fbpx
Wikipedia

Drought in Chile

April 10, 2024

Through its history, Chile was regularly affected by droughts. In the more arid parts of Chile droughts are produced when there are low amounts of snow accumulation in the Andes.[1] Chilean coastal drainage basins without snow accumulation are particularly vulnerable to drought.[1]

The territory of Central Chile has been affected by long-term droughts in 1280–1450, 1570–1650, 1770–1820 and 2010–present.[2][3]

Historical droughts edit

 
San Carlos Canal in picture begun to be built in 1772 in response to years of drought.

Drought of 1770–82 edit

The 1770–1782 period was one of general drought in Central Chile with a total of three non-consecutive years of extreme drought.[1] In 1772 vineyards and cropfields along Mapocho River in Santiago could not be irrigated.[4] This drought led the authorities to begin the construction of the long-planned San Carlos Canal in 1772 to divert water from Maipo River to Mapocho River.[4]

Drought of 1924 edit

In 1924 a drought spread between Coquimbo and Maule provinces.[5] In Coquimbo Province 70% of the wheat from non-irrigated land was lost while in irrigated areas the harvest loss was of 20%.[5] The price of railroad transport of livestock to places south of Curicó was lowered by 40% as there was hardly any grass or plant buds for livestock to eat in Norte Chico.[5]

Rural people in Coquimbo Region flocked around the towns of Illapel, Combarbalá and Ovalle.[4] Later the intendant of Coquimbo claimed that about hundred people had left the province as result of the drought.[5]

Great Drought of 1968 edit

The drought faced by Chile between 1968, known as the Great Drought of 1968, was one of the largest rainfall deficits in the country during the twentieth century, comparable only to the drought of 1924.[6] The drought had its origin in the low amounts of precipitation that fell in 1967.[7] The area affected by the drought spanned from Atacama Province in the north to Ñuble in the south.[8]

The drought created huge losses for cultivations of potato, rice, maize, beans. Fruit trees and vineyards were also affected.[7] 100 thousand cattle and 1 million sheep died because of the drought. Milk, meat and wool output declined.[7] By September 1969 only 250 thousand goats remained from an earlier population of 650 thousand.[7]

Throughout rural Norte Chico, many farmers and communities came to lack water even for human consumption.[7] In 1969 farmers received support of several financial institutions and state agencies including tax exemptions and a line of credit to buy forage.[7]

In Central Chile, typical river flow increases in December, but this did not happen in 1968.[8] Chile many farmers decided to not cultivate in early summer due to this and to the known fact there was almost no snow in Andes.[8] Later in summer the rivers did grow due to glacier ablation, causing many farmers to repent albeit it was too late to cultivate.[8]

The decline in hydroelectric power generation (The hydroelectric deficit was of 200 MW) was partly compensated by having the thermoelectric plants of Ventanas, Renca and Laguna Verde function at maximum capacity.[7] National coal production from the Lota-Schwager mine was not enough to supply the need and the government authorized the import of 50 thousand tons of coal from the United States, Poland, France and Germany.[7]

In the hydrological year of 1969–1970 the area affected by the drought diminished from previously spanning the latitudes of 27–36° S to 27–32° S.[8]

Drought of 1998 edit

Beginning in January 1997 the El Niño phenomenon affected Chile during 1 year until 1998.[9] Sea temperatures were high in the Pacific.[9]

The drought of 1998 caused an energy shortage in SIC, Chile's main power grid.[10] The energy shortage was worsened by problems in the Nehuenco Power Plant driven by natural gas.[10] Annual rainfall in Zona Sur was far below previous record lows: in Valdivia only 1,033.8 millimetres or 40.70 inches fell and in Concepción just 598.6 millimetres or 23.57 inches,[11] whereas the lowest before 1996 had been 674 millimetres (26.54 in) in 1924.

Chilean water crisis edit

Main article: Chilean water crisis
 
El Yeso reservoir at 40% capacity in March 2020

The 1980 Constitution of Chile created under dictator Augusto Pinochet recognizes water as a private property and in 1981, his government rewrote laws regulating water, granting the sale and privatization of water in a manner similar to the stock market.[12][13] The sale of water rights has been one of the primary factors that led to lower water levels in some areas.[12][13] Chile began to experience a drought in 2010 and by 2020, precipitation was 20–45% of average nationally and 10–20% of average in the area of Santiago.[14][12] By 2022, Chile was ranked 16th of 164 for water stress in the world according to the University of Chile.[15] In April 2022, Chile began a plan to ration water.[16]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Astaburuaga G., Ricardo (2004), "El agua en las zonas áridas de Chile", ARQ (in Spanish), 57: 68–73
  2. ^ Villalba, Ricardo (1994), "Fluctuaciones climáticas en latitudes medias de América del Sur durante los últimos 1000 años: sus relaciones con la Oscilación del Sur" (PDF), Revista Chilena de Historia Natural (in Spanish), 67: 453–561
  3. ^ "La megasequía 2010-2019: una lección para el futuro". Center for Climate and Resilience Research (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  4. ^ a b c Urrutia & Lanza 1993, pp. 67-68.
  5. ^ a b c d Urrutia & Lanza 1993, pp. 201-203.
  6. ^ Espíldora, Basilio (1972), "Algunos antecedentes hidrológicos de la sequía en Chile" (PDF), Acta del Seminario Regional sobre Hidrología de Sequías, pp. 181–184, retrieved 2011-02-14
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Urrutia & Lanza 1993, pp. 337-340.
  8. ^ a b c d e Lobo, Eugenio (1972), "HIDROLOGIA DE SEQUIA EN CHILE" (PDF), ACTAS DEL SEMINARIO REGIONAL SOBRE HIDROLOGIA DE SEQUIAS (Lima, 21-27 de julio de 1970) (in Spanish): 226–229
  9. ^ a b Puentes, Edgardo, El Niño y la Niña (in Spanish), retrieved July 30, 2013
  10. ^ a b Crisis de Chile (1998-1999) (in Spanish), retrieved July 30, 2013
  11. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-17. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
  12. ^ a b c "'Consequences will be dire': Chile's water crisis is reaching breaking point". The Guardian. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  13. ^ a b "The mystery of a disappearing lake and the struggle over water rights in Chile | DW | 08.03.2022". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  14. ^ "A Strained Water System in Chile". NASA. 2020-04-14. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  15. ^ "La crisis del agua". Interferencia (in Spanish). 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  16. ^ "Chile announces unprecedented plan to ration water as drought enters 13th year". Reuters in Santiago, via The Guardian. 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2022-06-08.

Bibliography

  • Urrutia de Hazbún, Rosa; Lanza Lazcano, Carlos (1993). Catástrofes en Chile 1541 - 1992 (in Spanish). Santiago: Editorial La Noria.

April 10, 2024
drought, chile, through, history, chile, regularly, affected, droughts, more, arid, parts, chile, droughts, produced, when, there, amounts, snow, accumulation, andes, chilean, coastal, drainage, basins, without, snow, accumulation, particularly, vulnerable, dr. Through its history Chile was regularly affected by droughts In the more arid parts of Chile droughts are produced when there are low amounts of snow accumulation in the Andes 1 Chilean coastal drainage basins without snow accumulation are particularly vulnerable to drought 1 The territory of Central Chile has been affected by long term droughts in 1280 1450 1570 1650 1770 1820 and 2010 present 2 3 Contents 1 Historical droughts 1 1 Drought of 1770 82 1 2 Drought of 1924 1 3 Great Drought of 1968 1 4 Drought of 1998 1 5 Chilean water crisis 2 ReferencesHistorical droughts edit nbsp San Carlos Canal in picture begun to be built in 1772 in response to years of drought Drought of 1770 82 edit The 1770 1782 period was one of general drought in Central Chile with a total of three non consecutive years of extreme drought 1 In 1772 vineyards and cropfields along Mapocho River in Santiago could not be irrigated 4 This drought led the authorities to begin the construction of the long planned San Carlos Canal in 1772 to divert water from Maipo River to Mapocho River 4 Drought of 1924 edit In 1924 a drought spread between Coquimbo and Maule provinces 5 In Coquimbo Province 70 of the wheat from non irrigated land was lost while in irrigated areas the harvest loss was of 20 5 The price of railroad transport of livestock to places south of Curico was lowered by 40 as there was hardly any grass or plant buds for livestock to eat in Norte Chico 5 Rural people in Coquimbo Region flocked around the towns of Illapel Combarbala and Ovalle 4 Later the intendant of Coquimbo claimed that about hundred people had left the province as result of the drought 5 Great Drought of 1968 edit The drought faced by Chile between 1968 known as the Great Drought of 1968 was one of the largest rainfall deficits in the country during the twentieth century comparable only to the drought of 1924 6 The drought had its origin in the low amounts of precipitation that fell in 1967 7 The area affected by the drought spanned from Atacama Province in the north to Nuble in the south 8 The drought created huge losses for cultivations of potato rice maize beans Fruit trees and vineyards were also affected 7 100 thousand cattle and 1 million sheep died because of the drought Milk meat and wool output declined 7 By September 1969 only 250 thousand goats remained from an earlier population of 650 thousand 7 Throughout rural Norte Chico many farmers and communities came to lack water even for human consumption 7 In 1969 farmers received support of several financial institutions and state agencies including tax exemptions and a line of credit to buy forage 7 In Central Chile typical river flow increases in December but this did not happen in 1968 8 Chile many farmers decided to not cultivate in early summer due to this and to the known fact there was almost no snow in Andes 8 Later in summer the rivers did grow due to glacier ablation causing many farmers to repent albeit it was too late to cultivate 8 The decline in hydroelectric power generation The hydroelectric deficit was of 200 MW was partly compensated by having the thermoelectric plants of Ventanas Renca and Laguna Verde function at maximum capacity 7 National coal production from the Lota Schwager mine was not enough to supply the need and the government authorized the import of 50 thousand tons of coal from the United States Poland France and Germany 7 In the hydrological year of 1969 1970 the area affected by the drought diminished from previously spanning the latitudes of 27 36 S to 27 32 S 8 Drought of 1998 edit Beginning in January 1997 the El Nino phenomenon affected Chile during 1 year until 1998 9 Sea temperatures were high in the Pacific 9 The drought of 1998 caused an energy shortage in SIC Chile s main power grid 10 The energy shortage was worsened by problems in the Nehuenco Power Plant driven by natural gas 10 Annual rainfall in Zona Sur was far below previous record lows in Valdivia only 1 033 8 millimetres or 40 70 inches fell and in Concepcion just 598 6 millimetres or 23 57 inches 11 whereas the lowest before 1996 had been 674 millimetres 26 54 in in 1924 Chilean water crisis edit Main article Chilean water crisis nbsp El Yeso reservoir at 40 capacity in March 2020The 1980 Constitution of Chile created under dictator Augusto Pinochet recognizes water as a private property and in 1981 his government rewrote laws regulating water granting the sale and privatization of water in a manner similar to the stock market 12 13 The sale of water rights has been one of the primary factors that led to lower water levels in some areas 12 13 Chile began to experience a drought in 2010 and by 2020 precipitation was 20 45 of average nationally and 10 20 of average in the area of Santiago 14 12 By 2022 Chile was ranked 16th of 164 for water stress in the world according to the University of Chile 15 In April 2022 Chile began a plan to ration water 16 References edit a b c Astaburuaga G Ricardo 2004 El agua en las zonas aridas de Chile ARQ in Spanish 57 68 73 Villalba Ricardo 1994 Fluctuaciones climaticas en latitudes medias de America del Sur durante los ultimos 1000 anos sus relaciones con la Oscilacion del Sur PDF Revista Chilena de Historia Natural in Spanish 67 453 561 La megasequia 2010 2019 una leccion para el futuro Center for Climate and Resilience Research in Spanish Retrieved 2022 10 31 a b c Urrutia amp Lanza 1993 pp 67 68 a b c d Urrutia amp Lanza 1993 pp 201 203 Espildora Basilio 1972 Algunos antecedentes hidrologicos de la sequia en Chile PDF Acta del Seminario Regional sobre Hidrologia de Sequias pp 181 184 retrieved 2011 02 14 a b c d e f g h Urrutia amp Lanza 1993 pp 337 340 a b c d e Lobo Eugenio 1972 HIDROLOGIA DE SEQUIA EN CHILE PDF ACTAS DEL SEMINARIO REGIONAL SOBRE HIDROLOGIA DE SEQUIAS Lima 21 27 de julio de 1970 in Spanish 226 229 a b Puentes Edgardo El Nino y la Nina in Spanish retrieved July 30 2013 a b Crisis de Chile 1998 1999 in Spanish retrieved July 30 2013 Estadistica Climatologia II PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2012 04 17 Retrieved 2016 08 21 a b c Consequences will be dire Chile s water crisis is reaching breaking point The Guardian 2022 06 01 Retrieved 2022 06 08 a b The mystery of a disappearing lake and the struggle over water rights in Chile DW 08 03 2022 Deutsche Welle Retrieved 2022 06 08 A Strained Water System in Chile NASA 2020 04 14 Retrieved 2022 06 08 La crisis del agua Interferencia in Spanish 2022 05 02 Retrieved 2022 06 08 Chile announces unprecedented plan to ration water as drought enters 13th year Reuters in Santiago via The Guardian 2022 04 11 Retrieved 2022 06 08 Bibliography Urrutia de Hazbun Rosa Lanza Lazcano Carlos 1993 Catastrofes en Chile 1541 1992 in Spanish Santiago Editorial La Noria Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Drought in Chile amp oldid 1216395392, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.