Environments, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(2), P. 62 - 62
Published: Feb. 10, 2025
Climate change impacts on runoff, coupled with population and production growth, pose significant risks to aquatic ecosystems. These are heightened in countries rigid institutional frameworks that prevent water extraction from adapting ecological requirements. Central Chile presents a particularly compelling case due the coexistence of private rights, challenges establishing flows, projected reductions high country’s share. This study aims determine current future flow deficits using two indicators: accumulated volume deficit frequency runoff falling below thresholds. Given absence defined flows some basins uncertainties about system operations, an original methodology tailored Chilean context is proposed. analysis focuses Mapocho Alto (five basins), which highly affected by outdated definitions. Results indicate annual volumes during historical period low across concentrated between September November. Under climate scenarios (three remain relatively stable but shift January–July. However, Arrayán en la Montosa basin, significantly increases frequencies imbalances natural supply demand. The conclusions underscore necessity addressing constraints, such as static definitions, severe ecosystem issues where decline while demand remains constant or increases, concern applicable other similar frameworks.
Language: Английский