I-Cuat.Hidrologica Quantification of Hydrological Services of High Andean Basins

At least half of the planet's fresh water resources originate in mountainous regions (1). In addition, the mountains have a leading role in the global hydrological cycle (for example, by capturing wet air masses, storing water, regulating the weather and temperature, among others). Likewise, high Andean ecosystems have a leading role to sustain the way of life of millions by providing essential environmental services. The most important of these services is the production of excellent quality. Therefore, the moors, wetlands and high Andean forests are constituted in the most important water sources in this region. However, despite its importance, the hydrology of the Andes basins is poorly known, so the sustainable development of its water resources cannot be achieved. Therefore, it is necessary to undertake a long -term initiative to know (i) the interrelations between climate and hydrology, (ii) the water production capacity, (iii) the effects of the different vegetable coverage in water production, (IV) interrelations between water, aquatic organisms and vegetation, as health indicators of the ecosystem and (v) the responses of the systems to climate change. The long -term goal is the sustainable development of water resources and the conservation of high Andean basins. This project, which is the beginning of the long-term initiative, has as a general objective quantify the hydrological services provided by high-Andean hydrographic basins. To achieve this, the following specific objectives have been established: (1) Implementation of an advanced network of observations in different space scales (2) Quantification of meteorological, hydrological and biological flows (3) Preliminary evaluation of the effect of plant cover on hydrology and the effects of data quality on the closure of the water balance.

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