PhD Research
"Identifying driving processes of drought recovery in the southern Andes natural catchments"
The CAMELS-CL dataset, with vegetation and soil moisture from remote sensing retrievals, can be used to model drought termination in natural catchments. We employed machine learning models to predict hydrological drought recovery as a function of local catchment characteristics and its propagation to soil moisture and vegetation. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the driving processes behind surface water drought recovery in the southern Andes natural catchments.
“Modelling hydrological drought and its recovery given natural and anthropogenic scenarios in South America”
We emphasise the importance of coupling MODFLOW with PCR-GLOBWB2.0 to analyse groundwater flux scenarios effectively. By employing basin aggregation and examining drought characteristics, we compare general trends of irrigation impacts, revealing spatial patterns that are predominantly influenced by land use and human water withdrawals. This underscores the pivotal roles that land use planning and groundwater management play in understanding groundwater drought dynamics in this region. Notably, the drought termination framework identified spatial patterns consistent with irrigated regions, highlighting their importance for sustainable water resource management. The inclusion of agricultural areas into groundwater recharge and baseflow management strategies will be crucial for mitigating these challenges in this region.
As part of fieldwork in central Chile, 180 tree ring samples were collected to investigate the impact of drought on natural vegetation. The dataset will provide valuable insights into vegetation growth response to drought conditions. The tree ring samples serve as a record of past climatic variability and can be used to reconstruct the historical drought patterns and their effects on the natural ecosystems. In this dataset are available long-term vegetation dynamics and associated variables for sustainable resource management.
Vegetation Impacts of Prolonged Drought in the Mediterranean Ecosystems of Central Chile
The effects of prolonged drought and how these changes influence vegetation are investigated. To this end, we integrated long-term vegetation growth data, vegetation productivity metrics, and water observations. Our findings reveal that natural vegetation is more affected by prolonged drought than irrigated areas or managed forest plantations. Spatial patterns highlight these changes, underscoring the importance of using extreme values in satellite retrievals. This work also highlights the vulnerability of Mediterranean ecosystems to climate extremes and the importance of sustainable management practices in these landscapes.