Understanding the Hydrological and Land Cover Dynamics of Peruvian High-Andean Wetlands

Abstract ID: 3.12820 | Not reviewed | Requested as: Talk | TBA | TBA

Joshua Castro (1)

(1) University of Fribourg, Chem. des Epinettes 51, 1723 Marly, CH

Categories: Atmosphere
Keywords: hydrological modelling, remote sensing, wetlands

Categories: Atmosphere
Keywords: hydrological modelling, remote sensing, wetlands

Abstract

Andean ecosystems play an important role in water regulation and ecosystem services, supporting local livelihoods along the catchment. However, these ecosystems are highly exposed to climate and cryosphere variability, making them particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. Among the Peruvian Andean ecosystems, bofedales (or high-altitude wetlands) play a key role in buffering water during dry periods observed in the strong seasonal variation of the saturated areas. This study investigates the land cover seasonality of ecosystems in the Vilcanota-Urubamba Basin (southern Peruvian Andes) and the hydrological variability of bofedales in its headwater integrating both remote sensing and hydrological modelling. We applied the Tethys-Chloris ecohydrological model to quantify the water balance and analyze in greater detail the role of bofedales in hydrological processes. This model allows us to simulate blue-green-white water fluxes within bofedales. Additionally, two years of fieldwork data are incorporated for model validation, including in situ streamflow measurements, snow cover information, soil characteristics, and glacier mass balance observations. A key focus is to explore the drivers of bofedal water recharge and their variation, assessing how precipitation, ephemeral snow, glacier meltwater, and catchment hydrology influence these wetlands. These processes fluctuate across seasons, regulating the water recharge for bofedales which subsequently function as natural water buffering systems within Andean watersheds. By integrating land cover variability observation with ecohydrological modeling, this study enhances the understanding of bofedales function in glacierized catchments providing a holistic atmo-cryo-hydrosphere perspective.

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