Author(s): Juan David Herrera Galviz; Olga Lucia Ocampo Lopez; Juan Carlos Hernandez Criado

Linked Author(s): Olga Lucía Ocampo López

Keywords: Catatumbo watershed; Drought monitoring; Hydrometeorological stations

Abstract: In Colombia, events related to hydrometeorological dynamics, such as droughts, are monitored through a network of stations distributed throughout the national territory. Some areas have a higher density of monitoring equipment than others, where the armed conflict and the lack of roads make these tasks difficult. One of these areas is the Catatumbo watershed, shared with Venezuela. Under Colombian jurisdiction, it overlaps with the area of the departments of Cesar, Santander and Norte de Santander, and is divided into eight hydrographic subzones, where illegal groups persist, hindering the work of monitoring drought and other events. The objective of this work was to review the progress of the drought monitoring process in the basin and the projections in terms of the strengthening of the hydro-meteorological monitoring network in the basin. The analysis was carried out using records from hydrometeorological stations in the area and remote sensing information. Secondary information available in national water studies, the third communication on climate change, hydrographic basin management and comprehensive climate change plans were also taken into account. There are areas of moderate to extreme drought risk in the Catatumbo basin. The comprehensive territorial climate change plans address the elements that determine the high risk of this type of event in the different municipalities of the watershed and their relationship with the risk of catastrophic events triggered by changes in the dynamics of precipitation and temperature. Some specific efforts of certain institutions in the territory are proven to strengthen this monitoring network.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/978-90-833476-1-5_iahr40wc-p1622-cd

Year: 2023