Search

In the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, the persistent absence of water preserves the record of environmental change, making it an invaluable proxy for studying the evolution of life on Earth. Due to the scarcity of in situ measurements and difficulties in satellite remote sensing, information on precipitation characteristics is limited even for the present climate. Guided by a case study of extreme precipitation in late January 2019, we derive a conceptual framework to explain how moisture transport combined with the diurnal circulation produces rainfall. We found a synoptic‐scale weather pattern that we named "moist northerlies" (MNs) based on surface observations, reanalysis, and high‐resolution simulation. During an MN event, moisture transport from the tropical Pacific is observed in the lower free‐troposphere in the forefront of an 850 hPa low‐pressure offshore Atacama. The diurnal circulation along the western Andean slope transports the moist free tropospheric air above the marine boundary layer inland, triggering clouds and storms. A trough over the southeast Pacific and a southward displaced Bolivian High seem to drive the MNs dynamically. Long‐term observations (1960–2020) show that most of the rainy days in the hyperarid core (75%) are triggered by MNs, occurring more frequently during neutral/La Niña conditions and phases 7‐8‐1 of the Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO). A trend analysis (1991–2020) reveals that summer water vapor along the west coast of South America has increased rapidly due to the MNs, enhancing summer rainfall in Atacama. The implications of climate change and other climate variability modes are discussed. Plain Language Summary: The Atacama Desert, known as one of the driest places on Earth, holds vital information about how life has evolved in an extremely dry environment. Despite the dryness, rainfall is observed with some recurrence without being completely understood. This study focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind summer rain in the driest part of the Atacama Desert. We started investigating a specific extreme rainfall event in January 2019, discovering a weather pattern called "moist northerlies" (MNs) that transport moisture hundreds and thousands of kilometers from the tropical Pacific to the desert. The moisture is transported inland during the day, triggering rain in the Atacama. Over several decades, we found that MNs cause most rainy days in the desert. These MN events seem to be influenced by larger weather patterns such as the El Niño–Southern oscillation and the Madden‐Julian oscillation. Additionally, a rapid increase in humidity has been observed along the west coast of South America in recent decades, leading to more summer rainfall in the Atacama and greening in the Andean Precordillera. This study also discusses how anthropogenic global warming and natural climate variability might affect the MNs. Key Points: Summer moisture transport, named moist northerlies (MNs), brings free troposphere humidity from the tropical Pacific to the Atacama75% of austral summer rainfall days in the hyperarid core of the Atacama result from MNsThe Hadley cell expansion and the poleward shift of the Bolivian High are likely driving an increase of the MN frequency in recent decades [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ongoing climate change has had severe impacts on biota worldwide, including plants and especially those with narrow ecological niches that have adapted to extreme environments for several hundred thousand of years. Several members of the genus Tillandsia are known for their ability to live at the dry limits of life in the Atacama Desert and have potential as bioindicators for climate change at the Pacific Ocean and adjacent ecosystems. However, genomic information on these plants is scarce. In this study, five complete plastid genomes of two Tillandsia species were de novo assembled at very high quality using DNA sequence data from a combination of next-generation short-read and Sanger sequencing. The newly assembled and fully annotated plastid genomes had an average length of 156,319 base-pairs with the typical highly conserved quadripartite circular structures. Gene order and content were highly conserved, with the exception of the variable gene ycf1. The newly assembled plastid genomes were placed into a broader phylogenetic context to check the quality of sequence data obtained from past approaches relying on reference-based assemblies. It is shown that earlier presented Tillandsia plastomes are either not of sufficient quality or lack any metadata. The herein presented reference plastomes will guide future research to study parallel and convergent evolution in a reliable evolutionary framework and will allow the use of plastome data with little genetic variation for population genomics studies in species such as Tillandisa landbeckii with prevailing clonal propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores three novels by Chilean author Hernán Rivera Letelier-La Reina Isabel cantaba rancheras (1994), Los trenes se van al purgatorio (2000), and Santa María de las flores negras (2002)-and how they document the metaphorical fault lines of a national imaginary that celebrates the idea of Chilean republicanism, modernity, and progress from the point of view of those involved in the nitrate mining industry in northern Chile. I review the spatial representations of the novels within a framework of the promises of modernity that prove at best elusive, and at worst genocidal, to the proletariat. I argue that these narratives offer an alternative to official history, which celebrates the country’s progress and order under republicanism while silencing the tragedies, and the joys, of the inhabitants of the mines-from the War of the Pacific (1879-1893) through the Chilean military dictatorship (1973-1989). These novels actualize a history that government officials throughout the years attempted to erase and connect it to the reality of a country historically characterized by one of the largest socioeconomic inequalities in the continent. The miners, in this way, remind readers, in narratives marked by a weary nostalgia, that they have witnessed the changes brought about by a century of mining. In the process, they allow for a reassessment of the history of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The genus Elasmoderus is a group of the orthopteran family Tristiridae distributed across the transitional region of South America, Andean areas of Peru, Argentina, and Chile, the low-altitude desert and semidesert territories of Chile, and the steppe areas of the Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia. This genus is endemic to the extreme arid environments of north-central Chile and is famous for its adaptations to such habitats. Based on original and published data, we characterize the geographical distribution and discuss the history and ecology of this genus. Within this genus, Elasmoderus lutescens is the most widely distributed species, mainly in coastal and interior environments, followed by E. minutus, a small-sized species with a more restricted distribution range that is currently categorized as Vulnerable in Chile. Another relevant species is Elasmoderus wagenknechti, which is concentrated in coastal and interior environments of the Coquimbo region, where it can be very abundant. This species is economically significant and can damage crops and natural vegetation. Our findings highlight the importance of researching native insects to understand the role they play in semiarid ecosystems and to develop a basis for conducting long-term studies in northern Chile. The genus Elasmoderus belongs to the family Tristiridae, an orthopteran group that is distributed across the transitional region of South America and represented in the Andean areas of Peru, Argentina, and Chile. The species of Elasmoderus have morphological adaptations that make them especially suited for surviving in extreme arid environments and are an endemic and eremic group of the north-central region of Chile. On the basis of field samplings, direct observations, and a comprehensive literature review, we collected information about the genus Elasmoderus. The objectives of this research were: (i) to provide updated information on the geographical distribution range of the species of the genus Elasmoderus, and (ii) to collect and synthesize the most relevant information on the natural history and ecology of this orthopteran group as a basis for future long-term studies of its populations. Although this genus is underrepresented compared to other orthopteran families, it has developed interesting adaptations to extreme arid environments that remain unstudied to this date. E. lutescens is known to be one of the species with a wider latitudinal distribution, mostly on the coast and longitudinal valley of Atacama. E. minutus has a more restricted distribution, whereas E. wagenknechti is concentrated in coastal and interior environments of the Coquimbo region, an area where it reaches high population densities, thus affecting crops and natural vegetation and polluting water sources. Our findings underscore the importance of conducting comprehensive research on native insect groups that are poorly known but crucial for arid and semiarid ecosystems. These data will serve as a starting point for conducting long-term studies on this orthopteran group to gain a better understanding of the importance and role of these species in the semiarid ecosystems of northern Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The type locality of Liolaemus rosenmanni is corrected, a high Andean lizard from the Atacama Region, northern Chile, which was originally given at less than 2,000 m asl, in “Pastos Largos, Chimberos”. A mistake, originated by a name coincidence regarding the place-name “Chimberos”. The true locality is located more than 3,500 m in the high mountain range, in the area of a mine of the same name, located between the Pedernales and Maricunga salt flats, Atacama Region. In addition, new data on the type specimens is provided, and the records and geographical distribution of the species are reviewed. Its southern distribution limit is established in the Los Helados sector, Tierra Amarilla commune, about 140 km southeast of the city of Copiapó. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Portezuelo de Pajas Blancas' primary metasomatic deposits host sapphires that differ in size, colour, and colour distribution through different lithological units. The discovery of sapphire-bearing secondary aeolian placer deposits enabled a detailed analysis of sapphire types to determine the causes of this heterogeneity. Representative single sapphires from the primary and secondary deposits were analysed using various techniques, including SEM-CL, OM-CL, Micro-XRF, Raman spectroscopy, and polarised transmitted light multi-focus optical microscopy. Based on the results, seven sapphire types were identified according to their colours and colour distribution. Fe and Ti concentrations mainly contribute to the colour and micro-textures occurrence. The primary growth textures include cores, progressive, oscillatory, and diffusion zoning, whereas the secondary alteration features correspond to micro-brecciation, re-arrangement, and overgrowth. Inclusions such as euhedral andalusite, anhedral anhydrite, and anhedral rutile were identified in the sapphires. The formation of Portezuelo de Pajas Blancas sapphires can be divided into five genetic stages: (i) core growth development; (ii) chemical imbalance due to open system behaviour that produces progressive and oscillatory zoning; (iii) low-temperature deformations that produce micro-brecciation; (iv) re-arrangement of pre-formed sapphire fragments and subsequent sapphire overgrowth; (v) diffusion zoning that produce Fe- and Ti-enriched outer rims. In conclusion, the Portezuelo de Pajas Blancas' sapphires were formed through at least five stages of oxidised contact metasomatism at varying temperatures and low pressures, where a heterogeneous forming condition predominates during sapphire formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blooming desert or 'El desierto florido' in Spanish, is a millenarian climate pattern caused by El Niño that warms the surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and creates the conditions for rain in the Altiplano and the Atacama Desert, north of Chile. After some millimeters of abundant rain, a rich biotic community emerges, and in a matter of hours or days, the driest surface on Earth becomes an impressive colorful habitat for more than two hundred different species of eye-catching flowers that host the desert biotic life. Unfortunately, this breathtaking display of colors coexists with less appealing but equally astonishing landscapes. The Atacama Desert harbors the largest accumulation of discarded clothing worldwide and the largest pools of lithium mining which require vast amounts of water for their production. Every year, approximately 56,000 tons of used clothing, predominantly consisting of fast fashion polyester products, water-intensive cotton fabrics, and equally polluting material scraps, are deposited, forming toxic mountains of waste. This article presents an interpretation of these distinct landscapes as interconnected realities of the dump that illustrate the impact of biocultural semiocides, whereby the loss of relationships and meanings with Earth materials is shaped by glocal forces. By making this argument, the article contends that the Atacama region replicates the conditions of the Earth as a global dumping and solastalgia, namely 'the pain caused by the loss of solace and the sense of desolation connected to one´s home and territory.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argemone crassifolia G.B.Ownbey es una especie de interés para la conservación de la flora de Chile, ya que es conocida solamente porsu ejemplar tipo coleccionado en la Región de Atacama en 1925. Después de casi un siglo de su descubrimiento y ante la ausencia decolecciones actuales, fue clasificada como “extinta” por el ministerio de Medio Ambiente de Chile. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo obtener elregistro de dicha especie a partir de búsquedas en la localidad donde I. M. Johnston recolectó el ejemplar tipo, la quebrada Cañas en laprovincia de Copiapó. Para ello se debió localizar el sitio a partir del estudio de la toponimia de localidades actuales en bases de datos.Como resultado se reporta el registro de la especie en una quebrada aledaña a la quebrada Cañas, al interior de la provincia referida. Con lainformación obtenida a partir de dicho registro, se complementa la descripción original, se indican detalles sobre su ecología y se propone una nueva categoría de conservación. Finalmente, se discuten las posibles implicancias sistemáticas y de conservación de este descubrimiento.

In this study, we describe Nakazawaea atacamensis f. a., sp. nov., a novel species obtained from Neltuma chilensis plant samples in Chile's hyperarid Atacama Desert. In total, three strains of N. atacamensis were obtained from independent N. chilensis samples (synonym Prosopis chilensis, Algarrobo). Two strains were obtained from bark samples, while the third strain was obtained from bark‐exuded gum from another tree. The novel species was defined using molecular characteristics and subsequently characterized with respect to morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties. A neighbor‐joining analysis using the sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene revealed that N. atacamensis clustered with Nakazawaea pomicola. The sequence of N. atacamensis differed from closely related species by 1.3%–5.2% in the D1/D2 domains. A phylogenomic analysis based on single‐nucleotide polymorphism's data confirms that the novel species belongs to the genus Nakazawaea, where N. atacamensis clustered with N. peltata. Phenotypic comparisons demonstrated that N. atacamensis exhibited distinct carbon assimilation patterns compared to its related species. Genome sequencing of the strain ATA‐11A‐BT revealed a genome size of approximately 12.4 Mbp, similar to other Nakazawaea species, with 5116 protein‐coding genes annotated using InterProScan. In addition, N. atacamensis exhibited the capacity to ferment synthetic wine must, representing a potential new yeast for mono or co‐culture wine fermentations. This comprehensive study expands our understanding of the genus Nakazawaea and highlights the ecological and industrial potential of N. atacamensis in fermentation processes. The holotype of N. atacamensis sp. nov. is CBS 18375T. The Mycobank number is MB 849680. Take‐away: A novel species, Nakazawaea atacamensis sp. nov., was isolated from Neltuma chilensis (Algarrobo) samples in the Atacama Desert of Chile.The sequence of N. atacamensis differs from closely related species by 1.3%–5.2% in the D1/D2 domains.N. atacamensis exhibited the capacity to ferment synthetic wine must, suggesting its potential for wine fermentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rio Loa is a perennial river that crosses the Atacama Desert. A basin-wide survey enables for the first time, the hydrologic regime origin, persistence and processes to be identified. Perennial baseflow in the Rios Loa and Salado largely originates from intra-arc aquifers which are poorly known. However, the data indicate that despite flood flow being largely confined to the summer (DJF) season, sufficient storage exists in these aquifers to maintain year-round stream flow from high-altitude, across the Atacama Desert to the coast. The intra-arc aquifers of the Western Cordillera receive recharge from time-variable precipitation infiltration and time-invariant lithospheric inputs. Lithospheric inputs potentially include slab/mantle dehydration, upper crustal melt devolatilization and/or thermally induced upflow of deeply penetrating meteoric water through buried evaporites or carbonates. Downstream, aquifers in the Pre-Andean basins variably interact with surface water, depending on location, river stage and time of year, but they do not supply significant additional sources of baseflow. Hydrochemical processes include those related to volcanic activity, soil carbonate generation, silicate weathering, CO2 degassing and calcite precipitation. Solutes undergo concentration by evaporation, gypsum dissolution, and are further affected by localized NO3, and SO4 inputs and mixing with saline waters. Stable isotopes reveal subcatchment specific precipitation and evaporation, whilst carbon and tritium isotopes are used to analyze recharge sources and processes in the intra-arc aquifers and downstream mixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Elasmoderus belongs to the family Tristiridae, an orthopteran group that is distributed across the transitional region of South America and represented in the Andean areas of Peru, Argentina, and Chile. The species of Elasmoderus have morphological adaptations that make them especially suited for surviving in extreme arid environments and are an endemic and eremic group of the north-central region of Chile. On the basis of field samplings, direct observations, and a comprehensive literature review, we collected information about the genus Elasmoderus. The objectives of this research were: (i) to provide updated information on the geographical distribution range of the species of the genus Elasmoderus, and (ii) to collect and synthesize the most relevant information on the natural history and ecology of this orthopteran group as a basis for future long-term studies of its populations. Although this genus is underrepresented compared to other orthopteran families, it has developed interesting adaptations to extreme arid environments that remain unstudied to this date. E. lutescens is known to be one of the species with a wider latitudinal distribution, mostly on the coast and longitudinal valley of Atacama. E. minutus has a more restricted distribution, whereas E. wagenknechti is concentrated in coastal and interior environments of the Coquimbo region, an area where it reaches high population densities, thus affecting crops and natural vegetation and polluting water sources. Our findings underscore the importance of conducting comprehensive research on native insect groups that are poorly known but crucial for arid and semiarid ecosystems. These data will serve as a starting point for conducting long-term studies on this orthopteran group to gain a better understanding of the importance and role of these species in the semiarid ecosystems of northern Chile.

Studying the bedrock geometry in mining and oil exploration operations to obtain its 2D pattern requires nonlinear reverse computations. Local optimization methods for solving nonlinear inverse problems are based on linearizing the changes of the model similar to a primary model and finding an objective function of minimum error from the parameters of the model; however, these optimization methods are not able to select a suitable primary function that is close enough to the general optimal value. That is to say, every objective function can have several minimum and maximum solutions. The lowest minimum is called the global minimum while the rest of them are named local minima. Therefore, in local inverse methods, the goal is to find the minimum of an objective function, and also an objective function might have a few local minima with different values. In this case, it is not suitable to use gradient-based methods for exploration purposes, unless the primary model is very close to the actual answer, which is outside the control of geological structures or the geometry of the subsurface. Despite the easy execution and high convergence rate of the local methods, there is the possibility of being trapped in local minima because these methods are dependent on the primary model, and also finding more than one optimized point in 2D or 3D simulations; this is why local optimization methods are considered deterministic algorithms. Multi-objective metaheuristic optimization algorithms are capable of searching the feasible region and they also provide a solution independent of the primary model. Searching the feasible region means finding all the feasible solutions for a problem. Each point in this region is representing a solution that can be ranked based on its value. One of the important differences between local optimization and metaheuristic methods is constraining. Constraining metaheuristic global optimization methods are only used for constraining the feasible region based on previous knowledge or estimation relations, which is different from constraining local optimization that is used for stabilizing inverse simulation. The algorithm used in the present work includes nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). The NSGA-II is commonly used to solve problems with multiple, typically conflicting objective functions. This algorithm is capable of being developed and also has a high potential for solving unbounded multi-objective problems. In the present study, NSGA-II algorithm was verified and validated using the data produced by an imaginary and complex synthetic model. In the present research work, a hybrid technique of NSGA-II and TOPSIS algorithms was introduced and utilized as a viable search method for nonlinear modeling of the gravity data, and a substitute for the optimization methods. In order for a more precise examination of the performance of this algorithm, the imaginary synthetic data were used both with no noise and with up to 10% Gaussian white noise (GWN). Based on the gravimetric data of the Moghan basin and Atacama Desert, Chile, the results obtained from algorithm indicated good performance of the NSGA-II and NSGAII-TOPSIS algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La presente investigación versa sobre los poemarios Los versos de la madera (2004) y Ritos de Jaima (2012) del escritor saharaui Limam Boisha y el documental Nostalgia de la luz (2010) del chileno Patricio Guzmán. Argumento que ambos autores elaboran una poética del desierto como reducto de la memoria íntima, familiar y nacional. Se privilegia un análisis posthumanista del desierto con el propósito de esbozar su función en la transmisión transgeneracional de la memoria. Metodológicamente, el ensayo responde a la interrogante: ¿Pueden estas poéticas del desierto servir para la revisión de los marcos geográficos tradicionales en la crítica hispanófona global? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Atacama desert stands as the most arid, non-polar, region on Earth and has accommodated a considerable portion of the world's ground-based astronomical observatories for an extended period. The comprehension of factors important for observational conditions in this region, and the potential alterations induced by the escalating impact of climate change, are, therefore, of the utmost significance. In this study, we conduct an analysis of the surface-level air temperature, water vapour density, and astronomical seeing at the European Southern Observatory (commonly known by its acronym, ESO) telescope sites in northern Chile. Our findings reveal a discernible rise in temperature across all sites during the last decade. Moreover, we establish a correlation between the air temperature and water vapour density with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases, wherein, the warm anomaly known as El Niño (EN) corresponds to drier observing conditions, coupled with higher maximum daily temperatures favouring more challenging near-infrared observations. The outcomes of this investigation have potential implications for the enhancement of the long-term scheduling of observations at telescope sites in northern Chile, thereby aiding in better planning and allocation of resources for the astronomy community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ameryka Łacińska Kwartalnik Analityczno-Informacyjny is the property of University of Warsaw and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

South American drylands roughly form two diagonals both termed in the biogeographical literature as the "South American dry diagonal" (SADD). However, they correspond to two different geographical areas. One comprises the Caatinga, Cerrado and Chaco domains, thus encompassing the areas between northeastern Brazil and northwestern Argentina. The other stretches from Patagonia in southern Argentina to the Pacific deserts of northern Chile and Peru, thus also including the Monte, Prepuna and dry Puna domains. I termed them the eastern and western SADDs, respectively (i.e., eSADD and wSADD). In this mini review I attempt to summarize the major climatic features of the two South American dry diagonals, their possible origins, biogeographical patterns within and around them and to explore possible interconnections. The eSADD is generally more humid than the wSADD and has more pronounced rainfall seasonality, with precipitation concentrated in summer, while the wSADD tends to be less seasonal due to year-round aridity, with little precipitation largely occurring in winter. The origin of both diagonals appears to go back to the middle Miocene, associated with global cooling. Biogeographical studies show that these diagonals are important in structuring South American distribution patterns south of the Equator, both acting as barriers for humid-adapted lineages and corridors for arid-adapted taxa. Remarkably, the two diagonals appear to have few plant and animal taxa in common, which may explain why biogeographers speaking about one diagonal seem to ignore the existence of the other.

El terremoto de Atacama del 11 de noviembre de 1922 (Mw 8,5 – 8,6) es el segundo mayor terremoto ocurrido en Chile en el siglo XX. En este trabajo revisamos los depósitos asociados a este evento tsunamigénico y presentamos nuevas evidencias de su registro en la costa del desierto de Atacama. Las evidencias geológicas aparecen de manera muy puntual y heterogénea debido a la escasez de contextos ambientales adecuados para su conservación, destacando el buen potencial de preservación de los campos de bloques en zonas acantiladas. Es probable que grandes eventos tsunamigénicos ocurridos durante el Presente Interglaciar en costas áridas, como la del desierto de Atacama, hayan pasado desapercibidos hasta la fecha, siendo necesarios estudios multidisciplinares y enfocados a escenarios muy concretos para su correcta identificación y análisis.

The Río Loa is a perennial river that crosses the Atacama Desert. A basin-wide survey enables for the first time, the hydrologic regime origin, persistence and processes to be identified. Perennial baseflow in the Ríos Loa and Salado largely originates from intra-arc aquifers which are poorly known. However, the data indicate that despite flood flow being largely confined to the summer (DJF) season, sufficient storage exists in these aquifers to maintain year-round stream flow from high-altitude, across the Atacama Desert to the coast. The intra-arc aquifers of the Western Cordillera receive recharge from time-variable precipitation infiltration and time-invariant lithospheric inputs. Lithospheric inputs potentially include slab/mantle dehydration, upper crustal melt devolatilization and/or thermally induced upflow of deeply penetrating meteoric water through buried evaporites or carbonates. Downstream, aquifers in the Pre-Andean basins variably interact with surface water, depending on location, river stage and time of year, but they do not supply significant additional sources of baseflow. Hydrochemical processes include those related to volcanic activity, soil carbonate generation, silicate weathering, CO2 degassing and calcite precipitation. Solutes undergo concentration by evaporation, gypsum dissolution, and are further affected by localized NO3, and SO4 inputs and mixing with saline waters. Stable isotopes reveal subcatchment specific precipitation and evaporation, whilst carbon and tritium isotopes are used to analyze recharge sources and processes in the intra-arc aquifers and downstream mixing.

Es común encontrar en fuentes administrativas estatales y en observaciones de época de viajeros la idea de que la sociedad indígena atacameña del siglo XIX era "arriera". Esta aseveración ha teñido, en parte, la forma en que hoy seguimos caracterizando a este actor social durante el período boliviano de Atacama. Si bien es cierto que la arriería y la agricultura de forrajes experimentaron por entonces un auge vinculado al proyecto nacional de activación económica, en este artículo buscamos problematizar qué tanto la población en general y la indígena en particular se volcó al arrieraje como resultado de la redefinición y expansión de los circuitos comerciales transfronterizos republicanos. Con el objeto de responder este interrogante, proponemos un enfoque que considera al conjunto de actores de la economía, suma nuevas hipótesis y categorías conceptuales y utiliza evidencia documental inédita.

This article is a synthesis of research on the rock art of El Médano with particular emphasis on the identification of marine animals, as well as the technologies and strategies for hunting with rafts and harpoons, represented in the paintings. The information from the rock art is complemented by bone and hide remains of marine mammals recovered from archaeological sites in the region from similar periods to those of the rock art. The aim is to understand the relationship between humans and marine mammals in the pre-Columbian past of the Atacama Desert coast.

Copyright of Estudios Atacameños is the property of Estudios Atacamenos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During the Formative period by the Late-Holocene (ca. 3000–1500 BP), semi-sedentary and sedentary human occupations had emerged in the oases, salares, and riverine systems in the central depression (2400–1000 masl) of the Atacama Desert, northern Chile (19–25°S). This hyperarid core was marginally occupied during the post-Pleistocene and middle Holocene droughts. Settlement on these lower belts was accompanied by a rise in humidity, the introduction of Andean crops, flourishment of Prosopis spp. (algarrobo) forests, and increasing integration of domestic camelid caravans. Here, we explore lowland husbandry within risk-spreading strategies, focusing on silvopastoralism and endozoochory between camelids and algarrobos. Analysis of camelid coprolites from seven archeological sites located in the Pampa del Tamarugal, Loa River, and Salar de Atacama found intense grinding from camelid chewing and indicated a ruminal digestive system. Abundant macro and microremains in the form of tissues, phytoliths, crystals, cell structures, and others, were identified as Prosopis, Atriplex, Schoenoplectus, Distichlis, and Phragmites. We conclude that camelids were foraging for Prosopis, although the rather low number of entire seeds preserved in the coprolites leads us to think that these herbivores might not have been the main vectors for the spread and germination of algarrobos. More samples and interdisciplinary studies are needed to comprehend the complex socioecological web in the shaping of these forests and the management of the Atacama Desert landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report for the first time the presence of local populations of the starfish Odontaster penicillatus in the regions of Atacama and Antofagasta, Chile. This finding indicates an extension of the distribution limit of 500 km with respect to the last observation made in 2007 in Isla Grande de Atacama. A total of 121 specimens of O. penicillatus were recorded at depths of between 8 m and 24 m. They were associated with rocky substrate and with different species of barnacles, sponges and bryozoans. The presence of O. penicillatus expands the knowledge of the benthic biodiversity of the region, and the development of studies on its ecological importance will be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert is an extremely harsh environment thought to be colonized by only a few heterotrophic bacterial species. Current concepts for understanding this extreme ecosystem are mainly based on the diversity of these few species, yet a substantial area of the Atacama Desert hyperarid topsoil is covered by expansive boulder accumulations, whose underlying microbiomes have not been investigated so far. With the hypothesis that these sheltered soils harbor uniquely adapted microbiomes, we compared metagenomes and geochemistry between soils below and beside boulders across three distantly located boulder accumulations in the Atacama Desert hyperarid core. Results Genome-resolved metagenomics of eleven samples revealed substantially different microbial communities in soils below and beside boulders, despite the presence of shared species. Archaea were found in significantly higher relative abundance below the boulders across all samples within distances of up to 205 km. These key taxa belong to a novel genus of ammonia-oxidizing Thaumarchaeota, Candidatus Nitrosodeserticola. We resolved eight mid-to-high quality genomes of this genus and used comparative genomics to analyze its pangenome and site-specific adaptations. Ca. Nitrosodeserticola genomes contain genes for ammonia oxidation, the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate carbon fixation pathway, and acetate utilization indicating a chemolithoautotrophic and mixotrophic lifestyle. They also possess the capacity for tolerating extreme environmental conditions as highlighted by the presence of genes against oxidative stress and DNA damage. Site-specific adaptations of the genomes included the presence of additional genes for heavy metal transporters, multiple types of ATP synthases, and divergent genes for aquaporins. Conclusion We provide the first genomic characterization of hyperarid soil microbiomes below the boulders in the Atacama Desert, and report abundant and highly adapted Thaumarchaeaota with ammonia oxidation and carbon fixation potential. Ca. Nitrosodeserticola genomes provide the first metabolic and physiological insight into a thaumarchaeal lineage found in globally distributed terrestrial habitats characterized by various environmental stresses. We consequently expand not only the known genetic repertoire of Thaumarchaeota but also the diversity and microbiome functioning in hyperarid ecosystems. Video Abstract

Exposición presentada por el profesor de Derecho Marítimo, don Renato Pezoa Huerta, en el marco del Congreso Anual Argentino del Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Marítimo “Transporte Multimodal y Corredor Bioceánico”, organizado por el Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Marítimo; Universidad Nacional de La Rioja; Escuela de Abogadas y Abogados del Estado Gobierno de La Rioja. Argentina, 03 de octubre del año 2022.

The grit crust is a recently discovered, novel type of biocrust made of prokaryotic cyanobacteria, eukaryotic green algae, fungi, lichens and other microbes that grow around and within granitoid stone pebbles of about 6 mm diameter in the Coastal Range of the Atacama Desert, Chile. The microbial community is very well adapted towards the extreme conditions of the Atacama Desert, such as the highest irradiation of the planet, strong temperature amplitudes and steep wet-dry cycles. It also has several other striking features making this biocrust unique compared to biocrusts known from other arid biomes on Earth. It has already been shown that the grit crust mediates various bio-weathering activities in its natural habitat. These activities prime soil for higher organisms in a way that can be envisioned as a proxy for general processes shaping even extra-terrestrial landscapes. This mini-review highlights the potential of the grit crust as a model for astrobiology in terms of extra-terrestrial microbial colonization and biotechnological applications that support human colonization of planets.

Indigenous communities from northern Chile have historically been exposed to the impacts of massive copper industrial activities conducted in the region. Some of the communities belonging to the Alto El Loa Indigenous Development Area are located less than 10 km from the “Talabre'' tailings dam, which contains residues from copper production and other metals that can be toxic to human health (e.g., As, Sb, Cd, Mo, Pb). Given the increasing demand of copper production to achieve net-zero emission scenarios and concomitant expansions of the tailings, the exposure to toxic metals is a latent risk to local communities. Despite the impact that copper production could generate on ancestral communities from northern Chile, studies and monitoring are limited and the results are often not made accessible for local communities. Here, we evaluate such risks by characterizing metal concentrations in dust collected from roofs and windows of houses from the Alto El Loa area. Our results showed that As, Sb, Cd, Cu, Mo, Ag, S, and Pb concentrations in these matrices can be connected to local copper mining activities. Additionally, air transport models indicate that high concentrations of toxic elements (As, Sb, and Cd) can be explained by the atmospheric transport of particles from the tailings in a NE direction up to 50 km away. Pollution indices and Health Risk Assessment suggested a highly contaminated region with a health risk for its inhabitants. Our analysis on a local scale seeks to make visible the case of northern Chile as a critical territory where actions should be taken to mitigate the effects of mining in the face of this new scenario of international demand for the raw materials necessary for the transition to a net-zero carbon global society.

The Atacama desert stands as the most arid, non-polar, region on Earth and has accommodated a considerable portion of the world’s ground-based astronomical observatories for an extended period. The comprehension of factors important for observational conditions in this region, and the potential alterations induced by the escalating impact of climate change, are, therefore, of the utmost significance. In this study, we conduct an analysis of the surface-level air temperature, water vapour density, and astronomical seeing at the European Southern Observatory (commonly known by its acronym, ESO) telescope sites in northern Chile. Our findings reveal a discernible rise in temperature across all sites during the last decade. Moreover, we establish a correlation between the air temperature and water vapour density with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases, wherein, the warm anomaly known as El Niño (EN) corresponds to drier observing conditions, coupled with higher maximum daily temperatures favouring more challenging near-infrared observations. The outcomes of this investigation have potential implications for the enhancement of the long-term scheduling of observations at telescope sites in northern Chile, thereby aiding in better planning and allocation of resources for the astronomy community.

El uso intensivo de energía solar a través de pozas de evaporación para la cristalización fraccionaria de sales ya era investigada en 1933, pero fue en 1948 cuando comenzó su etapa industrial. La cosecha de sales de Magnesio y Potasio fue el punto de partida en la contribución a la revolución verde. Los archivos de la Compañía de Salitres Anglo Lautaro establecen los nexos del negocio entre el Desierto de Atacama y el mundo. El recorrido analítico utiliza una aproximación transfronteriza desde la historia eco-económica de Julia Thomas y evidencia los mitos acerca de la relación entre Energía y Civilización, lo que nos permite mirar las sales del desierto en su condición de hiperobjeto en las escalas intersectadas del antropoceno. Ratificamos así que las tesis de la innovación de David Edgerton ayudan a precisar los factores culturales que intervienen en los procesos co-evolutivos de la tecnología según Basalla y que no siempre la técnica elegida es la más conveniente.

• The soils of the Atacama Desert harbor substantial quantities of gypsum. • Most gypsum formed from waters that did not undergo significant evaporation. • Hydration of anhydrous/hemihydrate Ca-SO 4 resulted in gypsum formation. • Soil gypsum recrystallized later due to dew and sporadic rainfall events. The soils in the hyper-arid core of the Atacama Desert (Chile) harbor substantial quantities of soluble salts, including sulfates and nitrates. Gypsum (CaSO₄∙2H₂O) is a prevalent mineral in the Atacama region. It manifests as ∼10-cm-thick surface crusts exhibiting a spatial pattern resembling polygons, in mixtures with other minerals beneath the surface (<3 m deep) or growing in brine ponds of salars. We examine the triple oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes (δ17O, δ18O and δD) of structurally-bonded gypsum hydration water (GHW) from Atacama gypsum deposits to investigate their formation mechanisms. We observed considerably positive Δ17O anomalies (Δ17O > 1 ‰) in GHW of samples containing substantial amounts of nitrate (generally soil horizons 0.5–2 m deep). This is interpreted as resulting from oxygen isotope exchange between soil nitrate (Δ17O > 15 ‰) and GHW (Δ17O ∼ 0 ‰), either occurring in-situ within the soils due to bacterial activity, or more likely, during cryogenic extraction of GHW at high temperature and low pH in the laboratory. However, when analyzing pedogenic gypsum in soils with negligible amounts of nitrates, the isotopic composition of its parent solution is preserved. These samples showed that gypsum formed from solutions that did not undergo significant evaporation. These waters are isotopically similar to contemporary unevaporated freshwater sources in the region. This indicates that gypsum formation likely occurred through the hydration of anhydrous or hemihydrate calcium sulfate, either in the atmosphere or in the soil. Subsequently, the gypsum was subject to recrystallization in the soil due to occasional rainfall events. This stands in contrast to subaqueous gypsum crystals growing in brine ponds of salars in the Atacama Desert, which reflect the isotopic composition of highly-evaporated parent fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research analyzes the government relations between Peru and Bolivia in the years prior the beginning of the war against Chile, in 1879. It argues that their bilateral affairs, presented as close and linked to a common past, are opposed to evidence that refers to recurrent armed tensions derived from the conditions imposed in the commercial treaties signed between 1847 and 1878. Subordinating Bolivia to an iron control of its import and export trade, during the period under study Peru intervened in Bolivian domestic political and financial affairs, transforming make the country a functional ally to contain the Chilean advance on the Atacama Desert. The conversion of Chile into a common enemy allowed Peru to extend the intervention process over the nitrate industry to Bolivian reserves, and to claim, a few months before the war, the extension of its southern limit from of the review of the legal antecedents of the colonial uti possidetis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atacamallium, a new genus in Amaryllidaceae‐Allioideae‐Leucocoryneae, is introduced with a description of its type Atacamallium minutiflorum, endemic to the coastal Atacama Desert of northern Chile. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences, along with morphological characters and its distribution pattern, support the new genus and place it as a putative sister to Leucocoryne, which is readily distinguished from Atacamallium by its floral morphology. Atacamallium minutiflorum differs from other species of Leucocoryneae by its overall smaller flowers, tepals fused only at the base, six stamens in a single series, and trifid stigma. A morphological description, a distribution map, an illustration, and the assessment of the conservation status of the new species, besides an updated key to the genera of Leucocoryneae, are provided. Additional data from multiple single‐copy nuclear genes are needed to clarify the relationships within the tribe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second part of a revision of the species of the genus Praocis Eschscholtz is presented. The subgenus Mesopraocis Flores & Pizarro-Araya, distributed in northern Chile from 25° South to 31° South, is revised. This article includes a redescription of the subgenus, redescriptions of its species, an identification key, and a discussion on morphological adaptations of the species to fossorial life. Habitus photographs, scanning electron micrographs of head, antennae, prosternum, abdomen, and protibiae, illustrations of genital features, and distribution maps are presented. Conical pegs sensilla on tibiae are described and illustrated using SEM for the first time for a South American tenebrionid species. A new Praocis species is described: Praocis (Mesopraocis) arenicola sp. nov. Praocis (Mesopraocis) flava Kulzer, 1958 is synonymised with P. (M.) pilula Laporte, 1840. Other species of the subgenus are: P. (M.) calderana Kulzer and P. (M.) nitens Kulzer. A statement on the variation in the number of antennomeres in P. (M.) pilula is appended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for life on other planets is one of the most important scientific challenges of this century, centered mainly on Mars. The Atacama Desert is one of the places on the planet with an environment similar to the red planet, with a hyper-arid core that constitutes an extreme environment and scarce life, due to environmental factors. At the moment it has not been possible to confirm the existence of life in this planet, but it is planned to take the life to this planet by means of potato crop. Also has been research the application of microorganisms for the recovery of desert soils, with high salinity or low fertility, through the interaction of microorganisms and plants. The present review describes the similarities between the La Joya desert in Atacama and Mars, showing its importance for the search for life on that planet. Show the recent advances in the investigation of potato crops for its development on Mars or in similar conditions, in addition to the importance of the application of microorganisms that facilitate the growth and adaptability of this crop to inhospitable conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex (APVC) of the Central Andes is an arid region with extensive volcanism, possessing various geological features comparable to those of other solar system objects. The unique features of the APVC, e.g., hydrothermal fields and evaporite salars, have been used as planetary analogs before, but the complexity of the APVC presents a wealth of opportunities for more analog studies that have not been exploited previously. Motivated by the potential of using the APVC as an analog of the volcanic terrains of solar system objects, we mapped the mineralogy and silica content of the APVC up to ~100,000 km2 in northern Chile based on a combination of remote sensing data resembling those of the Moon and Mars. The band ratio indices of Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager multispectral images and mineral classifications based on spectral hourglass approach using Earth Observing-1 Hyperion hyperspectral images (both in the visible to shortwave infrared wavelengths) were used to map iron-bearing and alteration minerals. We also used Hyperion imagery to detect feldspar spectral signatures and demonstrated that feldspar minerals can be detected on non-anorthosites, which may influence interpretations of feldspar spectral signatures on Mars. From the Terra Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Emissivity Dataset, we derived the silica percentage of non-evaporite rocks within errors of approximately 2–3 wt.% SiO2 for those in the 60–70 wt.% range (about 8 wt.% errors for the 50–60 wt.% range). Based on an integrated assessment of the three datasets, we highlighted three regions of particular interest worthy of further field investigation. We also evaluated the benefits and limitations of all three remote sensing methods for mapping key minerals and capturing rock diversity, based on available samples and existing geological maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the extreme north of Chile, the genus Tillandsia L. (Bromeliaceae) is represented by three native species, T. marconae Till & Vitek and T. landbeckii Phil., both of terrestrial atmospheric habit, and T. virescens Ruiz & Pav. of saxicolous habit. There is little information on the foliar structures that allow its establishment in arid environments. Therefore, we studied the leaf anatomy of each of these terrestrial and saxicolous atmospheric species from different altitudinal levels (1000 and 3000 m) in the Arica and Parinacota regions of the Atacama Desert. All populations are monospecific. The study considered scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, and the fingernail polish technique. The surface distribution of stomata and trichomes of the species is described. The studied species presented hypostomatic leaves, with anomocytic stomata and peltate trichomes on the abaxial and adaxial sides. Trichomes are formed by a central disc of four equal-sized empty cells, surrounded by a peripheral series of several concentric rings, the innermost of eight, the second of sixteen and the outermost of multiple elongated cells, one cell thick, that form the flexible asymmetric wings. The number of wing cells varies according to the species. Trichomes are evenly arranged in long lanceolate leaf blades with smooth margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permafrost occurs in the high Atacama Desert, and its thermal state was characterized at a study site 5,075 m a.s.l., at the lower regional altitude boundary for permafrost. The permafrost body is about 5 m thick and located in the hydrothermal alteration zone. The freeze–thaw layer and upper part of the permafrost layer temperatures were measured at 0 to 39 cm depth at 1-cm resolution throughout the year. The upper 3 cm of the ground experienced more than 100 freeze–thaw cycles in 2019. The maximum thaw depth was 14 cm. No significant thermal offset is observed between the annual mean of the surface temperature and the top permafrost boundary. The 14-m borehole reveals that the geothermal gradient was quite high at 200°C/km. In 2019 the seventy days of snow cover impacted the surface energy budget. Winter and summer snow conditions contribute to cooling the surface temperature regime in different ways.

Una balsa de totora ronda en la arqueología chilena desde 1967. Biografía tras biografía, a partir de la pieza original se creó un nuevo objeto, ahora virtual y diferente a su antecesor. La supuesta nave en miniatura se consolidó como una prueba irrefutable de la antigüedad de estas embarcaciones y de la navegación prehispánica en el norte de Chile y los Andes. El reciente estudio del objeto depositado en el Musée d’ethnographie de Genève en Suiza revela que más que una balsa corresponde a un atado de fibras vegetales, una variedad de artefacto habitual en los contextos funerarios del Período Formativo del norte de Chile, descritos como brochas, escobillas, peines o paquetes de materia prima. La confusión inicial de Jean-Christian Spahni y las reproducciones de sus biógrafos/as posteriores sirven de insumo para discutir cómo se construye la evidencia arqueológica y de qué manera se narra el relato en la prehistoria.

En el siguiente trabajo se analiza una fotografía incluida en un libro sobre las Fuerzas Armadas de Chile (1928), en la que supuestamente se retrata a una mujer de la etnia chango. Sin embargo, corresponde a una indígena filipina, imagen que fue publicada en un texto de 1906 y después en 1913. Por todo lo anterior, estamos frente a un caso de migración iconográfica, es decir, cuando una representación sobre un determinado pueblo indígena presenta diferentes adscripciones culturales dependiendo del contexto iconográfico en el cual sea incorporada. El artículo presentará el recorrido de esta investigación, que comienza con la comparación entre esta fotografía e iconografía previa asociada a los changos (grabados y dibujos), pasando por un proceso de apropiación museográfica, hasta llegar a la “imagen original”, realizada en el marco de un estudio etnográfico, en un momento en que Filipinas se convertía en colonia de Estados Unidos de Norteamérica (EUA).

"Pan de Azúcar National Park" is a fog oasis in the southern Atacama Desert of Chile. It hosts a diversity of cyanobacteria and green algae, which can especially be found in lichens. Diversity surveys and eco-physiological and biochemical studies have shown that these organisms are excellently adapted to the extreme climate and can already become active even if the amount of water available is very low. By changing their environment physically and chemically, they contribute to the weathering of rocks and soil formation and are thus involved in shaping the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudios Atacameños is the property of Estudios Atacamenos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Estudios Atacameños is the property of Estudios Atacamenos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To understand the landscape as heritage is to recognize it in a synthesizing condition, as a complex system of ecological, historical and social legacies. This approach allows an articulation and reading of the territory not as a sum of particularities but rather as a particular system, where the landscape, as a collective construction of society, is not only understood as a material construction, but also as a construction of memory and cultural expressions, which in the Atacama Desert have become evident with a clear mining emphasis, temporally since pre-Columbian times and spatially throughout the transversality, longitudinality and altitudinal levels of the territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of 30 grape accessions used to produce Pajarete wine is presented, one of the first American "Denomination of Origin" (D.O.). Accessions were collected from small vineyards from the Huasco Valley in the Atacama Region, northern Chile, which are very heterogeneous for varietal assortment, as was demonstrated by microsatellite marker analysis. Eighteen different genotypes were identified, including the two varieties considered the founders of American viticulture, 'Listán Prieto' (syn. 'País') and 'Muscat of Alexandria'. A series of criolla varieties was also identified, some of them already described plus others not yet included in international databases. Based on nine SSR markers, allelic matchings suggest that four of these new criolla varieties (NN-311, NN-313, NN-368 and NN-370) derives from 'Listán Prieto' x 'Muscat of Alexandria', but three (NN-314, NN-276 and NN-369) are derived from 'M. of Alexandria' crossed with a yet undetermined parent. Seven criolla accessions were described by ampelography, including some not yet recorded in the European Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) or in the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA) database. Three accessions were considered as not appropriate for the production of Pajarete wine since two of them are table grape varieties and the other is the American variety 'Isabella' (Vitis labrusca x V. vinifera), all considered of poor quality for winemaking. All these findings are very useful to direct the conservation of this unique germplasm, as well as for small producers of Pajarete wine, since based on this information on the overall variety assortment of the area, they can now make informed decisions to improve their vineyard management and wine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]