scholarly journals Spatial distribution and interannual variability of coastal fog and low clouds cover in the hyperarid Atacama Desert and implications for past and present Tillandsia landbeckii ecosystems

2021 ◽  
Vol 307 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilo del Río ◽  
Felipe Lobos-Roco ◽  
Claudio Latorre ◽  
Marcus A. Koch ◽  
Juan-Luis García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Satellite Images ◽  
Atacama Desert ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Low Clouds ◽  
Spatial Changes ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Coastal Fog ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

AbstractThe hyperarid Atacama Desert coast receives scarce moisture inputs mainly from the Pacific Ocean in the form of marine advective fog. The collected moisture supports highly specialized ecosystems, where the bromeliad Tillandsia landbeckii is the dominant species. The fog and low clouds (FLCs) on which these ecosystems depend are affected in their interannual variability and spatial distribution by global phenomena, such as ENSO. Yet, there is a lack of understanding of how ENSO influences recent FLCs spatial changes and their interconnections and how these variations can affect existing Tillandsia stands. In this study, we analyze FLCs occurrence, its trends and the influence of ENSO on the interannual variations of FLCs presence by processing GOES satellite images (1995–2017). Our results show that ENSO exerts a significant influence over FLCs interannual variability in the Atacama at ~ 20°S. Linear regression analyses reveal a relation between ENSO3.4 anomalies and FLCs with opposite seasonal effects depending on the ENSO phase. During summer (winter), the ENSO warm phase is associated with an increase (decrease) of the FLCs occurrence, whereas the opposite occurs during ENSO cool phases. In addition, the ONI Index explains up to ~ 50 and ~ 60% variance of the interannual FLCs presence in the T. landbeckii site during summer and winter, respectively. Finally, weak negative (positive) trends of FLCs presence are observed above (below) 1000 m a. s. l. These results have direct implications for understanding the present and past distribution of Tillandsia ecosystems under the extreme conditions characterizing our study area.

People of the Coastal Atacama Desert: Living Between Sand Dunes and Waves of the Pacific Ocean

2008 ◽  
pp. 243-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calogero M. Santoro ◽  
Bernardo T. Arriaza ◽  
Vivien G. Standen ◽  
Pablo A. Marquet
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Sand Dunes ◽  
Atacama Desert ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

Spatial distribution and abundance of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in deep-sea sediments of the Pacific Ocean

2015 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhu-Hua Luo ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
Meng Li ◽  
Ji-Dong Gu ◽  
Tian-Hua Zhong
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Deep Sea Sediments ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

Eating Fish in the Driest Desert in the World: Osteological and Biogeochemical Analyses of Human Skeletal Remains from the San Salvador Cemetery, North Chile

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Torres-Rouff ◽  
William J. Pestle ◽  
Francisco Gallardo
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Material Culture ◽  
Atacama Desert ◽  
Formative Period ◽  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
Human Skeletal Remains ◽  
San Salvador ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
Carbohydrate Components

AbstractThe San Salvador River in northern Chile is a tributary of the Loa, the only river that traverses the Atacama Desert from the mountains to the Pacific. Recent investigations along the San Salvador River revealed the presence of a Formative period village site and associated cemetery approximately 110 km inland from the Pacific Ocean. Bioarchaeological and biogeochemical analyses conducted on human skeletal remains recovered from the San Salvador Cemetery allowed us to better understand the site’s role as an intermediary for coast/interior relations during the Middle Formative (500 B.C.–A.D. 100). Evidence from material culture and human remains at San Salvador suggests that this population was involved in exchange networks that united the oases of the Atacama Desert with the Pacific Ocean. Isotopic data support this notion, as the population demonstrates great variability in both the protein (marine and terrestrial) and carbohydrate components of their diet. During this period, communal economies produced surpluses used in a network of exchange for foods, prestige goods, and ideas. These ties were not coincidental but, rather, part of a regional economic structure that remains only partly explored.

scholarly journals Spatial distribution of oxygen-18 and deuterium in stream waters across the Japanese archipelago

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 10903-10930
Author(s):  
M. Katsuyama ◽  
T. Yoshioka ◽  
E. Konohira
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Sea Of Japan ◽  
The Sea Of Japan ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Japanese Archipelago ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
The Japanese Archipelago ◽  
Stream Waters

Abstract. The spatial distribution of oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition (δ18O and δ2H) of stream waters across Japan was clarified with a data set compiling sample data obtained from 1278 forest catchments during the summer of 2003. Both δ18O and δ2H values showed positive correlations with the mean annual air temperature and annual evapotranspiration, and negative correlations with latitude and elevation. Deuterium excess (d excess) values in stream waters were higher on the Sea of Japan side, and lower on the Pacific Ocean side, of the Japanese archipelago. The d excess in precipitation was generally higher in winter and lower in summer in Japan. The Sea of Japan side experiences a great deal of snowfall, and seasonal changes in monthly precipitation are rather small. In contrast, the Pacific Ocean side experiences a large amount of rainfall during summer with low levels of precipitation during the winter. Therefore, the lower d excess in stream waters on the Pacific Ocean side reflects summer precipitation, and the higher values on the Sea of Japan side are affected by delayed recharge from snowmelt. The isoscapes of stream water connote not only spatially integrated but also temporally integrated isotope signals of precipitation, and provide a framework for addressing applied hydrological, ecological, or meteorological research questions at regional scales, such as the effects of climate change.

scholarly journals Local evaporation controlled by regional atmospheric circulation in the Altiplano of the Atacama Desert

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Lobos-Roco ◽  
Oscar Hartogensis ◽  
Jordi Vilà-Guerau de Arellano ◽  
Alberto de la Fuente ◽  
Ricardo Muñoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Atacama Desert ◽  
Radiative Energy ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Ground Heat Flux ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
Strong Winds

Abstract. We investigate the influence of regional atmospheric circulation on the evaporation of a saline lake in the Altiplano region of the Atacama Desert. For that, we conducted a field experiment in the Salar del Huasco (SDH) basin (135 km east of the Pacific Ocean), in November 2018. The measurements were based on surface energy balance (SEB) stations and airborne observations. Additionally, we simulate the meteorological conditions on a regional scale using the Weather Research and Forecasting model. Our findings show two evaporation regimes: (1) a morning regime controlled by local conditions, in which SEB is dominated by the ground heat flux (~0.5 of net radiation), very low evaporation (LvE  500 W m−2. While in the morning evaporation is limited by very low turbulence (u*~0.1 m s−1), in the afternoon strong winds (u*~0.65 m s−1) enhance the mechanical turbulence, increasing the evaporation. We find that the strong winds in addition to the locally available radiative energy are the principal drivers of evaporation. These winds are the result of a diurnal cyclic circulation between the Pacific Ocean and the Atacama Desert. Finally, we quantify the advection and entrainment of free-tropospheric air masses driven by boundary-layer development. Our research contributes to extend our understanding of evaporation drivers in arid regions and how large-scale processes affect directly local ones.

scholarly journals Spatial distribution of oxygen-18 and deuterium in stream waters across the Japanese archipelago

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 1577-1588 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Katsuyama ◽  
T. Yoshioka ◽  
E. Konohira
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Sea Of Japan ◽  
The Sea Of Japan ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Japanese Archipelago ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
The Japanese Archipelago ◽  
Stream Waters

Abstract. The spatial distribution of oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition (δ18O and δ2H) of stream waters across Japan was clarified with a data set by compiling sample data obtained from 1278 forest catchments during the summer of 2003. Both δ18O and δ2H values showed positive correlations with the mean annual air temperature and annual evapotranspiration, and negative correlations with latitude and elevation. Deuterium excess (d-excess) values in stream waters were higher on the Sea of Japan side, and lower on the Pacific Ocean side, of the Japanese archipelago. The d-excess in precipitation was generally higher in winter and lower in summer in Japan. The Sea of Japan side experiences a great deal of snowfall, and seasonal changes in monthly precipitation are rather small. In contrast, the Pacific Ocean side experiences a large amount of rainfall during summer with low levels of precipitation during the winter. Therefore, the lower d-excess in stream waters on the Pacific Ocean side reflects summer precipitation, and the higher values on the Sea of Japan side are affected by delayed recharge from snowmelt. The isoscapes of stream water connote not only spatially integrated but also temporally integrated isotope signals of precipitation and provide a framework for addressing applied hydrological, ecological, or meteorological research questions at regional scales, such as the effects of climate change.

scholarly journals Local evaporation controlled by regional atmospheric circulation in the Altiplano of the Atacama Desert

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 9125-9150
Author(s):  
Felipe Lobos-Roco ◽  
Oscar Hartogensis ◽  
Jordi Vilà-Guerau de Arellano ◽  
Alberto de la Fuente ◽  
Ricardo Muñoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Atacama Desert ◽  
Sudden Increase ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Ground Heat Flux ◽  
The Pacific Ocean ◽  
Strong Winds

Abstract. We investigate the influence of regional atmospheric circulation on the evaporation of a saline lake in the Altiplano (also known as the Andean Plateau) region of the Atacama Desert. For that, we conducted a field experiment in the Salar del Huasco (SDH) basin (135 km east of the Pacific Ocean), in November 2018. The measurements were based on surface energy balance (SEB) stations and airborne observations. Additionally, we simulate the meteorological conditions on a regional scale using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. Our findings show two evaporation regimes: (1) a morning regime controlled by local conditions, in which SEB is dominated by the ground heat flux (∼0.5 of net radiation), very low evaporation (LvE<30 W m−2) and wind speed <1 m s−1; and (2) an afternoon regime controlled by regional-scale forcing that leads to a sudden increase in wind speed (>15 m s−1) and a jump in evaporation to >500 W m−2. While in the morning evaporation is limited by very low turbulence (u*∼0.1 m s−1), in the afternoon strong winds (u*∼0.65 m s−1) enhance mechanical turbulence, increasing evaporation. We find that the strong winds in addition to the locally available radiative energy are the principal drivers of evaporation. These winds are the result of a diurnal cyclic circulation between the Pacific Ocean and the Atacama Desert. Finally, we quantify the advection and entrainment of free-tropospheric air masses driven by boundary layer development. Our research contributes to untangling and linking local- and regional-scale processes driving evaporation across confined saline lakes in arid regions.

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