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<p>Most of Argentina experienced a prolonged period of above-normal temperatures during the summer of 2024, particularly linked to the occurrence of an extreme heatwave during the months of January and February that affected the central-western portion of the country. In the headwaters of the Mendoza River Basin (MRB), located in the upper elevations of the Andes Mountains, the heatwave increased significantly the snowmelt and glacier melt contributions to the streamflow, with marked implications for local water management. This study characterizes the hydrological response to the heatwave, using a set of observations, reanalysis, and satellite estimations. The maximum temperature exceeded 10&#xa0;°C at 4300&#xa0;m.a.s.l., with an increase in the zero degree line of almost 450&#xa0;m compared to normal conditions. Snow cover decreased at a rate almost 4 times higher than normal, creating a snowmelt and glacier melt pulse that caused a streamflow increase in the Vacas and Mendoza Rivers, unprecedented in the context of the last 15&#xa0;years. Given that the Potrerillos Dam was close to its full capacity, water authorities had to release an extraordinary volume of water towards the lower portions of the MRB, flooding a system of shallow lagoons that received water for the first time in almost two decades. Advances for heatwave declaration along the higher elevations of the Andes together with real-time streamflow monitoring are necessary for improved knowledge of the propagation of the melting signal and for water management actions to mitigate its impacts.</p>

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Hydrological response to the summer 2024 high-elevation heatwave in Central-Western Argentina

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月14日

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  • Juan A. Rivera,
  • Carolina Lauro,
  • Leandro Alvarez

摘要

Most of Argentina experienced a prolonged period of above-normal temperatures during the summer of 2024, particularly linked to the occurrence of an extreme heatwave during the months of January and February that affected the central-western portion of the country. In the headwaters of the Mendoza River Basin (MRB), located in the upper elevations of the Andes Mountains, the heatwave increased significantly the snowmelt and glacier melt contributions to the streamflow, with marked implications for local water management. This study characterizes the hydrological response to the heatwave, using a set of observations, reanalysis, and satellite estimations. The maximum temperature exceeded 10 °C at 4300 m.a.s.l., with an increase in the zero degree line of almost 450 m compared to normal conditions. Snow cover decreased at a rate almost 4 times higher than normal, creating a snowmelt and glacier melt pulse that caused a streamflow increase in the Vacas and Mendoza Rivers, unprecedented in the context of the last 15 years. Given that the Potrerillos Dam was close to its full capacity, water authorities had to release an extraordinary volume of water towards the lower portions of the MRB, flooding a system of shallow lagoons that received water for the first time in almost two decades. Advances for heatwave declaration along the higher elevations of the Andes together with real-time streamflow monitoring are necessary for improved knowledge of the propagation of the melting signal and for water management actions to mitigate its impacts.