Spatial distribution of deficit and surplus of water and its interplay with landscape relief units in the high-Andean Huancané River Basin, Puno, Peru

Calizaya E.; Cuentas O.; Pozo M.; Calizaya F.; Vilcanqui H.; Cuentas M.; Marca O.; Caira C. · Modeling Earth Systems and Environment (2025) · DOI: 10.1007/s40808-024-02180-3

Resumen

The essential component of life on Earth is water, and knowing the geographical variability of water surplus and deficit in a basin allows for the analysis and enhancement of sustainable resource management in the Huancané River basin, Puno, Peru, employing a methodology that integrates thematic map overlays of precipitation, surface runoff, adequate precipitation, and actual storage. These layers were analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to delineate water surplus and deficit zones across landscape relief units. Results indicate significant spatial heterogeneity; together with topographical and soil data, the precipitation data show that water deficits are most noticeable in hilly areas and sedimentary structural hills, while water surpluses are noticeable in alluvial valleys and floodplains, enabling a detailed assessment of the hydrological balance. The study shows that because of their high water consumption and low capacity to retain water, sedimentary structural mountains are severely impacted by yearly water deficits ranging from 1003 to 1254 mm. On the other hand, regions like alluvial valleys and aggregational plains can store and recharge large amounts of water, with yearly surpluses varying from 0 to 276 mm, highlighting their significance in managing regional water resources. The findings indicate how important water distribution is for diverse topographies and reinforce global research that observed how hydrological systems respond to land use changes and climatic fluctuations. Strategies such as reforestation and soil conservation are essential in deficit areas to enhance water retention. At the same time, aquifer recharge systems and reservoir construction in surplus regions are recommended to bolster resilience to drought. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Huancavelica; Universidad Nacional del Altiplano; Universidad Nacional Micaela Bastidas de Apurímac; Universidad Nacional de Moquegua; Universidad Nacional de Jaén