A5036583675- Aeolian processes and effects
- Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond
- Plant and animal studies
- Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Remote Sensing in Agriculture
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Wind and Air Flow Studies
- Climate variability and models
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Geological and Tectonic Studies in Latin America
- Fern and Epiphyte Biology
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Water resources management and optimization
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
2016-2024
University of Atacama
2017-2024
Abstract. Motivated by the need to find complementary water sources in (semi-)arid regions, we develop and assess an observation-driven model calculate fog-harvesting potential. We aim integrate this with routine meteorological data collected under complex topographic conditions characterize advective fog phenomenon. Based on mass balance principle, Advective Model for (semi-)Arid Regions Under climate change (AMARU) offers insights into fog-water-harvesting volumes across temporal spatial...
Fog water represents an alternative, abundant and currently unexploited fresh resource in the coastal Atacama Desert (~20°S). Here, stratocumulus clouds meet Coastal Cordillera, producing highly dynamic advective marine fog, a major feature of local climate that provides to hyper-arid environment. One main issues arises harvesting fog is our limited understanding spatial inter-annual variability their associated content. Here we assess role regional-wide El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)...
Water scarcity is a rising issue in fast-growing cities arid lands, where demand outpaces supply. This leads to non-renewable water systems and exacerbates social inequalities. the case for Alto Hospicio (AH), located northern Chilean Atacama Desert. Regarding its availability, main source of drinking comes from underground aquifers, last recharged about 10,000 years ago. Nevertheless, atmospheric such as fog, present this territory offers an alternative, though potential large urban areas...
The 3000 km long coast of Chile, characterized by a steep mountain range, interacts almost everywhere with the Southeast Pacific stratocumulus (Sc) low clouds deck, producing narrow but extensive fog banks. This belt crosses diverse climates such as hyperarid (18°- 23°S), arid (23°- 28°S), semi-arid (28°- 31°S), mediterranean (31°- 34°S), and temperate (34° - 37°S), being essential for unaccountable...
In the coastal areas of Atacama Desert, non-rainfall water inputs (NRWI), including fog, dew, and direct vapor adsorption, sustain life in an environment where rainfall is virtually absent. These sources provide critical moisture to soil surface, fostering conditions for ecosystems survive adapt extreme scarcity. However, while physical processes behind NRWI are better understood, dynamics each vector's events their contributions remain poorly quantified.Specifically, this research aims...
In mediterranean-type climate conditions, fog contributes significantly to the water balance of ecosystem, since precipitation rates are lower than evapotranspiration rates. However, it remains unclear whether contribution is a direct input system through canopy dripping or if limits by limiting radiation and vapor pressure deficit. Focusing on former, in this study we aim understand as mediterranean coastal forests. Using principle (ΔS = ET - (P + F)), characterize key elements...
Abstract The hyperarid Atacama Desert coast receives scarce moisture inputs mainly from the Pacific Ocean in form of marine advective fog. collected supports highly specialized ecosystems, where bromeliad Tillandsia landbeckii is dominant species. fog and low clouds (FLCs) on which these ecosystems depend are affected their interannual variability spatial distribution by global phenomena, such as ENSO. Yet, there a lack understanding how ENSO influences recent FLCs changes interconnections...
Abstract Ecosystem dry limits have been studied in the context of species biology, fitness, and interactions with biotic abiotic parameters, but interactive effects these parameters remain underexplored. Therefore, information on putative global climate change ecosystems is often lacking. We analyzed interplay between fine‐scale landscape genetics factors terrestrial Tillandsia lomas hyperarid Atacama Desert, characterized by a fog‐dependent vegetation type almost entirely dominated one...
Soilless vegetable production in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile is spreading since it perceived as an alternative that requires much less water than open field soil production. However, strong competition between mining and urban use for human population consumption exists, forcing growers to sources. Fog commonly present coastal areas Chile; however, little information exists with regards its chemical composition effect on nutrient quality produce. To address this knowledge gap, a set...
UNESCO biosphere reserves are territories especially suited as laboratories for sustainability. They form a network of more than 600 units worldwide, intended to be key sites harmonization the nature-culture interface in wide diversity ecosystems existing on Earth. This mission is challenging with high levels land transformation and urbanization. The La Campana-Peñuelas Biosphere Reserve (BR) one these units: located worldâs conservation priority ecosystems, Central Chilean Mediterranean...
Abstract. Marine stratocumulus clouds of the Eastern Pacific play an essential role in Earth's energy and radiation budget. Parts these off west coast South America form major source water to hyper-arid Atacama Desert coastal region at northern Chile. For first time, a full year vertical structure observations their environment are presented analysed. Installed Iquique Airport Chile 2018/2019, three state-of-the-art remote sensing instruments provide profiles cloud macro- micro-physical...
Abstract. Marine stratocumulus clouds of the eastern Pacific play an essential role in earth's energy and radiation budget. Parts these off western coast South America form major source water to hyperarid Atacama Desert coastal region at northern Chile. For first time, a full year vertical structure observations their environment is presented analyzed. Installed Iquique Airport Chile 2018/2019, three state-of-the-art remote sensing instruments provide profiles cloud macro- micro-physical...
Agricultural production in the Atacama Desert is restricted by extreme aridity and poor soil quality. Between 18° S 30° S, low stratocumulus clouds regularly cover southeastern Pacific Ocean reaching Coastal Cordillera. Thus, marine fog constantly present coastal areas of desert. Fog can be harvested using collectors. However, limited information available with regards to variability presence throughout year along coast Combining water harvest hydroponic under greenhouse facilities presents...
Abstract. In the coastal Atacama Desert in Northern Chile plant growth is constrained to so-called ‘fog oases’ dominated by monospecific stands of genus Tillandsia. Adapted hyperarid environmental conditions, these plants specialize on foliar uptake fog as main water and nutrient source. It this characteristic that leads distinctive macro- micro-scale distribution patterns, reflecting complex geo-ecological gradients, mainly affected spatiotemporal occurrence respectively South Pacific...
The grit crust is a recently discovered, novel type of biocrust made prokaryotic cyanobacteria, eukaryotic green algae, fungi, lichens and other microbes that grow around within granitoid stone pebbles about 6 mm diameter in the Coastal Range Atacama Desert, Chile. microbial community very well adapted towards extreme conditions such as highest irradiation planet, strong temperature amplitudes steep wet-dry cycles. It also has several striking features making this unique compared to...