According to a study made by Cetaqua Water Technology Centre, the glacier contributions could be greatly reduced by the Chilean summertime – from December to March – which would expose the basin of the Metropolitana region to a complicated situation of vulnerability.
According to a recent research carried out by Cetaqua – requested by the Junta de Vigilancia del Río Maipo [an organization that safeguards the correct use of water resources of the Maipo River], Aguas Andinas [water supply and sanitation Chilean company] and Maipo Water Channels Association – the streamflows of the Maipo river will decrease by 75% in Chilean summer and spring seasons of the middle and end of this century.
The Crucial Contribution from Glaciers
Nowadays, glaciers contribute about 40% of the streamflow from the main river that supplies the Metropolitana region, a figure that would decrease up to 15% in 80 years. According to the research, glaciers from the basin will have a significant surface and volume reduction, so the involved entities that conducted the research request to be conscious of climate change impacts. “It’s important to understand that glaciers’ contribution is crucial to some rivers’ streamflow such as Maipo, which is the largest drinking water supplier of the Metropolitana region. In this case, if we aren’t conscious of how important its care is, the issues associated with water scarcity will be even more serious than they already are today. For this reason, one of our purposes as an investigation center is to carry out an anticipated work to take better decisions and actions to face climate change,” Carmen Lacoma emphasized, CEO of Cetaqua Chile.
The research mentions that – in a possible stage where the polluting emissions aren’t reduced 80 years from now – glaciers from the central zone of Chile would lose a substantive part of their volume, so streamflows from the Maipo river would decrease until their highest points, both by Chilean summer and spring. Due to this, Santiago city will be in an extreme state in the face of the water shortage. “One more time, it confirms that climate change effects will have a long-term impact. Therefore, it’s necessary to act with a global and collaborative vision that allows us to deal with this problem as best as possible. Beyond taking consciousness about it, with these studies, we look for tools that let us make anticipated and shared decisions with the rest of basin users.” Jonás de Miguel explained, CSO of Aguas Andinas. Finally, the study also exposes significant reductions in El Yeso, Bello, Pirámide, and D073 glaciers, regarding their volume and surface in different stages due to increasing temperatures and rainfalls.
Productive landscapes of the Maipo river / © Montserrat Castro
Anticipated decisions in case of unfavorable stages
The research simulated two future scenarios from 2020 to 2100. The first one is optimistic regarding the control of greenhouse gas emissions, while the second is more pessimistic considering The Paris Agreement as a complete failure, which sets worldwide goals to hold global warming below 2°C. Both projections demonstrate a “reduction of glacier contribution by 75% of current runoff volumes to the basin during summertime (from March to December in Chile),” the text mentions.
“In addition to quantifying the decrease of the glacier contribution to the river’s total streamflow, another relevant conclusion about the study is the anticipated arrival of the peak streamflow, which has historically originated in December. However, the peak will take place one or two months earlier, probably in November due to the earlier melting and the glacier volume decrease. For this reason, it’s necessary to adapt the current model management of the basin,” Carmen Lacoma concluded the announcement based on the report.
To address these prognostics about climate model, it requires a joint effort between countries, governments, civil society, the private sector, and all relevant entities when making decisions about energy matrix, resource extraction, technological advances, and several variables that influence the greenhouse gas concentration. Consequently, these types of projections determine the path to take by authorities and their possible action plan to mitigate climate change.
References:
- Press release made by Aguas Andinas and Junta de Vigilancia Del Río Maipo. Donwload link
- European Commission. Link
Featured image:
- Pirámide glacier, Andean basin from the Maipo river, Metropolitana region/ © Alvaro Zerené . Locations’ link
