Work

The fate of the Patagonian rivers: fluvial captures and climate trends.

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego are the only places to analyse climate changes at high latitudes in the Southern (Oceanic) Hemisphere. This region is totally dominated by westerly winds, although the altitude of the Andes Cordillera —transverse to these winds— modifies their effects. According to short meteorological records, air temperature is increasing slightly while precipitations are diminishing. Hydrologic records are longer; their trends are biased by geomorphological changes in the watersheds by fluvial andglacier captures. The discharges of the Negro, Chubut, Senguerr, Deseado, Santa Cruz and Gallegos rivers have decrease although some of them are not significantly modified by dams. The Santa Cruz River is the only example that is increasing the discharges due to significant variations at the upper watershed.

Source: Acta Geológica Lilloana

DOI: 10.30550/j.agl/1916

Authors: Federico Ignacio Isla, Manuel Fermin Isla

Institutions: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, National University of Mar del Plata, Institute of Marine and Coastal Research, Universidad Nacional de La Plata

Language: English

Topic: Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: GAVI Alliance