Atacama virtual: English
www.geovirtual2.clMuseo Virtual, Chile
W. Griem, 2006 - 2021
Photo W. Griem (1997): Rain in the Atacama Desert: Running water on the slopes of the Copiapó hills, Atacama Region in 1997. R1997-dig2005; Large photo
Information Photo:
Camera Ricoh KR-10x | Focal length:
s/i | Shutter speed: s/i
Original size: 35mm | Date: 1997
Photo: Paipote Ravine with the International Road in the Atacama Desert
after heavy rainfall in 2011.
Photo W. Griem (2011)
Ca50D 7419 -
large photo
Information Photo:
Camera Canon 50D | Lens: 18-200mm | Focal length: 60mm | Shutter speed: 1:200 | ISO100
F: f/13 | Original size: 4752 x 3168 | Date: 2011/07/9/14:30hrs.
Sometimes it rains (see
more) in the desert. It is rare, but in some years heavy rains occur
during the winter months. The lack of a permanent hydrographic drainage
network means that water is searched for any way down. An average of 12
to 16 mm of annual precipitation is generally mentioned (climate
history timeline). This figure does not reflect reality, there are years,
almost dry decades and rainfall accumulates in one event, with
impressive amounts - but statistically reduced to 12 mm per year.
In some years the amount of water is enough that the
desert blooms. In places without vegetation, flowers and plants
appear in large numbers.
The heavy rains of March 2015 flooded large parts of the Copiapo Valley.
The devastations caused by the mud flows were such that after 2 years
the following are still clearly visible. (Here more:
2015-25M)
Information:
Some particularities of the Atacama Desert:
a) Low rainfall, average 12 mm / year
b) Extremely heavy, sporadic rainfall (such as in 1997)
c) Very high rate of evaporation and sublimation.
d) Soil hydrophobia produces little water penetration into the soil.
e) Lack of vegetation increases erosion.
f) Strong inclination of the tributaries produce very fast runs to the
sea.
g) Low maturity of basins and tributaries - very short distances between
feeding area and mouth produce strong variations in flow rates..
Places of interest
Information about Atacama
Atacama
Travel instructions
Behavior in the desert
Specific terms
The Andes mountains (I)
The Andes mountains (II)
Atacama desert (1)
Atacama desert (2)
►
Rains in the Atacama desert
Lluvia en Atacama
Lluvia 1997 en Atacama (3)
2015-25M (1)
2015-25M (2)
Datos
cronológicos
Análisis
Flowering desert (1)
Flowering desert (2)
Flowering desert (3)
Snow in the Atacama desert (1)
Snow in the Atacama desert (2)
Las Dunas
de Atacama
Tourist
information
Atacama
Travel instructions
Behavior in the desert
Specific terms
The Andes mountains
Atacama desert
Atacama landscape
The Atacama desert
Flowering desert
Beaches of Atacama
Las Dunas
de Atacama
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