Abstract
The Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA) is located in northeastern Mexico in a semi-arid region. As in other areas of the world, prolonged and severe meteorological droughts are recurrent. Meteorological droughts affect the level of dam reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater (aquifers) in the region to the extent they become hydrological droughts which in turn may contribute to socioeconomic droughts. The recent dry event (2011–2013) in northern Mexico severely affected various socioeconomic sectors and may serve as an example of future climatic and hydrologic conditions in this region. Meteorological droughts in northeastern Mexico, mostly induced by anomalously intense subsidence, frequently result in hydrological droughts and intense pressure in the water resources services of the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA), one of the largest cities in Mexico. Landfalling tropical cyclones entering northeastern Mexico historically have alleviated water crises during prolonged droughts. In 2013, the rains from tropical cyclone Ingrid helped to recover water levels in the system of dam reservoirs that provides water to the MMA. However, water management is only one part of a complex socioeconomic system that must respond to the growing demands for water in a region where aquifers are already overexploited. Trends in the atmospheric circulation indicate that droughts in the region may become more severe in the coming decades. Improved water management programs and protocols should be considered in addition to closer reviews of the hydraulic infrastructure. Water transfers from one region to another should be carefully planned because solving a problem in one place may adversely affect another. The use of climate information may be critical to avoidance of water conflicts in the future.
Highlights
Semi-arid climates are associated with relatively low precipitation, usually between 200 and 700 mm/year, with large climatic contrasts in alternating seasons and years
The Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA) is located at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountains in the central part of the state of Nuevo León, and the system of dam reservoirs that provide water to the region are further east, so water is pumped to Monterrey using hydraulic infrastructure
It has been estimated that during wet years, around 30% or more of the total annual precipitation in the region comes from tropical cyclone (TC) rains (Dominguez and Magaña, 2018)
Summary
Semi-arid climates are associated with relatively low precipitation, usually between 200 and 700 mm/year, with large climatic contrasts in alternating seasons and years. Water scarcity in these regions has shaped the characteristics of socioeconomic activities. A large percentage of drylands around the world are devoted to agricultural, cattle ranching, or industrial activities. Rapid demographic growth contributes to more intensive water- consuming activities, which turns into a major problem during prolonged dry periods (UNISDR, 2009). Socioeconomic Drought in a Mexican practices aimed at responding to increasing water demands may result in social, economic, and environmental problems (e.g., Monforte-García et al, 2012) related to over-exploitation of surface water and aquifers. The problem may become more difficult considering published scenarios of climate change for the coming decades (IPCC, 2019)
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