Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




WATER WORLD
Up to 30 percent less precipitation in the Central Andes in future
by Staff Writers
Zurich, Switzerland (SPX) Aug 18, 2015


Lake Sibinacocha is in the region of Vilcanota in Peru. Image courtesy Nadine Salzmann. For a larger version of this image please go here.

Seasonal water shortages already occur in the Central Andes of Peru and Bolivia. By the end of the century, precipitation could fall by up to 30% according to an international team of researchers led by the University of Zurich. In a first for this region, the team compared current climate data with future climate scenarios and data extending back to pre-Inca times.

The population in the Central Andes already faces water shortages today. Now geographers at the University of Zurich have collaborated with Swiss and South American researchers to show that precipitation in the rainy season could drop noticeably - and this could happen within the next twenty years.

In contrast to conventional research projects, which often look at climate forecasts in isolation, the UZH scientists compared data taken from tree rings and ice cores from the past 1,000 years with model calculations for the future. Their research found that current precipitation is within the normal fluctuation range for recent centuries. But this is projected to change dramatically by the end of the century: "Our model simulations suggest that the probability of dry years between 2071 and 2100 will be four times higher than in the pre-industrial era", says lead author Raphael Neukom.

Stronger westerly winds lead to more aridity
It is difficult to realistically simulate precipitation in mountainous regions using current global climate models, which forced researchers to use alternative methods. They capitalised on the fact that precipitation in the tropical Andes is strongly influenced by wind speeds in the higher air layers. "

These winds can be simulated much more reliably than the precipitation itself", says Raphael Neukom. It is highly probable that the increase in greenhouse gases will strengthen the westerly winds over the Central Andes. But stronger westerly winds in the upper troposphere reduce the inflow of humid air from the Amazon region into the Andes and thus lead to greater aridity."

Clear long-term trend
Although almost all model simulations point to a decline in precipitation, the scientists note that the model and climate scenarios still present some uncertainties. Nevertheless, "although short-term predictions can be impacted by fluctuations that go against the overall trend, our data clearly shows that over the long term, i.e. through to the end of the century, the trend towards greater aridity in the Andes is unambiguous", explains UZH glaciologist Christian Huggel. Moreover, other factors such as the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest and lower levels of glacial meltwater could exacerbate the trend.

According to Christian Huggel, there is therefore an urgent need to introduce affordable and low-risk measures that will adapt the region to the new climate conditions. Peruvian-Swiss projects are testing such measures, which include, for example, the collection of rainwater in artificial ponds. "The results of the basic research are coming at just the right time for deliberations on the dimensions of such ponds", concludes Christian Huggel.

Raphael Neukom, Mario Rohrer, Pierluigi Calanca, Nadine Salzmann, Christian Huggel, Delia Acuna, Duncan A Christie and Mariano S Morales. Facing unprecedented drying of the Central Andes? Precipitation variability over the period AD 1000-2100. Environmental Research Letters. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/10/8/084017


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
University of Zurich
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





WATER WORLD
Scientists pioneer method to track water flowing through glaciers
Austin TX (SPX) Aug 14, 2015
Researchers for the first time have used seismic sensors to track meltwater flowing through glaciers and into the ocean, an essential step to understanding the future of the world's largest glaciers as climate changes. The University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) helped pioneer this new method on glaciers in Greenland and Alaska. The study will be published Aug. 10 in the journal Geop ... read more


WATER WORLD
From a million miles away, NASA camera shows moon crossing face of Earth

Russia to conduct simulated flight program to Moon, Mars over 4 years

NASA Could Return Humans to the Moon by 2021

Smithsonian embraces crowdfunding to preserve lunar spacesuit

WATER WORLD
One Decade after Launch, Mars Orbiter Still Going Strong

One Decade after Launch, Mars Orbiter Still Going Strong

Salt flat indicates some of the last vestiges of surface water on Mars

Mars Rovers and the Last Moonwalker to Invade Poland in September

WATER WORLD
First Time Ever: ISS Crew Eats Food Grown in Outer Space

Gecko Grippers Moving On Up

US, Russia, China to Explore Benefits of Outer Space for ASEAN

First bite of space-grown lettuce is 'awesome'

WATER WORLD
China's space exploration potential has US chasing its own tail

China to deploy space-air-ground sensors for environment protection

Chinese earth station is for exclusively scientific and civilian purposes

Cooperation in satellite technology put Belgium, China to forefront

WATER WORLD
First Use of ISS Astronaut Pictures for Light Pollution Studies

ISS to Open Research Facility for Materials Science Research by 2017

NASA renews $490M contract with Russian Space Agency

NASA Completes Selection of Crew Members for 2017 ISS Missions

WATER WORLD
NASA selects contractor to prepare launch structure for SLS

ILS concludes Proton launch failure investigation

Intelsat 34 fueled for heavy-lift mission with Ariane 5

India to launch 9 US satellites in 2015, 2016

WATER WORLD
Tenth transiting 'Tatooine'

Astronomers discover new planet orbiting two stars

Scientists solve planetary ring riddle

Overselling NASA

WATER WORLD
Gaming fans resurrect beloved 1980s ZX Spectrum in UK

Scientists achieve major breakthrough in thin-film magnetism

Surprising discoveries about 2-D molybdenum disulfide

Australia court sides with Internet firms in piracy row




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.