RAPID: Differential Fluvial Response of the Abiotic Atacama Desert to a Rare Rainstorm Event

摘要 解释项目更广泛意义的非技术性描述极端降雨事件是干旱地区景观的重要塑造者。然而，洪水生成的过程以及各种景观成分在产生和传导水流方面的相对重要性相对未知。这个快速发展项目提供了一个难得的机会，可以利用以前收集的数据以及新的观测和遥感信息来研究不同类型的干旱地貌特征对突发性暴雨的反应。了解景观对这些极端事件的反应将有助于这些地区的社区规划，因为山洪暴发是常见的结果，而且水源往往是不可预测的。该项目涉及与智利科学家的合作。结果将超越调查地点阿塔卡马沙漠的直接范围，包括美国和世界其他地区的半干旱地区。该项目的技术说明该RAPID项目将利用以前的研究沿着阿塔卡马沙漠的一个横断面，以测试以下假设：由于盐和灰尘的积累，长期极度干旱的印记在景观上增加，景观变得更能抵抗降雨造成的径流和地表径流。相反，沙漠边缘几乎没有植物但相对无盐的环境可能会受到快速径流和新的河流特征，如风扇和泥石流的产生。最近的降雨是一个难得的机会，建立在早期的调查和发展知识的不同景观的反应，当地的特殊事件。

ABSTRACT A non-technical description explaining the broader significance of the projectExtreme rainfall events are significant shapers of landscapes in arid regions. However, the processes of flood generation and the relative importance of various landscape components in producing and conducting the water flow is relatively unknown. This RAPID project provides a rare opportunity to use previously-collected data together with new observations and remote-sensing information to examine the response of different types of arid landscape features to sudden, heavy rainfall. Knowledge of landscape response to these extreme events will aid in planning for communities in these regions, since flash flooding is a common result and the source of the water is often unpredictable. The project involves collaboration with Chilean scientists. The results will go beyond the immediate are of the Atacama Desert that is the site of the investigation and encompasses the semi-arid regions of the US and other parts of the world. A technical description of the projectThis RAPID project will use previous research along a transect of the Atacama Desert to test the hypothesis that as the imprint of chronic hyper-aridity increases on the landscape due to the accumulation of salt and dust, the landscape becomes more resistant to runoff and overland flow from rainfall. Conversely, the nearly plant-less but relatively salt-free environments at the desert margin may be subject to rapid runoff and the generation of new fluvial features such as fans and mudflows. The recent rainfall is a rare opportunity to build on earlier investigations and to develop knowledge of the different landscape responses to a locally extraordinary event.