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Precipitation in the arid Central Andean Western Cordillera is strongly sensitive to large‐scale atmospheric circulation patterns which transport moisture from different source regions. As a result, the stable water isotopes of precipitation in this region have been difficult to interpret. We analyzed daily rainfall in the southern Peruvian city of Arequipa for water stable isotopes during the 2019 monsoon season to study sub‐seasonal precipitation dynamics. At 2,300 masl elevation, most rain was sourced from easterly moisture transported over the Altiplano, and was isotopically enriched (δ18O = −5.2‰), likely due to sub‐cloud evaporation. This was contrary to literature expectations that enriched isotopic values indicate Pacific moisture. During a 2‐week period of northerly moisture transport and intense rainfall, we observed rain stable water isotopes shifted to depleted values (δ18O = −10.3‰). This study provides new context for interpreting time‐varying and elevation‐varying moisture source influence in the Western Cordillera. Plain Language Summary: The extremely arid western Andean rain shadow receives approximately 100 mm of precipitation typically transported by strong Easterly winds at high altitudes from the Amazon basin over the Andes. Here, we examined daily rain amounts and oxygen and hydrogen isotopic ratios from a network of collectors in the southern Peruvian city of Arequipa at 2,300 m elevation on the western flank of the Andes during the 2019 summer monsoon season (January–March). The isotopic signature of dominant easterly moisture transport was surprising enriched in heavy isotopes due to strong sub‐cloud evaporation. Previously, enriched isotopic signatures have been interpreted as Pacific moisture influence. Shifting meteorologic conditions transported isotopically depleted northerly moisture into the area for 2 weeks including 2 days of intense rainfall, flooding, and landslides in several communities. Large‐scale moisture transport in past climates may be studied through preserved isotopic proxies with this refined knowledge of isotopic signature controls. Key Points: Daily rainfall in Arequipa, Peru was analyzed for stable water isotopes to study sub‐seasonal precipitation sources and processesEasterly moisture events produced isotopically enriched rainwater likely due to sub‐cloud evaporationDuring northerly moisture influence, intense rainfall occurred, and water isotopes shifted to more depleted values [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this research is to measure the intelligence components and capabilities in the city of Arequipa, based on the Integral Intelligence Model (Carrillo & Olavarrieta, 2009). This model articulates the notion of Intelligence Capital, which allows components and capabilities to be developed in agents, thus promoting adaptation, knowledge management and quick responses in the optimal decision making by these agents. Design/methodology: The Integral Intelligence Model proposed by Carrillo and Olavarrieta (2009) was taken as a basis, analyzing each of its components and capabilities in relevant agents or organizations in the City of Arequipa. This work identifies how the maturity level of these capabilities makes the operationalization of the Intelligence Capital (IC) possible. The information was obtained through direct interviews with decision-making agents of the institutions in the City of Arequipa (governors and top management of companies in the city), as well as from reports and secondary sources. Findings: This research lays a solid foundation for the proper articulation of the IC as a fundamental element of Knowledge-Based Development (KBD). The results highlight the importance of fine-tuning internal processes for this type of development, the trade-off between the speed of response and good design, execution, development and evaluation of processes and the need to develop intelligence components in organizations, in order to operationalize IC and generate value. Research limitations/implications: The study focuses on the first semester of 2020 in the City of Arequipa, a period characterized by the uncertainty and environmental risk caused by COVID-19. Practical implications: The research reveals that in the City of Arequipa, there are potential intelligence capabilities or components that are consolidated in the design, planning, execution and evaluation of internal and external processes in institutions and organizations. However, the development of these capabilities is diminished by flaws in the identification and processing of information, resulting in only moderately agile responses. Social implications: This research provides evidence that in the KBD model, social agents play a fundamental role in decision-making, as they are the ones who identify and interpret significant events in the environment. This, in turn, allows effective, positive and adaptive responses to be issued that guide and drive the organizations. Originality/value: This study presents a methodology that can be replicated in other cities, and which makes it possible to identify the intelligence capabilities of agents or organizations, in this case of a city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of COVID-19 and the spread of this novel disease around the world in 2020 has entailed several cultural changes; some of those changes are positive for the environment, such as the decrease in the concentration of atmospheric particulate matter. We compared the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 recorded in October and November 2019 (pre-pandemic period) with the concentrations recorded from May to October 2020 (pandemic period) in the city of Arequipa, Peru. A significant decrease in the concentration of PM2.5 (less than 21.0%) and PM10 (less than 21.5%) was observed on Sundays, when population movement was strongly restricted. First, we observed a significant correlation between PM2.5 and PM10 concentration in the atmosphere and the number of infections reported in Arequipa, Peru. However, when we removed the data of Sundays from the database, these correlations were no longer significant. Subsequently, we correlated PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations with the number of COVID-19 infections on the same day and up to a 20-day delay and found that from day 15 to day 18, PM10 concentration was significantly correlated with COVID-19 infections, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 might circulate attached to the coarse particle (PM10) and that this fraction would act as infection vector. However, these results may reflect other factors, such as social or economic factors that could explain the dynamics of infection in Arequipa, Peru. Further research is needed to better understand the dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10, as well as those of the PAHs bound to these particles, were quantified at four sites in the region of Arequipa, Peru, during the year 2018. These samples were collected with high volume samplers, and the concentrations of the PAHs were quantified by liquid chromatography (HPLC). The values found for PM2.5 and PM10 at all the sampling sites in Arequipa exceeded the norms established in Peru (50 μg m−3 annual average value for PM10 and 25 μg m−3 annual average value for PM2.5), with the industrial site presenting the highest values of particulate matter (PM10 max = 235.1 μg m−3; PM2.5 max = 218.4 μg m−3). With respect to seasonality, in the cold season (winter), the concentration of particles was higher compared to the other seasons. Concerning the PAHs, it was found that these had the highest concentrations at the industrial site, followed by the site with high vehicular traffic, with both these sites differing significantly from the rural sites. In addition, at the industrial and high traffic sites, there was a predominance of PAHs with 5 and 6 rings, whereas at the rural sites, PAHs with fewer rings predominated. Finally, the calculated values of lifetime lung cancer risk also revealed a difference between sites with marked emission sources, where irrigation was considered moderate, and the rural sites, where irrigation was considered low. This demonstrated that people living at sites with mobile sources and/or industries had a higher cancer risk compared to the inhabitants of rural sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate matter smaller than 10 μm (PM10) is an important air pollutant that adversely affects human health by increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies reported multiple extreme PM10 levels at high altitude Peruvian cities, which resulted from a combination of high emissions and limited atmospheric circulation at high altitude. However, the emission sources of the PM10 still remain unclear. In this study, we collected PM10 samples from four sites (one industrial site, one urban site, and two rural sites) at the city of Arequipa, Peru, during the period of February 2018 to December 2018. To identify the origins of PM10 at each site and the spatial distribution of PM10 emission sources, we analyzed major and trace element concentrations of the PM10. Of the observed daily PM10 concentrations at Arequipa during our sampling period, 91% exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) 24-h mean PM10 guideline value, suggesting the elevated PM10 strongly affected the air quality at Arequipa. The concentrations of major elements, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, and Al, were high and showed little variation, suggesting that mineral dust was a major component of the PM10 at all the sites. Some trace elements, such as Mn and Mo, originated from the mineral dust, while other trace elements, including Pb, Sr, Cu, Ba, Ni, As and V, were from additional anthropogenic sources. The industrial activities at Rio Seco, the industrial site, contributed to significant Pb, Cu, and possibly Sr emissions. At two rural sites, Tingo Grande and Yarabamba, strong Cu emissions were observed, which were likely associated with mining activities. Ni, V, and As were attributed to fossil fuel combustion emissions, which were strongest at the Avenida Independencia urban site. Elevated Ba and Cu concentrations were also observed at the urban site, which were likely caused by heavy traffic in the city and vehicle brake wear emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Market integration & migration cause local water management institutions to decline. • Declining local institutions hinders community participation in IWM. • Some communities delegate responsibilities "upward" to government & intermediaries. • Some communities delegate participation "outward" to legal and water experts. • Community participation in IWM is unlikely when local institutions are declining. Participatory water governance has become highly influential around the world as a means for managing water resources. Scholars and practitioners advocate for the inclusion of previously marginalized communities in water resources management through the devolution of power, responsibility, and participation. Where community institutions are weak or missing, experts recommend strengthening or re-building them to enable inclusive decision-making over water resources. Our study looks at devolution in a government-initiated integrated water resources management approach in the Caylloma Province, located in the department of Arequipa, Peru. We used process tracing to analyze 97 qualitative interview transcripts with crop farmers and pastoralists managing water for irrigation, interview transcripts with personnel in water management agencies, and field notes from participant observation in water-related meetings. We found that farmers had limited ability to participate in local institutions for water management due to market integration and labor migration, among other socioeconomic and political stressors. For this reason, transferring more water management responsibilities and decision-making power to community-level institutions without considering the factors that limit their sustainability over time is not necessarily feasible or even desirable by local communities. Instead, strengthening and streamlining intermediary and government institutions at regional scales may be more effective at addressing local needs in watershed management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High sulfur emissions in the Central Andes have in the past been attributed to active volcanoes and numerous copper smelting facilities in the region. This study evaluates the contribution of these sources on Arequipa, Peru through an evaluation of aerosol sulfate δ34S values and water-soluble ions (WSI). The anthropogenic and natural sources of particulate pollution were determined by aerosol filter sampling from four different locations (urban, suburban, industrial, and rural) providing a view of the spatial variability of aerosols within the city. Sulfate (avg. 2.97 μm/m3) is the most abundant ion species in the aerosols sampled contributing on average 20% of the molar mass. Ion composition profiles between sampling sites are very similar indicating common sources and high contributions of mobilized local surface salt to the aerosols in this desert region. The regional atmospheric chemistry model (RACM) 0-D run for the area confirms that emissions from fuel combustion sources alone cannot account for the high concentrations of sulfate observed. A combination of the RACM results, WSI data, and a Bayesian δ34S isotope mixing model determined that the majority of aerosol sulfates in the area are from mineral dust adding to fossil fuel combustion sources. Mineral dust entrainment in the region is likely elevated by the close proximity of open-pit mining and unpaved roads near the city. Marine organic aerosols and smelting located along the Pacific contribute little to Arequipa's aerosol sulfate concentration. While the influence of volcanic sulfate (9% on average) is low, overall natural sulfate (dust, volcanic, and DMS) accounts for 43% of the aerosol sulfate. Therefore, even though the local environment creates high sulfate background levels, a reduction of sulfate aerosol pollution would be possible if fossil fuel emissions were reduced. • High sulfate aerosol concentration in southern Peruvian city where sulfate is 20% of PM 2.5 aerosol mass. • Water-soluble ions and δ34S isotopes show high natural background levels of sulfate from desert mineral dust (13–26%). • A Bayesian δ34S isotope mixing model determined on average 50% of sulfate sourced from oil and coal combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]