Articles | Volume 28, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2483-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2483-2024
Research article
 | 
11 Jun 2024
Research article |  | 11 Jun 2024

The influence of human activities on streamflow reductions during the megadrought in central Chile

Nicolás Álamos, Camila Alvarez-Garreton, Ariel Muñoz, and Álvaro González-Reyes

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Cited articles

Alvarez-Garreton, C.: CAMELS-CL explorer, CAMELS [data set], https://camels.cr2.cl (last access: 20 September 2023), 2018. 
Alvarez-Garreton, C., Mendoza, P. A., Pablo Boisier, J., Addor, N., Galleguillos, M., Zambrano-Bigiarini, M., Lara, A., Puelma, C., Cortes, G., Garreaud, R., McPhee, J., and Ayala, A.: The CAMELS-CL dataset: Catchment attributes and meteorology for large sample studies-Chile dataset, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 5817–5846, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-5817-2018, 2018. 
Alvarez-Garreton, C., Pablo Boisier, J., Garreaud, R., Seibert, J., and Vis, M.: Progressive water deficits during multiyear droughts in basins with long hydrological memory in Chile, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 429–446, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-429-2021, 2021. 
Alvarez-Garreton, C., Boisier, J.P., Blanco, G., Billi, M., Nicolas-Artero, C., Maillet, A., Aldunce, P., Urrutia-Jalabert, R., Zambrano-Bigiarini, M., Guevara, G., Galleguillos, M., Muñoz, A., Christie, D., Marinao, R., and Garreaud, R.: Seguridad Hídrica en Chile: Caracterización y Perspectivas de Futuro, ANID/FONDAP/1522A0001, Centro de Ciencia del Clima y la Resiliencia CR2, 72 pp., https://www.cr2.cl/seguridadhidrica/ (last access: 1 April 2024), 2023. 
Alvarez-Garreton, C., Boisier, J. P., Garreaud, R., González, J., Rondanelli, R., Gayó, E., and Zambrano-Bigiarini, M.: HESS Opinions: The unsustainable use of groundwater conceals a “Day Zero”, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 1605–1616, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1605-2024, 2024. 
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Short summary
In this study, we assess the effects of climate and water use on streamflow reductions and drought intensification during the last 3 decades in central Chile.  We address this by contrasting streamflow observations with near-natural streamflow simulations. We conclude that while the lack of precipitation dominates streamflow reductions in the megadrought, water uses have not diminished during this time, causing a worsening of the hydrological drought conditions and maladaptation conditions. 
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