Martínez-Castro et al. (2025) Impact of Extreme Droughts on the Water Balance in the Peruvian–Ecuadorian Amazon Basin (2003–2024)

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Identification

• Journal: Water
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-10-23
• Authors: Daniel Martínez-Castro, Jhan Carlo Espinoza, K. Takahashi, Miguel Octavio Andrade, Dimitris A. Herrera, Abel Centella‐Artola, James Apaéstegui, Elisa Armijos, Ricardo A. Gutiérrez, Sly Wongchuig, Yamina Silva
• DOI: 10.3390/w17213041

Research Groups

Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Short Summary

This study assesses the impact of extreme droughts on the surface and atmospheric water balance of the Peruvian Amazon basin from 2003 to 2024, identifying four extreme drought years characterized by major precipitation deficits, reduced runoff and total water storage, and significant imbalances in both surface and atmospheric water balances.

Objective

• To assess the impact of extreme droughts on the surface and atmospheric water balance of the Peruvian Amazon basin.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Peruvian Amazon basin, specifically the Peruvian–Ecuadorian Amazon basin, focusing on the Amazon and Madre de Dios river basins (closing at Tamshiyacu and Amaru Mayu stations).
• Temporal Scale: 2003–2024.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Maximum Cumulative Water Deficit (MCWD), Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), self-calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI).
• Data sources:
  • Precipitation: CHIRPS, MSWEP, ERA5.
  • Evapotranspiration: ERA5, GLDAS, Amazon-Paca, observations from the Quistococha flux tower.

Main Results

• Four extreme drought years were confirmed: 2004–2005, 2009–2010, 2022–2023, and 2023–2024.
• These droughts were characterized by major precipitation deficits during dry seasons.
• Significant reductions in runoff and total water storage anomalies (TWSAs) were observed.
• Negative surface balances indicated net terrestrial water depletion.
• Negative atmospheric balances reflected reduced moisture convergence.
• Residuals in the water balance calculations signaled hydrological uncertainties.

Contributions

• Confirmed specific extreme drought years and their comprehensive hydrological impacts across surface and atmospheric water balances in the Peruvian Amazon.
• Highlighted significant imbalances in the water cycle during drought periods.
• Underscored the critical need for using multiple indicators and diverse datasets to accurately assess hydrological responses under extreme climatic conditions in the Amazon basin.
• Extended previous work by incorporating a wider array of precipitation and evapotranspiration datasets and comparing three distinct drought indices.

Funding

Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{MartínezCastro2025Impact,
  author = {Martínez-Castro, Daniel and Espinoza, Jhan Carlo and Takahashi, K. and Andrade, Miguel Octavio and Herrera, Dimitris A. and Centella‐Artola, Abel and Apaéstegui, James and Armijos, Elisa and Gutiérrez, Ricardo A. and Wongchuig, Sly and Silva, Yamina},
  title = {Impact of Extreme Droughts on the Water Balance in the Peruvian–Ecuadorian Amazon Basin (2003–2024)},
  journal = {Water},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.3390/w17213041},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/w17213041}
}