desert bloom

File:Desierto florido.jpg

In the Atacama Desert, a desert bloom ({{langx|es|desierto florido}}) occurs between the months of September and November in years when rainfall is unusually high. Normally, the Atacama Desert receives less than {{cvt|12|mm|in}}[http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/atacama_desert.html&lang=en Atacama Desert] www.windows2universe.org Retrieved March 30, 2013 of rain a year.

At its height, the phenomenon can be seen from just south of the city of Vallenar to just north of the city of Copiapó throughout the coastal valleys and Chilean Coast Range from September to November.

Climatically, the event is related to the El Niño phenomenon,[http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/ NOAA's El Niño Page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219080451/http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/ |date=2015-02-19 }} www.elninonoaa.gov Retrieved March 30, 2013 a band of anomalously warm ocean water temperatures that occasionally develops off the western coast of South America, which can lead to an increase in evaporation and therefore precipitation.[http://www.fao.org/docrep/R4082E/r4082e05.htm Irrigation Water Management: Introduction to irrigation, RAINFALL AND EVAPOTRANSPIRATION] www.fao.org Natural Resources Management and Environment Department, Retrieved March 30, 2013

The flowering desert is a popular tourist attraction[http://www.latercera.com/noticia/nacional/2011/09/680-394761-9-desierto-florido-aumenta-en-20-turistas-en-region-de-atacama.shtml Desierto florido aumenta en 20% turistas en Región de Atacama] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605023125/http://www.latercera.com/noticia/nacional/2011/09/680-394761-9-desierto-florido-aumenta-en-20-turistas-en-region-de-atacama.shtml |date=2016-06-05 }} Manuel Valencia, La Tercera, 24 September 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2013. with tourists visiting the phenomenon from various points around the southern Atacama, including Huasco, Vallenar, La Serena, Copiapó and Caldera.[http://www.thisischile.cl/4368/2/the-desert-in-bloom-a-natural-wonder/News.aspx The desert in bloom: a natural wonder] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130410035815/http://www.thisischile.cl/4368/2/the-desert-in-bloom-a-natural-wonder/News.aspx |date=2013-04-10 }} ThisisChile.cl, 12 July 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2013.

File:Desierto florido 2010.jpg]]

The flowering desert involves more than 200 species of flower,[http://www.eoearth.org/article/Atacama_desert?topic=74361 Atacama Desert] http://www.eoearth.org/ Atacama Desert, Mark McGinley Retrieved March 30, 2013 most of them endemic to the Atacama region. The different species germinate at different times through the flowering desert period. Some of the most common species include:{{cite web|url=https://www.lavaguada.cl/naturaleza/desierto-florido/desierto-florido.htm|title=Desierto Florido - Norte de Chile|first=Ricardo|last=Ordoñez|access-date=October 15, 2017}}

• Garra de león (Bomarea ovallei)
• Pata de guanaco (Cistanthe grandiflora)
• Añañuca (Rhodolirium montanum)
• Schizopetalon tenuifolium

The region is also home to cacti, succulents and other examples of xerophilous plants, as well as animal species including the Tuco-tuco and the Four-Eyed Frog.[http://www.thisischile.cl/4368/2/the-desert-in-bloom-a-natural-wonder/News.aspx The Desert in Bloom: A natural wonder] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130410035815/http://www.thisischile.cl/4368/2/the-desert-in-bloom-a-natural-wonder/News.aspx |date=2013-04-10 }} www.thisischile.cl. Retrieved March 30, 2013

In recent years, concerns have been raised by environmental organizations about the potentially damaging effects of large numbers of tourists visiting the flowering desert, the illegal trade of native flower species,[http://www.geovirtual.cl/Museovirtual/Plantas/000Contesp.htm Flora del Desierto de Atacama] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528014849/http://www.geovirtual.cl/Museovirtual/Plantas/000Contesp.htm |date=2013-05-28 }} www.geovirtual.cl Retrieved March 30, 2013 and the development of motorsport.[http://www.elmundo.es/america/2012/01/08/noticias/1326037226.html Denuncias al Dakar de Chile por destruir patrimonio arqueológico y medioambiental] www.elmundo.es Jorge Barreno, January 08, 2012, Retrieved April 1, 2013 Environmental organizations have suggested that these activities limit the potential for regeneration of the existing species. In response to this, the Chilean Government has established a series of prohibitions and controls, in addition to informative campaigns to the public, and especially to tourists, in order to limit the damage.[https://archive.today/20130410035748/http://old.bienes.cl/sitioweb2009/OpenNews/asp/pagDefault.asp?argInstanciaId=1&argNoticiaId=2216&NoticiaParaAutorizar= Firman convenio para proteger desierto florido] Ministerio de Bienes Nacionales de Chile, 22 September 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2013.[http://tenred.cl/2011/09/desierto-florido/ Example of public information for protection of Flowering Desert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321115025/http://tenred.cl/2011/09/desierto-florido/ |date=2017-03-21 }} Tenred.cl, 30 September 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2013. Comisión del Desierto Florido de la Región de Atacama was created in 1997, and re-launched in 2015, by the regional government of Atacama Region as an agency aimed to finds ways to protect the desert bloom.

In June 2022 Copiapó passed a municipal decree establishing fines for those who damage the desert bloom.{{Cite news |title=Copiapó protege el desierto florido con norma que fija multas de hasta $291 mil |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2022/06/14/1063980/copiapo-protege-desierto-florido-multas.html |date=2022-06-14 |access-date=2022-10-01 |work=Emol |language=Spanish}} On October 2, 2022, the Desierto Florido National Park in 2023 was officially announced.{{Cite news |title=Boric anuncia la creación del Parque Nacional Desierto Florido: "Tenemos una deuda con la Región de Atacama"

|url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2022/10/02/1074441/parque-nacional-desierto-florido.html |date=2022-06-14 |access-date=2022-10-01 |work=Emol |language=Spanish|last=Mellado|first=Beatriz}}

The phenomenon depends on above-average rainfall, but highly excessive rainfall can limit blooming. For example, in 1997 the region experienced very high total rainfall, with {{cvt|129.4|mm|in}} of rain in Copiapó (978% above average) and {{cvt|168.5|mm}} in Vallenar (433% above average), but there was only minimal desert flowering.

{{irrelevant citation|date=October 2017|reason=Article does not mention excessive rainfall in 1997 causing minimal desert blooming}}

In a single day in March 2015, parts of the area received {{cvt|23|mm|in}} of rain from El Niño, causing flowering in September and October 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.livescience.com/52632-atacama-desert-flowers-bloom.html |title=Atacama Desert Blooms Pink After Historic Rainfall (Photos)|work=LiveScience.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/world-driest-desert-breathtaking-bloom-atacama-180957104/?no-ist |title=The World’s Driest Desert Is in Breathtaking Bloom|author=Erin Blakemore |work=Smithsonian}}

In the South and North of Lima, a desert bloom occurs between the months of September and November. The particularity of the Lima desert bloom is that it goes all the way up to the highlands as the clouds get "stuck" and precipitate water. The other particularity is the green moss that appears.

{{Main article|Superbloom}}

Related to desert blooms in Chile:

• Diaguita
• Transverse Valleys

• [http://www.atacamaphoto.com/wp/atacama-desert-in-bloom/ Atacama Flowers: Pictures by Gerhard Hüdepohl, 1999 - 2015]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130528014849/http://www.geovirtual.cl/Museovirtual/Plantas/000Contesp.htm Atacama Flora]
• [http://www.chile365.cl/es-region-2-flora-y-fauna-de-desierto-de-atacama.php Flora and Fauna of the Atacama Desert]
• [http://www.livingatlaschile.com/?s=Flowering+Desert+in+Chile%E2%80%99s+North Video Nº10 – Flowering Desert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018012926/http://www.livingatlaschile.com/?s=Flowering+Desert+in+Chile%E2%80%99s+North |date=2017-10-18 }}
• [https://sand-boarding.com/desert-flowers/ Desert Flowers]

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{{Deserts}}

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Category:Climate patterns

Category:Spring (season)

Category:Desert flora