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Call for Papers for open call N° 69 of Revista de Investigaciones Geográficas: Una mirada desde el sur.
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Scientific basis for incorporating glacier dust measurement into Chile’s Environmental Evaluation System: Mining and water security in Santiago
Authors
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Alexis Caro
Universidad de Playa Ancha
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1961-2547
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Silvana Espinosa
Greenpeace Chile
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Carolina Concha
Universidad del Desarrollo
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Alexis Segovia
Universidad de Chile
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1731-1777
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Abstract
The Maipo River basin, close to the city of Santiago, contains the largest glacierized area in northern and central Chile. These glaciers, which supply water to Santiago city, and which can contribute up to 100% of the Maipo River’s summer flow in very dry years, are affected by dust from mining and the city. The dust accelerates the glacier melting. However, the Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental (SEA) has not incorporated the identification of the impact of dust on glaciers into the regulations, leaving it to “the good will of the mining industry”. Anglo American stated that mining did not affect glaciers during the environmental assessment of the Los Bronces Integrado project. This project is an expansion that seeks to contribute to the fourth most important mining district in the world by 2050. The environmental assessment did not include in situ measurements of dust on glaciers or their effect. We propose, through the review of the current state of the glaciers in the Mapocho and Olivares basins, of the effect of dust on glaciers, and the political approval of the Los Bronces Integrado project, to update the SEA’s guide called “Contenidos Técnicos para la Evaluación Ambiental de los Recursos Hídricos”. This should incorporate the effect of dust on glaciers through in situ measurements, satellite analysis, and numerical simulation. Our proposal will allow the identification of the indirect impact of mining on glaciers, which will contribute to preserving these future water reserves.
Keywords:
Glacier albedo , glacier monitoring , dust on glaciers , glacier protection , SEAReferences
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