HidroClim El Chaltén
Hydroclimatic data for Climate Justice
HidroClim El Chaltén is a community-based water data network, focused on quantitative measurements, aimed at protecting water as a common good.
Training for the use of the CrowdWater app
Participatory installation of HOBO sensors for streamflow measurement
Co-creation of water level measurement protocols
Scientific mediation on hydro-climatic trends and emerging risks in the Río de las Vueltas watershed (GLOF)
Join El Chaltén’s hydro-climatic monitoring community today!
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FAQ HidroClim El Chaltén
What is HidroClim El Chaltén ?
HidroClim involves the local community and visitants in the quantitative monitoring of glacial rivers and in understanding the impacts of climate change on the rivers of southern Patagonia. Through citizen science tools, such as the CrowdWater app and HOBO sensors, we promote the democratization of knowledge, inviting residents, students, guides, and visitors to actively participate in hydro-climatic monitoring.
Who are the project partners ?
HidroClim is carried out in collaboration with the Argentine Institute of Snow, Glaciology and Environmental Sciences (IANIGLA-CONICET) and the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), which provide expertise in mountain hydrology and climate change. Project data are integrated into ANDEX, the regional Andean hydrological monitoring network. Boana ensures the local implementation of the project, the development of participatory processes, community engagement, and scientific mediation for the management of the protected area.
Additionally, HidroClim uses the CrowdWater app, developed by the University of Zurich.
Why does HidroClim matter ?
HidroClim El Chaltén aims to strengthen participatory water management in southern Patagonia. By leveraging the CrowdWater app, we generate continuous hydrological data series that help better understand rivers, anticipate risks, and make informed decisions.
When data is produced by the community, it not only generates scientific information: it fosters interest, collective responsibility, and commitment to protecting water as a common good. HidroClim creates a space for the collective development of water care and management strategies, connecting science, territory, and society.
In a context of increasing competition for water use, the project seeks to democratize hydrological knowledge and strengthen local participation in decision-making. The generation and dissemination of quantitative data on rivers allows for understanding possible environmental and geopolitical scenarios in the region, contributing to sustainable planning, ecosystem conservation, and the construction of societies that respect both the environment and people.
What are water level and flow data used for ?
Measuring water level and flow in rivers and streams that are little studied helps understand how water flow varies, how sediments are transported, and how the watershed evolves over time. These records generate local data series that are used to calibrate hydrological and glaciological models, reduce uncertainty in simulations of potential GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) events, and estimate risks of flooding, drought, or sedimentation. The resulting information is crucial for water management, ecosystem conservation, and climate change planning.
How to join HidroClim ?
You can participate in hands-on workshops to co-create water level monitoring protocols or get trained in using the CrowdWater app, allowing you to independently collect priority hydro-climatic data.
You can also lead data collection with your group of friends, clients, or colleagues during your mountain activities. We support you throughout the process to ensure it is done safely and effectively.
Additionally, we invite you to take part in discussions on climate and water justice, the power of data, and the building of community alliances to protect water as a common good, in the face of challenges posed by the commodification of resources