Author(s): Andres Figueroa Curo; Pedro Rau; Alessia Matano
Linked Author(s): Pedro Rau
Keywords: Drought propagation; Reservoirs; Standardized drought indices; Rimac basin
Abstract: Droughts in the Rimac basin, Peru, pose a critical threat to Lima, a desert capital with over 9 million people that relies heavily on the basin as its primary water sources. Despite this, there is limited understanding of the characteristics and drivers of these droughts, exacerbated by the basin’s dense network of reservoirs. This study aims to identify past drought events and assess how reservoirs influence drought propagation from meteorological to hydrological systems. Using precipitation and volume data from 15 reservoirs, analyzed through the standardized indexes and drought cycle analysis, we identified severe droughts in 1990,1992, and 2004, with the upper basin experiencing more frequent droughts during that period. Droughts propagated more rapidly in the northwest reservoirs, with impacts persisting after precipitation deficits, while reservoirs in the southeast showed quicker recovery. These findings offer key insights for improving reservoir management and water resources planning for Lima.
Year: 2024