Week 10: Extreme Weather

Chile experiences many forms of extreme weather, such as thunderstorms and heatwaves. In recent years though, droughts have presented a serious threat. Chile has been in a major drought for the last 15 years because rainfall amounts have been at historic lows. The World Resources Institute even ranked Chile as one of the most water stressed countries in the world. 

At the end of 2021, over half of Chile's population was suffering from severe water scarcity. Rural areas were especially affected. Chileans had to rely on emergency tankers to bring them drinking water. Rural citizens and farmers also expressed the concern that they'll soon run out of drinking water for themselves and their farm animals. Below is an image of a water reservoir in Coquimbo as of March 2024, which has reached record breaking lows. Lakes across Chile have tried up as well. The Penuelas Lake, for example, once supplied water to almost 2 million people in the Valparaiso region, but is now almost completely dried up. 


In 2021, a water rationing plan was announced for Santiago. This plan consisted of public service announcements, restrictions on water pressure, and water cuts. To further combat the drought, the Chilean government is working to implement drainage systems, floodplain restoration, and reforestation. 

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/persistent-drought-is-drying-out-chiles-drinking-water-2024-03-20/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/01/chiles-water-crisis-megadrought-reaching-breaking-point

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/megadrought-in-chile-both-natural-climate-factors-human-induced-global-warming-to-blame-83947

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/06/10/chile-avanza-hacia-una-gesti-n-m-s-sostenible-y-equitativa-de-los-recursos-h-dricos-con-apoyo-del-banco-mundial#:~:text=To%20reduce%20climate%20risks%2C%20the,control%20floods%2C%20droughts%2C%20and%20other

https://www.copernicus.eu/en/media/image-day-gallery/penuelas-lake-chile-has-dried

https://www.the-independent.com/climate-change/chile-lake-desert-climate-change-emergency-b2112705.html

Comments

  1. AndrewOctober 25, 2024 at 5:35 PM

    Wow, I had no idea that Chile was suffering such an event. I have an acquaintance in Santiago and I'm now realizing it's been awhile since we last spoke. I should check in on her. We are so lucky to live in an area where issues like drought are seemingly minimal compared to other areas. Great job on your post!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jonathan PhanOctober 25, 2024 at 11:08 PM

    Hey Sofia,
    By relating actual statistics to the effects on people, the excerpt you provided offers a comprehensive understanding of Chile's dire drought condition. It depicts not just the quantifiable consequences, such as record-low reservoir levels and rankings of water shortage, but also the practical impacts, particularly for rural people. I also like how Chile is striking a balance between the gravity of the problem and its proactive measures, such its plans for water rationing and environmental projects. These specifics demonstrate the nation's will to address an issue that affects almost every sphere of existence, from urban living to agriculture. Good Job on the post!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 3: Earthquakes

Image
Being on the Ring of Fire makes Chile very prone to earthquakes. The seismic map below shows where most earthquakes occur in Chile. The red zones along the coast is where the most severe earthquakes happen. Chile has experienced many severe earthquakes before. The largest recorded earthquake happened in May of 1960, and had a magnitude of 9.5. This occurred west of Temuco. The most recent earthquake with the largest magnitude of 8.3 happened in 2015 near Illapel. Chile has an average of 1,024 earthquakes per year. Most of the earthquakes in Chile are of smaller magnitudes, and severe earthquakes do not occur that frequently.                                                     Earthquakes in Chile have led to tsunamis and collapsing buildings. Unfortunately, as a result, hundreds of people lost their lives. Chile makes a strong effort to keep its citizens...
Read more

Week 1: Introduction to Chile

Image
  Chile is a country located in South America. The capital of Chile is Santiago. Northern Chile is mostly a desert environment, whereas the central and southern regions are more temperate. Chile has a diverse landscape. It is bordered by the Andes Mountains in the east, and the Pacific Ocean in the west. As of 2024, the population is 19,777,514. Natural hazards are a natural event, such as an earthquake or a flood, that poses a threat to human life or property. A disaster is a high-risk situation that does not occur over a long span of time. A disaster can be classified by 100 or more people being affected, or the specific area of the event declaring a state of emergency. In contrast, a catastrophe is a major disaster that lasts over a longer period of time and requires large amounts of time and money to recover. A catastrophe is more severe than a disaster.  Links to sources:  People https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/chile-population/# chile-map  ...
Read more

Week 5: Volcanoes

Image
Chile is on the South American and Nazca tectonic plates. As a result of this, Chile often has earthquakes. Such earthquakes can trigger volcanic eruptions. One sign that a volcano could erupt is if there are frequent earthquakes occurring in one area for an extended period of time.  Around 2,000 volcanoes are spread across the Andes Mountains in Chile. Of these 2,000 volcanoes, only about 36 of them are currently active. After Indonesia, Chile has the largest volcano chain in the world! Most of the volcanoes in Chile are stratovolcanoes. Below is a picture of the Villarrica Volcano, which last erupted in 2024. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Chile. Although its last major eruption was in 1985, it has since had many small eruptions that affected neighboring regions.  While most of the volcanoes in Chile are inactive, it is still vital to have a strong plan on what to do in case of an eruption. The Chilean National Disaster Prevention and Response Service provides cit...
Read more