Browsing by Author "Ramirez, Carla"

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    The alluvium of August 9, 2015 in Alto Patache, Tarapaca region, Atacama Desert
    (PONTIFICA UNIV CATOLICA CHILE, INST GEOGRAFIA, 2017) Orellana, Hector; Garcia, Juan Luis; Ramirez, Carla; Zanetta, Nicolas
    During the 09 August 2015 (strong El Nino year) heavy rains fell in the coastal Atacama Desert, including our Research Station Atacama UC_Alto Patache (cordillera de la Costa, Tarapaca Region). In this study we provide a detailed analysis of the meteorology and hydrogeomorphic response to the 51,6 mm in 6 hours of rain recorded in Alto Patache. In our control basin (7.2 Ha) we estimated a maximum erosion of similar to 1070 m(3), which were partially stored in the distal alluvial fan, where we quantified 637 m3 of material. We estimated a mean water discharge of 11 m(3) s(-1) at the lower basin. The comparison between the meteorological and morphostratigraphical data allows us to define three phases that best characterize the anatomy of the 9A: Initial, Peak and End. We conclude that Alto Patache embraces an overall geomorphic stability that is interrupted recurrently by debris flows linkable to ENSO variability.