Evaluation Of Non-Stationary Hydrological Conditions In The Andean Paramo

Water Stable Isotopes 8Wsi; 18O And 2H) Have Been Broadly Used In A Variety Of Hydrological Application In The Last Few Decades. In Recent Years, These Tracers Have Also Been Applied Into Hydrologic Models To Investigate How Water Is Internally Transported And Mixed Withinn Catchments. The Application Of These Tracer-Based Hydorlogic Models Has Helped Understand The Non-Stationary (I.E., Time-Varient) Nature Of Flow Response Such As The Temporal Variability Of Different Proportions Of Surface Water And Groundwater Contributing To Runoff And Changes In Catchment Water Storage. Thus, The Application Of Isotope-Based Modelling Frameworks In Not Only Fundamental For Advancing The Field Of Hydrological Sciende, But Is Also Urgnetly Needed For The Implementation Of Effective Water Resorurces Management Strategies Worldwide. However, The Applicability Of Wisis In Hydrologic Modelling Frameworks Remians Limited, Particularly In Developing Regions Such As The Tropical Andes. In Northen South America, The Paramo Ecosystem, Know As The "Wate Tower" Of The Northern Andes, Is The Main Source Of Water That Helps Sustain The Socio-Economic Development Of The Region By Supplying Hydropower Generation, Industrial, Agricultural, And Urban Water Needs Of Millions Of People In The Region. However, Very Little Is Know About How Temporal Changes In Enviromental Conditions Influence The Hydrologic Response Of Paramo Catchments. To Fill This Knowledge Gap, The Objective Of This Project Is To Evaluate Short (Eventbased) And Long-Term (Several Years) Non-Stationarities In The Hydrologic Behavior Of An Andean Paramo Catchment Using Wsi Data Collected At High-Tempral Frequency And Isotope-Aided Hydrologic Models. Filling This Knowledge Gap Is Of Particular Importance In Developing Countries And Strategic Regions, Such As The Tropics, Where The Imporvement Of Water Resources Management Remains A Challenge Health, Ecological, Social, And Economic Relevance. Thus, This First Evaluation Of Catchment Nonstationaries In The Andean Paramo Will Ot Only Become A Benchmark Study On The Application Of Tracer-Aided Hydrologic Models In Montame Tropical Ecosystems, But Will Also Help Imporve The Management Of Natural Resources (Soil, Vegetation, And Water), And Thus, The Life Qualily Of The Inhabitants Of This Region, By Providing Scientific-Based Information To Water Managers And Policy Makers.