These three visualizations of the southern border of the Atacarna Desert in Chile are part of the research being conducted by the University of Chile. Densely vegetated areas such as the Amazon basin of South America and the coastal zone of the study area are shown in green. Brown hues portray sparsely vegetated land s and deserts. Transition zones are in yellow. Annual grasses are completely dry and irrigated valleys appear as narrow green bands descending westward from the Andes Mountains.
Annual grasses grow rapidly, forming a green floor cover with abundant life and colored flowers.
Desertified areas have lost their capacity to respond to favorable climatic conditions created during this period and remain as yellow-brown areas. These and similar graphics help researchers assess the possible responses of crops to various climatic conditions such stimulations can be used to guide farming and irrigation practices in this threatened eco system. They are using a five-campus data network to design and develop databases for the arid subtropics of Chile and the Antarctic marine food web. In the case of Chile, researchers are exploring causes for the growth of desert areas, which include air-sea interactions and counterproductive agricultural practices. Simulation models are being used to design strategies for controlling the loss of productive land and any negative socio-economic impact stemming from this.