Sediment Cascades and Climate Change workshop, Chile

In a small mountain village in the Andes, 28 academics gathered for a four-day workshop on "Sediment Cascades and Climate Change", funded by the British Society for Geomorphology. This workshop was co-organised by Dr Rebekah Harries from IHRR with colleagues from Durham University, Universidad Católica de Chile and the Universidad de Chile. Dr Sim Reaney, co-Director of IHRR and associate Professor of Geography at Durham University, was one of the invited speakers and presented on simulation of flood water source areas and their downstream impacts under projections of climate change.

The workshop considered how the sediment system is currently operating and how the projected climate change in the region could alter the mobilisation and transport of sediment through the system. These issues were considered at a range of scales and approaches, from the climatic and geological setting to the movement of water and sediment through individual stretches of water. To set the problems in their global context, the workshop pulled together experiences from around the world, including examples from Nepal and Alaska. As part of the workshop, there was a meeting with the local community to hear their views on the local hazards and risks.

This workshop, bringing together Chilean and international experts, exemplifies the power of blending local knowledge with scientific research. The findings from this collaborative effort will contribute significantly to understanding sediment dynamics and climate resilience, with lessons that extend beyond the Andes.

You can see the workshop programme at https://sedimentcascades.webspace.durham.ac.uk/sediment-cascades-and-climate-change-workshop/programme/

Photo credit: Reaney, S 2024