Effects of the 2010 tsunami on the Mataquito river wetland

Abstract

This chapter assesses the effects and subsequent changes of the Mataquito River estuary following the tsunami that struck the central Chilean coast on February 27th, 2010. The results indicate that after the tsunami the estuary established an extensive connection with the ocean, which in turn triggered significant changes in the physicochemical and biological patterns of the wetland. However, after 4 months, it was possible to observe clear signs of recovery in the estuary, gradually approaching the pre-tsunami state. Thus, these results indicate that the Mataquito estuary is capable of responding quickly to natural disturbances that modify its hydrological balance based on the interaction of continental and oceanic waters.