planeta. El monitoreo del océano es necesario para comprender su dinámica a diferentes escalas temporales y espaciales, así como para cuantificar el impacto de los procesos globales como el cambio climático (CC) en su funcionamiento. El monitoreo permite finalmente dimensionar impactos y evaluar la vulnerabilidad de sus ecosistemas y comunidades costeras. Los humanos dependen del océano, debido a los múltiples servicios ecosistémicos que este entrega, i.e., pesca, acuicultura, provisión de productos naturales, purificación/desalinización de agua, protección de la costa, transporte y recreación/turismo, entre algunos. Este es el caso de Chile, un país con vocación oceánica altamente vulnerable al CC, pero con escaso monitoreo de océano y, por lo tanto, con limitada capacidad para estimar la intensidad de las amenazas, y para predecir impactos, herramienta esencial para adaptarse al CC y otros fenómenos. |
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| Temporal methane variability in the water column of an area of sea |