Multi-parameter study of Aculeo lagoon (Chile)

Abstract. The Aculeo Lagoon, located in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, was one of the main water reservoirs of central Chile. It has experienced a decline in water levels since 2009 and completely dried up in 2018. It was unable to recover until 2023 due to sustained demand for water resources associated with population growth, changes in land use, and years of drought. The objective of this study is to estimate how anthropogenic factors and climate change have influenced the drying of the lagoon. Parameters considered include population growth, housing increases, changes in land use within the Aculeo basin, local temperature and precipitation variations, and global El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena. Input data included multi-year Landsat images, census data, and a systematic review of the literature on the study area. Furthermore, applying geospatial data analysis techniques such as satellite image processing, supervised classification of land cover/use, and calculation of spectral indices, it is possible to conclude that the Aculeo Lagoon dried out due to a significant precipitation deficit over nearly a decade, exacerbated by the overexploitation of land for agricultural activities.