Impact of climate change on the sustainability of water resources in Santa Ana department

Abstract

In this research are established tendency patterns in order to identify the impact of the climate change on the water resources in the department of Santa Ana, aiming to suggest actions for adapting to it, through of analysis of meteorological variables such as precipitations and temperature. Historical data of the studied variables were obtained from the National Service of Territorial Studies (NSTS)1, dependency of the Ministry of Natural Environment and Natural Resources of El Salvador. Data was analyzed with the program Statgraphics, using the descriptive statistic of every variable and by meteorological stations. From this study we can infer likely impacts on water resources, through the hydric cycle of which precipitations are part.

The obtained results show that, regarding temperature tendencies, there is not an increase. If the analysis is made considering only the raining season in Santa Ana between 1980 and 2011, it is shown an increase of 0.05 ºC. In reference of precipitations, they increase 25.7mm. Data doesn’t show a substantial increment concerning the two variables, but it shows a strong inconsistency with historical events as 12-E storm in 2011.

Producción Agropecuaria y Desarrollo Sostenible, Vol. 2, 2014: 85-98