José Villanueva Díaz,Juan Estrada-Avalos,Julian Cerano-Paredes,David W. Stahle,Vicenta Constante-Garcia, INIFAP, Dendrocronología, villanueva.jose@inifap.gob.mx
Abstract
Management of water resources requires understanding components of the hydrological cycle and the historical influence of natural and human-induced variability. Analysis of the hydrological behavior of watersheds in Mexico has been carried out using instrumental records, GIS of land-use change and paleoclimatic data. In the Nazas River basin, El Niño events result in great interannual variability of precipitation over the last 800 years. Changing land uses in the upper Nazas watershed have increased runoff and erosion problems. The SantiagoLerma basin is the most populated in Mexico and instrumental and reconstructed records indicate decreasing water levels. Increased water demand is extracting groundwater over 9,000 years old. Water demand in these and other basins will continue to rise whilst simulation models indicate declines in water availability. The integration of knowledge of climate variability, hydrological impact of land use changes and water demand will be essential for water managers to address these issues.
Keywords: Paleoclimate, ENSO, Ancient water