Author(s): Andres Felipe Cortes; Allen Bateman; Vicente Medina
Linked Author(s): Allen Bateman Pinzón
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: The Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta is a wetland located in the northern part of Colombia inside of the Magdalena River basin. The ecosystem experiences recurrent drought events due to hydrometeorological conditions and water management practices, particularly reservoir operations related to hydropower production. The main objective of the research was the characterization of the drought events in order to understand the conditions and dynamics of the system. This process was conducted evaluating different traditional drought indices, among which the Palmer Index and the SPI, diverse sources of remote sensing and two modified drought indices that considered the infiltration of water from the Magdalena River to the Cienaga. The results showed that the modified Palmer Drought Severity Index and water salinity were the most effective parameters for characterizing the droughts, as they could be used simultaneously for the forecasting and the evaluation of the intensity of the events.
Year: 2024