In the context of global change, it is URGENT to generate and share reliable, representative and rigorous data and information that allows us to UNDERSTAND the natural processes that occur at different spatial and temporal scales to design and propose SUSTAINABLE solutions.
We have several lines of research in water and Earth sciences in different contexts (arid zones, Altiplano, forested temperate zones):
Water scarcity is the challenge of the 21st century. In 2016, 1.9 billion people were affected by water scarcity (27% of the world’s population). Estimates foresee that in 2050 there will be between 2.7 and 3.2 billion people affected. However, it is important to distinguish between physical and economic scarcity.
This map also distinguishes areas where water scarcity was not estimated (gray), because of lack of data. These areas also correspond to the arid and hyper-arid areas of the planet (in yellow) that represent 40% of the continents and 35% of the world population, of which 90% in developing countries.
The north of Chile is one of the driest areas on earth. Since the 1990s, the development of large mining projects has generated an increase in demography and water demand. Conflicts with native communities and farmers have been increasing. On the basis of what information are decisions made? What are the impacts of mining activities on water resources? How to reduce and mitigate this impact? What are the management strategies in such an environment, in the long term and with the communities as the main actor?
Our research focuses on the understanding and characterization of hydrological and hydrogeological processes in arid areas, with the aim of improving groundwater management in a context of increasing socioeconomic pressures and conflicts.
In particular, we seek to understand the groundwater recharge processes, through better identification of flows between hydrological compartments. We also seek to identify the impacts of the different anthropic activities on the availability of water resources, in particular the impact of mining activities in the head catchment.
With theCorporación Norte Grande and the Aymara Community of Tamentica, located in the Quebrada de Guatacondo, Tarapacá Region, water resources in the catchment are being studied and monitored. In particular, we seek to characterize the hydrological and hydrogeological processes in the catchment, as well as the impact of two large mining projects located at the head of the basin on water resources. The monitoring and research work is carried out in a participatory and joint way with the community, integrating local knowledge into scientific knowledge.
The Pica y Matilla Oasis, located in the Tarapacá Region in northern Chile, owes its oasis status to the presence of thermal springs (~ 32 ° C) and a shallow groundwater layer. The Pica aquifer has been the subject of studies since the 1960s, given its potential, in the middle of the desert, its possible connection with altiplanic basins and with the Pampa del Tamarugal aquifer, have motivated the studies since the 1960s. Today, the water table is decreasing and its water is salinized. Thanks to the study of the underground galleries of Pca and Matilla, we have characterized the different flows that feed the Pica aquifer and proposed a new conceptual hydrogeological model of the aquifer, which accounts for the mechanisms of recharge and discharge of the aquifer.
Our research focuses on the understanding and characterization of hydrological and hydrogeological processes in arid areas, with the aim of improving groundwater management in a context of increasing socioeconomic pressures and conflicts.
In particular, we seek to understand the groundwater recharge processes, through better identification of flows between hydrological compartments. We also seek to identify the impacts of the different anthropic activities on the availability of water resources, in particular the impact of mining activities in the head catchment.
With theCorporación Norte Grande and the Aymara Community of Tamentica, located in the Quebrada de Guatacondo, Tarapacá Region, water resources in the catchment are being studied and monitored. In particular, we seek to characterize the hydrological and hydrogeological processes in the catchment, as well as the impact of two large mining projects located at the head of the basin on water resources. The monitoring and research work is carried out in a participatory and joint way with the community, integrating local knowledge into scientific knowledge.
The Pica y Matilla Oasis, located in the Tarapacá Region in northern Chile, owes its oasis status to the presence of thermal springs (~ 32 ° C) and a shallow groundwater layer. The Pica aquifer has been the subject of studies since the 1960s, given its potential, in the middle of the desert, its possible connection with altiplanic basins and with the Pampa del Tamarugal aquifer, have motivated the studies since the 1960s. Today, the water table is decreasing and its water is salinized. Thanks to the study of the underground galleries of Pca and Matilla, we have characterized the different flows that feed the Pica aquifer and proposed a new conceptual hydrogeological model of the aquifer, which accounts for the mechanisms of recharge and discharge of the aquifer.
Groundwater, surface water and ecosystems are often in constant interaction and influence each other. Some ecosystems are totally or partially dependent on groundwater.
Understanding and characterizing these interactions between surface water, groundwater and ecosystems is key in the context of current climate change. It will allow to anticipate which are the ecosystems that will be most affected by climate change, and which will be more resilient. It will also allow to understand the role of ecosystems in groundwater storage, ensuring base flow in dry periods.
Efficient water management requires the production of reliable and representative meteorological and hydrological data. For this, monitoring stations are installed, which can be equipped with sensors that allow continuous digital data collection at a very small time frequency; or punctual measurements are made, with a higher frequency given the need for time and logistic resources for it.
In arid and mountainous area, the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of the hydrometeorological variables and the complexity of the hydrological and hydrogeological processes require a more important amount of data, both spatially and temporally, to generate predictive hydrological and hydrogeological models. However, extreme weather conditions and access difficulty are a limitation to the production of data in these areas.
This is the case of northern Chile, one of the world driest areas and, nevertheless, with a population that is constantly increasing along with socioeconomic growth since the beginning of the large mining projects in the 1990s.
Since 2011, we work in the generation of meteorological and hydrological data in the Tarapacá Region, northern Chile. Particularly in the highest and most difficult areas, and where there are communities that need to understand the anthropic impacts that affect their ancestral way of life.
Through several tools (Installation of monitoring stations and sensors in remote areas, manual monitoring, participatory monitoring and use of local and ancestral knowledge), we managed to generate data on precipitation, flow, piezometric levels and water quality that allow us to characterize hydrological and hydrogeological processes in the catchment affected by climate change and large-scale mining activities.
The geological heritage has been defined by the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain as all those places or points of geological interest (internationally known as geosites), which geological value makes them stand out from the surrounding environment for their scientific, cultural and / or educational interest. It is part of the natural heritage of our planet, such as biodiversity. Its destruction is almost always irreversible. Therefore, their knowledge, protection and valorisation is key. Within its mandate to support research and capacity in Earth Sciences, UNESCO has created the concept of Geoparks, laboratories for sustainable development that promote the recognition and management of Earth’s heritage and the sustainability of local communities . UNESCO Global Geoparks are unique and unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological importance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. In April 2019, there were 147 UNESCO Geoparks in 41 Member States, covering a total area of 288,000 km² [See →] and only one in Chile, the KÜLTRALKURA Geopark located in the Araucanía region [See →].
The hydraulic heritage includes the works that, throughout the history of mankind, have been developed by the populations to access and bring water closer to their needs. It is also a world heritage, cultural and natural. Their investigation and knowledge is not only essential to protect and highlight it, but also because they represent sustainable water management systems and in harmony with nature. Today, they are one of the solutions to restore water availability in the context of climate change and land use change.
How to characterize the water resources of a basin without historical data and very difficult access? In an environment in which not only the lack of data prevails, but also in which generating reliable, representative and sufficient data is a challenge not yet resolved, we look for alternatives to generate data and information that characterize hydrological and hydrogeological processes. In particular, we investigate the integration of local and ancestral knowledge and develop participatory monitoring.
Rice field Kamchay Mear, Cambodia
Water reserves in Aaqoura, Lebanon
Rain water reserves, Palestine
Water tank reserve, Yemen
Water reserve, Wadi Mahmoud, Jordan
Irrigation channels, Wadi Al-Nakhar, Oman
Community meeting Kampong Cham Cambodia
Air shaft qanat (lumbrera) in Pica, Chile
The local and ancestral knowledge of native communities helps to address this lack of data. Those communities resort to a great diversity of indicators to predict the climate and adapt their activities, as a result of the millenary observation of nature. Although, in recent decades, rapid changes in the climate and its living environment, together with the arrival of new actors with productive interests in the watersheds where their territories are, have affected this prediction capacity and threaten their permanence. Based on a trust, local knowledge help to understand the processes that occur in the basin, to integrate local knowledge into scientific knowledge, in particular the hydrological and hydrogeological conceptual models. The participation of the communities is essential to identify areas of importance to monitor water resources, understand the history of flows, bring the scientific method to the territories and allow the communities themselves, with their continuous presence in the field, to collect information for the rest of the actors.
