Meteorological and evapotranspiration cycles along an altitudinal gradient of the Cajas National Park

The present investigation proposes the study of weather cycles in an altitudinal gradient of Páramo Alto Andino, located in the Cajas National Park, on a transect of the Quínoas micro basin, through the analysis of information of a network of 3 three meteorological research observatories, which is intended to know the behavior of the different variables (including evapotranspiration of the soil) considering different levels. In the second instance, a study of evapotranspiration, energy balance and albedo on an experimental páramo area (micro basin zhurucay) will be carried out, where controlled pajonal alteration conditions (burning) would be created, to analyze the negative effect of this practice, usually used by rural communities at certain times of the year, on the Andean mountain pajonal. With the results of the study, both meteorological cycles in these ecosystems can be better understood, as well as the effects on energy balance and evapotranspiration of the soil, which exert the burning of the analyzed plant cover, in addition to being able to associate the results with alterations in the natural hydrological processes that would affect the availability of water in the future. Both components of the project have an added value for the conduct of deeper research in the hydrological, climatic and ecosystem aspects in the Andean moors. The Cajas National Park (stage-EP) and Research Directorate of the University of Cuenca will finance the project, and is considered a duration of 4 years with several scientific products obtained from the research.

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