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Call for Papers for open call N° 71, July 2026, semi-thematic

 

Global changes and their effects on the earth system: climate and the cryosphere

 

Deadline for paper submissions: April 15, 2026

 

 

 

 

Evaluación de las amenazas naturales y de la vulnerabilidda en la Cuenca del río Copiapó: El caso de estudio de la subcuenca Cinchado

Authors

  • Michael Märker Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Italy. Via La Pira 4, 50121, Firence; Department of Physical Geography, University of Tübingen, Germany
  • Friedrich Dangel Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Italy. Via La Pira 4, 50121, Firence
  • María Victoria Soto Bäuerle Department of Geography, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Chile
  • Giuliano Rodolfi Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Italy. Via La Pira 4, 50121, Firence
No. 44 (2012)
https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5370.2012.26368
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Abstract

Intensive precipitations in desert areas are a very scarce phenomenon. Nevertheless, from time totime these events take place, as in 1997 in Southern Atacama Desert in Chile. The study area withinthe Copiapó catchment is intensively exploited by mining activities. However, in recent years thelandscape has been more and more used for agricultural purposes. Vineyards for grape production areirrigated with water from the Copiapó River and from groundwater aquifers. The agricultural activityis mainly focusing on the flat valley bottoms, as well as drainage lines that become active in casesof precipitation events. Thus, this study seeks to investigate the geo-hazards related to precipitationevents in order to quantify the risk for population and agricultural areas. Therefore, this study appliesa hydrological model calibrated in the ungauged basin of Quebrada Cinchado. The results demonstratethat events like the one on the 12.06.1997 generate intensive floods and related sediment dischargesthat endanger population and agricultural areas. The applied methodology allows quantification offlooding and mudflow risks, as well as to assess the spatial distribution of geo-hazards.

Keywords:

Atacama Desert , hydrological model , floods , mudflows
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How to Cite
Märker, M., Dangel, F., Soto Bäuerle, M. V., & Rodolfi, G. (2012). Evaluación de las amenazas naturales y de la vulnerabilidda en la Cuenca del río Copiapó: El caso de estudio de la subcuenca Cinchado. Investigaciones Geográficas, (44), Pág. 17–28. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5370.2012.26368
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Investigaciones Geográficas
Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo
Universidad de Chile
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