Factors that caused the desiccation of a lake in Bolivia and environmental consequences
Hello my Steemian friends!
It is a pleasure to share again with you through our social network the history of a recent case that has been the subject of different analysis by experts.
Poopó, a lake of 2400 km2 of salty water with an average depth of three meters, located on a high plateau in the department of Oruro in Bolivia, has been the center of the economy of surrounding villages for generations.
Humble and hard-working people who have lived by fishing and hunting for years and who have more than once seen their waters disappear and appear due to environmental effects. They are communities with a high rate of poverty and lack of basic services. Drinking water is one of the most critical and that has generated the proliferation of diseases by the consumption of contaminated water.
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Climate changes have affected Bolivia in a special way. Drought and high temperatures have wreaked havoc on their environment. Their dams have dried up after evaporation and their glaciers have melted due to the high temperatures.
In this publication, you will find a brief summary of what happened with Lake Poopó, which has now become a desert due to a desiccation process. Possible causes will be discussed and we will analyze their effects on the ecosystems of the area.
Timelapse 2013 – 2016
All opinions agree that the desiccation of the second largest lake in Bolivia (the largest is Titicaca), is the product of:
- Global warming and the effects of the Southern Oscillation "El niño" (ENSO).
- The bad administration of its waters for the irrigation of the crops and the mining activity of the area.
- The indifference of government agencies to take preventive and mitigating measures.
Let's start with the climatic phenomena ...
The Southern Oscillation "El niño" (ENSO)
Under normal conditions, the sun's rays heat the surface waters of the equatorial Pacific Ocean while the trade winds that circulate from east to west move them towards the coasts of Australia and Oceania causing them to accumulate in this area and increase the sea level. When evaporating and condensing, the hot water produces a tropical climate in that part that favors the rains.
Normal climate behavior in the Pacific Ocean
(Image elaborated by the author)This displacement of water produces a decrease in the level of the coasts of Ecuador, Chile, and Peru and facilitates the ascent of the deep and cold waters of the ocean rich in nutrients coming from the oceanic ecosystems producing in this zone a dry and cold climate.
While this movement of surface water to the west occurs, in the atmosphere the wind moves in the opposite direction creating a system of air circulation that keeps this displacement constant.
What effects does the Southern "El Niño" Oscillation (ENSO) produce?
This phenomenon occurs irregularly every 2 to 5 years and according to the intensity it presents, it can cause natural disasters and fish shortages in different parts of the planet. In the equatorial Pacific Ocean occurs:
- The Increase in water temperature (4 degrees).
- The decrease in the force of the Trade Winds interrupting the air circulation system.
Conditions “El Niño”
(Image elaborated by the author)When interrupting the push of the hot waters towards the West, these return towards the East arriving at the coasts of America causing unusual and heavy rains when evaporating and condensing. On the other hand, in the Western Pacific area, the climate dries up and gives way to intense droughts.
There is a cold phase of "El Niño" and it is known as the "La Niña". In this case, the trade winds do not disappear but on the contrary, it becomes stronger causing a greater accumulation of hot water on the West side of the Pacific, producing extreme rains. In the extreme east, on the coasts of America, now there are strong and long periods of drought.
(Image elaborated by the author)
And what effects does global warming produce in Bolivia?
In the case of global warming, there are recent studies confirming the decrease in the size of Bolivian glaciers by 43 percent between 1986 and 2014, due to the change in temperatures of the region which have experienced an increase in 0.34 degrees centigrade in the last 25 years.
Wikipedia Autor: Bjork - CC BY-SA 3.0
In Bolivia, climatic phenomena and global warming have caused great floods and intense droughts. The lack of rains that feed the lake added to the constant evaporation due to the high temperatures could be the factors of the disappearance of Poopó. But not the only ones!
Effects of mining and agricultural activity in the zone
The Poopó Lake, the Desaguadero River, the Titicaca and the Salar of Coipasa, make up a set of watersheds and sub-basins without exit to the sea (endorheic) known as the TDPS system. This system is interconnected. If the level of the Titicaca descends, the flow that feeds the Desaguadero is interrupted and this, in turn, does not supply water resources to the Poopó, then the lake can not replenish the water that evaporates from the surface due to the high temperatures.
Added to the effects of evaporation, the mining activity (about 300 companies) has made excessive use of river waters and also throws its waste to the bottom of the lake producing an increase in sedimentation and pollution of its waters with heavy metals.
On the other hand, dear readers, the agricultural crops of the area also contribute to the decline of lake feeding by placing irrigation channels from the Desaguadero River for the crops diverting the water that should flow into the lake.
Last but not least, a natural factor that also contributes to the disappearance of the lake is the strong winds that appear between the months of August and September in the area, that they drag the dust of Atacama desert and deposit it at the bottom of the lake increasing sedimentation.
Environmental consequences of the disappearance of the lake
We speak of an endorheic lake polluted and deficient in its water supply, so we do not have to be experts my reader friends to know that the chances of it being the same as before are very few. But what does it mean that it has disappeared?
To begin we must mention the socio-cultural consequences that it generates, since this lake was part of the culture of the surrounding villages, towns like Ururo that after living for generations of fishing activity, had to migrate in search of work or become day laborers or merchants to be able to subsist.
About the fauna, experts on the subject talk about 200 species among mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish that lived in the lake died or had to emigrate. Some of these species are geese, ducks, hummingbirds, seagulls, gallaretas, rabbits and Andean flamingos (in danger of extinction). The lake received hundreds of migratory birds each year, which were forced to continue their journey in search of another place to rest.
Each year, the lake received hundreds of migratory birds that moved from north to south and that rested in this place for later to continue their journey. When the lake disappeared they had to search for another place or perhaps they died.
The flora was also affected because after the drought everything disappeared. As you can see, it represents an environmental disaster with great damage to the ecosystem.
In conclusion
In one of my previous publications, I had the opportunity to share with you a case similar to this, the Aral Sea. In that publication, it was also possible to appreciate the great damage caused to the environment and the social environment that surrounded the lake. The Aral Sea is also an endorheic lake that was overexploited to use its waters in the cotton crops of the Soviet Union, leaving the Aralkum desert in its place (you can see the full publication here).
The causes of these natural disasters are always common and have to do with the misuse of natural resources and their pollution. To this we must add the environmental changes caused by global warming and climatic phenomena. Everything together can cause disasters like this in Bolivia to occur anywhere on the planet.
There are several cases of lakes that have dried up and until now it seems that the lesson is not learned. Remedial actions are always taken at the wrong time and when there is not much left to save. Government authorities begin to offer solutions when the disastrous consequences are already in sight.
We must understand that our planet needs our conscience and our work to protect it and take care of it and that cases like this should not be repeated in future stories.
Thank you for your time, dear reader, and and I say goodbye until a next publication.
I wish you a happy and productive day!
References
- http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-42414429
- http://www.la-razon.com/sociedad/Desastre-desaparecen-especies-animales-sequia-Poopo_0_2401559848.html
- https://www.iagua.es/noticias/bolivia/ep/16/07/07/bolivia-declara-emergencia-85-municipios-debido-sequia
- http://www.lavanguardia.com/natural/20160122/301589931857/lago-poopo-bolivia-cambio-climatico-el-nino.html
- https://www.elpais.cr/2016/12/23/desaparicion-del-lago-poopo-marca-el-desastre-climatico-del-2016-en-bolivia-dice-biologo/
- http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2015/12/151223_ciencia_bolivia_lago_poopo_desaparicion_sequia_wbm
A very interesting post. Even though I haven not being in Bolivia before, I have learnt a lot about that place geographically thanks to this post. I may write something related to this about Nigeria anytime soon. Thank you for this piece @ufv
I am @teekingtv and I write STEM
I am glad to know that with the reading of this publication you learned something about this part of Bolivia. I'll be waiting for your next publication to learn a little about Nigeria.
Thanks for your time and your support.
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