UC Chile Atacama Desert Center Wins National Geographic Award for Innovative Fog Water Solutions
The National Geographic Society's Freshwater Conservation Projects competition received over 200 proposals worldwide, all focused on protecting freshwater resources in arid regions. Only four projects were awarded, including one from Chile: a UC Atacama Desert Center initiative to assess fog's potential as a fresh water source while partnering with local communities. The following article is an excerpt from the original piece published on the UC Chile Atacama Desert Center's website (*).
photo_camera CDA UC's proposal assesses fog as a sustainable water resource while collaborating with communities in Chile’s Atacama Desert, on the country's northern coast. (Photo credit: Felipe Lobos)
Water scarcity is among the most urgent global challenges, with over 2 billion people living in water-stressed countries. This freshwater crisis significantly impacts agriculture, health, and sustainable development.
As climate change intensifies, developing innovative and sustainable strategies for efficient water resource management becomes essential.
Amid Chile’s worsening water crisis—driven by climate change, reduced rainfall, and overexploited resources—a research team from the UC Atacama Desert Center (CDA UC) earned recognition in the National Geographic Society’s Freshwater Conservation Projects competition.
Their initiative was the only Chilean project selected, standing out among 200 worldwide submissions as one of four winners.
The competition supports community-driven freshwater conservation projects in critical water-scarce regions. It is part of the Global Freshwater Initiative, launched in 2023 at the United Nations Water Conference to tackle the global water scarcity crisis and encourage sustainable actions. Each selected project will receive up to $50,000 in funding to implement its proposed solutions.
CDA UC Chile's proposal stands out not only for its scientific rigor but also for its potential impact on ecosystem conservation and sustainable water management.
“We are immensely proud that this project has gained international recognition, showcasing how research conducted within the university can have a direct, positive impact on communities and regions.
This is especially important in tackling urgent challenges such as the water crisis and developing clean water solutions for arid areas. I extend my congratulations to the UC Atacama Desert Center team for their success in being chosen for the National Geographic Society’s highly competitive international funding program,” said UC Chile's Vice President for Research, Pedro Bouchon.
The other awarded initiatives include:
- A community-led effort in Japan’s Notori River basin to restore abandoned rice fields into natural wetlands and forests, boosting groundwater recharge and freshwater biodiversity.
- A project on the island of Java, Indonesia, combining the Internet of Things with indigenous, nature-based solutions to help local farming communities conserve and equitably distribute water.
- A collaboration in the Asi-Orontes River delta, near the Turkey-Syria border, to establish wetland conservation areas and improve water quality after the 2023 earthquake.
Advancing Fog Research: CDA UC's Pioneering Work on Sustainable Freshwater Solutions
The CDA UC's Fog Monitoring Network, led by Virginia Carter and Camilo del Río, analyzes the variations of fog across diverse ecosystems and latitudes. With over 20 years of experience studying fog and its connection to climate change, the team developed the network to address uncertainties about fog behavior, particularly how changes in stratocumulus clouds could affect freshwater availability.
Del Río emphasizes the potential of fog to alleviate the water crisis but acknowledges the challenges of its unpredictable behavior.
The research team, which includes Felipe Lobos, developer of the Fog Water Map's meteorological model, photographer Marcos Zegers, and Orlando Rojas, president of the Atacama Fog Catchers Association, aims to expand the fog monitoring network by installing new stations and gathering precise data in regions like Falda Verde and Paposo. These efforts will pinpoint optimal areas for fog collection and deepen understanding of its potential as a sustainable freshwater resource.
This initiative not only advances scientific knowledge but also positions the CDA as a global leader in fog water research. Supported by the National Geographic Society, the project will bring international visibility to the Fog Monitoring Network and Fog Water Map, crucial tools for addressing water scarcity exacerbated by climate change and overconsumption.
(*) Learn more about the UC Chile Atacama Desert Center's initiatives and this project by reading the full article.
