Articles | Volume 25, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-429-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-429-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
28 Jan 2021
Research article |
| 28 Jan 2021
| 28 Jan 2021
Progressive water deficits during multiyear droughts in basins with long hydrological memory in Chile
Camila Alvarez-Garreton
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR2, FONDAP 15110009),
Santiago, Chile
Department of Civil Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
Juan Pablo Boisier
Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR2, FONDAP 15110009),
Santiago, Chile
Department of Geophysics, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
René Garreaud
Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR2, FONDAP 15110009),
Santiago, Chile
Department of Geophysics, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Jan Seibert
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Short summary
The megadrought experienced in Chile (2010–2020) has led to larger than expected water deficits. By analysing 106 basins with snow-/rainfall regimes, we relate such intensification with the hydrological memory of the basins, explained by snow and groundwater. Snow-dominated basins have larger memory and thus accumulate the effect of persistent precipitation deficits more strongly than pluvial basins. This notably affects central Chile, a water-limited region where most of the population lives.
The megadrought experienced in Chile (2010–2020) has led to larger than expected water deficits....
