Abstract

ALARCON-HINCAPIE, Juan; ZAFRA-MEJIA, Carlos  and  ECHEVERRI-PRIETO, Lena. Climate change and water resources in Colombia. rev.udcaactual.divulg.cient. [online]. 2019, vol.22, n.2, e1368.  Epub Dec 31, 2019. ISSN 0123-4226.  https://doi.org/10.31910/rudca.v22.n2.2019.1368.

The possible impacts from the spatial distribution of the water resource over the Colombian territory are analyzed under two scenarios of climate change in the middle of the 21st century. For the effect, two environmental water indicators were used (Aridity index and Water Balance) to estimate, quantify and water supply of the Colombian territory, from the climate data during the period of reference 1976-2005 in spatial resolution of 900 meters. In this modeling, the water regimen of the country is characterized by its average runoff of 1644mm, with values that are between an annual average runoff of 100mm in the Guajira peninsula until higher runoffs of 6000 millimeters in the Pacific. The aridity index in such modeling generated an average of 0,37, putting Colombia in moderate conditions of aridity, which shows sectors with a high-water deficit such as the Guajira peninsula and in the north of Magdalena and Atlántico regions. Additionally, the climate variables for Colombia were taken by a regional climate modeling in two scenarios RCP 4,5 and 6,0 for the period 2011-2040 and the environmental water indicators were generated. Across a comparison between the indicators of the current (1976-2005) and future period 2011-2040, the changes that would appear in the water availability towards those periods in both scenarios were established. The results are summarized in: substantial reductions in the runoff volume in respect to the current values in an 18% average for all scenarios, the lowest reduction would appear in 4,5 with 12% of the current runoff and the most drastic reduction presents in 6,0 in the middle of the century until 18%. Regarding the aridity index, the most aggressive scenario is 6.0 with an average value of 0,50, which refers to a water deficit, while by the middle of the century 6,0 and 4,5 would locate the country in a moderate condition of water deficit.

Keywords : climate change; water resources; water balance; aridity index.

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