Scientists have already declared megadroughts the new normal for much of the world, especially in north-central Chile’s Andes. This region has been in a severe drought for the last 15 years. In the wake of the disaster, water resources critical for both agriculture and drinking have faced a devastating impact. The Universidad Glacier and Tapado Glacier function as important water towers. They provide critical meltwater through dry spells, aiding in the buffering of the current megadrought. Predictions indicate these glaciers will lose this capacity to prevent droughts by the end of the century. This alteration presents a grave risk to our water supply.
La Laguna Reservoir has become an important player in the increasingly complex local water management system. It governs supplies of vital water for agricultural production and drinking requirements. It’s about time though, as Chile is on the frontline of climate change, rapidly running out of water due to decades-long megadroughts. Our researchers are deeply concerned about the long-term sustainability of these vital resources. Though the Southern Andes’ glaciers present a presently available short-term solution, this natural reservoir’s ability to buffer drought-intensifying climate change is endangered.
It wasn’t until 2015 that climate scientists started to realize just how large and far reaching Chile’s current drought is, calling it an extraordinary climatic event. The picture today, unfortunately, is not only bad, it is expected to get worse in the coming decades. Research indicates that glacier mass loss is a near certainty as long as global warming continues, making the impacts of megadroughts even harder to endure. Álvaro Ayala, a climate scientist, sounded an urgent alarm. He continues warning that if the status quo continues, central Chile could become as arid and inhospitable as the Atacama desert in the north.
The implications of these findings are profound. Glaciers, sometimes dubbed “water towers,” are crucial to local ecosystems. They represent critical infrastructure—factories, parks, roads, sewing machines—that ensure that communities heavily dependent on agriculture aren’t left high and dry. Even worse, these megadroughts are occurring with increasing frequency and regularity. Not only will our dependence on glacier meltwater as a water source lessen; this could result in a catastrophic water availability crisis.
Advocates, scientists, and researchers are urging federal leaders to act without delay to address this vital concern. They argue that climate change is increasing challenges—including flooding and water scarcity—that require holistic plans to balance water supply and demand across the state. The threat megadroughts present is not a laughing matter. Without considerable intervention, they will continue to wreak catastrophic environmental and human devastation in north-central Chile.