A recent report prepared by a multidisciplinary team from the CONICET at the Esquel Mountain and Patagonian Steppe Research Center and the company INVAP has revealed concerning impacts of forest fires in the Patagonia on water bodies.
Impact of Fires on Patagonian Water
Published in the journal Science of The Total Environment, the research emphasizes that, in addition to destroying the forest, fires transform aquatic ecosystems. The watersheds of Argentine Patagonia were studied after the 2021 fire, revealing significant alterations in water quality, crucial for many Andean communities.
The fire devastated more than 13,000 hectares of forest in areas near El Hoyo and Las Golondrinas, Chubut. This event prompted scientists to conduct an immediate monitoring of the environment, comparing streams affected and unaffected by the fire. Significant increases in electrical conductivity and elevated turbidity in water bodies due to suspended solids were detected.
Yanina Assefa, co-author of the study, explained that the research allowed for an understanding of the “disturbance window” phenomenon, a critical period after the fire where environmental vulnerability is high. During the first post-fire rains, an increase in turbidity and suspended solids was observed.
Additionally, phosphorus concentrations were up to 17 times higher compared to unaffected areas, while nitrogen, in the form of nitrates, increased notably until the end of the study.
The report concludes that the effects of fires vary according to fire severity, topography, and type of vegetation. As human populations grow and expand, continuous monitoring of water quality is essential to prevent impacts on community health, as noted by expert Cecilia Brand.
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