Gil et al. (2026) Storage‐Release Mechanism in Lunette Systems Enhance Shallow Lake Resilience Under Multiyear Drought

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Hydrological Processes
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-01
• Authors: Joaquín Gil, Leandro Rodrigues Capítulo, Nicole Pommarés, Martin Vázquez, Silvina Carretero, Santiago Perdomo, Eduardo Emilio Kruse, Enrique Fucks
• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.70655

Research Groups

• Department of Geomorphology and Hydrology, University of Buenos Aires
• Argentine Institute of Nivology (IANIGLA)
• National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)

Short Summary

This study reveals that lunette deposits in shallow lakes can function as natural infrastructure regulating hydrological resilience during droughts by storing water during humid periods and releasing it during dry spells. The research demonstrates the critical role of inherited geomorphology in maintaining ecosystem persistence under projected climate change.

Objective

• Investigate the relationship between lunette deposits and hydrological resilience in shallow lakes under increasing climate variability

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Continental plains, Argentine Pampas region
• Temporal Scale: Multiyear droughts (2021–2023) and long-term paleogeomorphological reconstruction

Methodology and Data

• Models used: None mentioned, but integrated with geophysical prospecting and remote sensing data
• Data sources:
  • Continuous hydrodynamic monitoring
  • Comparative remote sensing validation across four regional systems
  • Paleogeomorphological reconstruction using geological and geomorphological data

Main Results

• Lunettes store water during humid periods through enhanced subsurface storage capacity, exceeding regional aquifer values twofold.
• During droughts, lunettes release stored water through sustained groundwater discharge (~70% of total groundwater inputs).
• System persistence is directly related to the presence and preservation of lunette deposits.

Contributions

This research establishes that landscape inheritance from past arid periods constitutes measurable natural infrastructure providing hydrological resilience. The findings have direct implications for nature-based climate adaptation strategies in vulnerable continental plains globally.

Funding

• This study was funded by the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET, Argentina) under Project PIP 11220150100037CO.

Citation

@article{Gil2026StorageRelease,
  author = {Gil, Joaquín and Capítulo, Leandro Rodrigues and Pommarés, Nicole and Vázquez, Martin and Carretero, Silvina and Perdomo, Santiago and Kruse, Eduardo Emilio and Fucks, Enrique},
  title = {Storage‐Release Mechanism in Lunette Systems Enhance Shallow Lake Resilience Under Multiyear Drought},
  journal = {Hydrological Processes},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1002/hyp.70655},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.70655}
}