Impacts of Droughts on Water Quality: Processes and Monitoring
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Date
2025
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Springer, Cham
Abstract
Water uses may be threatened by hydrochemical shifts that are triggered by droughts. Reduced rainfall, streamflow, and temperature fluctuations may induce distinct changes in salinity, suspended solids, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, organic matter, nutrient cycling, pH, stratification, and hydraulic residence times. The extent of these variations is determined by the drought stage, location and altitude within the watershed, and land use. The processes leading to these changes are described and the implications for water quality monitoring and socioeconomic impacts in Chilean Andean watersheds are discussed. A coordinated monitoring approach is needed to further reveal the intricate nexus between changing climatic patterns, drought events, and the ensuing consequences for water quality within Chilean Andean watersheds.
Description
Keywords
Water quality monitoring, Water quality consequences, Hydrochemical shifts, Chilean Andean watersheds