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Rolando Célleri Alvear |
About
I conduct research on water resources in the Tropical Andes, utilizing advanced field techniques, sensors, and laboratory analyses to explore hydrological and hydrometeorological processes, as well as the impacts of global change.
My primary goal is to enhance our understanding of the hydrological cycle in Andean ecosystems, from rainfall formation to runoff generation. In the tropical Andes, local populations depend on water from small to medium-sized headwater catchments, making soil water regulation and the interactions between weather and vegetation crucial.
My second goal is to reduce the vulnerability of tropical Andean communities to climate variability, climate change, and land use changes. Climate projections indicate an intensification of the water cycle, with drier summer periods ahead. As water demand for irrigation and drinking increases, this could lead to water scarcity and potential conflicts. The key challenge is finding ways to achieve water secutiry and the SDGs under these changing conditions, which requires a deep understanding of our socio-ecological systems.
Projects
My current projects focus on spatio-temporal rainfall variability, discharge forecasting, ecohydrological processes, and integrated water resources management. Each of these involves both fieldwork and modeling activities. Additionally, I have a strong interest in ecosystem services and integrated rural development. Some of my current projects are:
- SDGnexus Network (2025-2029). It aims to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Mountain Areas through scientific research, the creation of local cooperation networks, and the training of professionals with an interdisciplinary approach. The topics studied will include the ecohydrology of the páramo, sustainable urban drainage systems, and the sustainability of irrigation systems.
- Comfort in Open Public Spaces: Analyzing the Relationship Between Population Perceptions and Microclimate, Pollution, and Noise (2025-2027). Coordinated by Prof. Mario Córdova (UCuenca), In this project, we will study how the characteristics of open spaces affect the well-being and comfort of people when using them.
- Dynamics of precipitation in transition: The water source for the Galápagos Archipelago under climate change – Darwin (2022-2025), led by Jörg Bendix (University of Marburg), this project studies the hydroclimatology of the Galápagos Islands through the installation of a ground-based monitoring network, the use of satellite imagery, and climate modeling
- El proyecto Sustainable Water Management Under Climate Change in Southern Ecuador – SWACH, led by Elizabeth Ochoa (Universidad del Azuay), where I participate in the component aimed at finding sustainable strategies to reduce the demand for drinking water in the city
Among the recently completed projects (2024) are:
- Transect of the Americas, Which studied the resilience and vulnerability of headwater catchments and their socio-ecological systems to climate change
- El proyecto Pronóstico hidrológico a tiempo real para la central hidroeléctrica Minas – San Francisco, whose goal was to implement a flow forecasting system for the plant operated by CELEC Unidad de Negocio Sur
- Integrated community water management in rural irrigation and drinking water systems.
Academic appointments
- Head of GCTA (2009 – 2013)
- Head of iDRHICA (2013 – 2019, 2021-2023)
- Director of the Doctoral program in Water Resources (2015 – 2018)
- Academic coordinator of the Master in Hydrology, especialization in Ecohydrology (2021 – present)
Teaching
- Summer school: Hydrology of Andean Ecosystems.
- Vanguardia Honors Programme: Research projects and advanced quantitative research methods.
- MSc in Hydrology: Hydrological Processes; Environmental modelling; Hydrological modelling; Advanced hydrometry.
- MSc in Renewable Natural Resources: Water conservation; Water resources evaluation and planning.
- PhD in Renewable Natural Resources: Academic writing.
Publications
Full lists of publications:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rolando-Celleri
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7683-3768
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=15060963700
Recent Featured Publications
- Mosquera, G.M., Marín, F., … Célleri, R., Crespo, P. (2024). Ecohydrological assessment of the water balance of the world’s highest elevation tropical forest (Polylepis). Science of the Total Environment.
- Sucozhañay, A., Pesántez, J., … Peña, D., Célleri, R. (2024) Rainwater harvesting as a sustainable solution for the production of urban hydroponic crops. Water Reuse.
- Muñoz, P., Muñoz, D.F., Orellana-Alvear, J., Célleri, R. (2024) Enhancing runoff forecasting through the integration of satellite precipitation data and hydrological knowledge into machine learning models. Natural Hazards.
- Berrones, G., Crespo, P., Carrillo-Rojas, G., Wilcox, B.P., Célleri, R. (2024) Variability in evapotranspiration in the Andean páramo as influenced by fog and rainfall. Ecohydrology.
Supervision of doctoral students
- Maria José Merizalde (2023 – presente). Flood forecasting in complex river basins.
- Verónica Rodas (2023 – presente). Drinking water demand managment for water security.
- Paul Muñoz (2019 – 2023). Hydrological forecasting using remote sensing products and machine learning.
- Mario Córdova (2019 – 2023). Precipitation Drivers in the Tropical Andes: Teleconnections, Dynamics, and Implications for Precipitation Forecasting.
- Gina Berrones (2017 – 2022). Fog in the Andean paramo.
- Elizabeth Ochoa (2015 – 2019). Evapotranspiration in andean ecosystems.
Co-supervision of doctoral students
- Adrián Sucozhañay (2021 – presente). Hydrological droughts in andean rivers.
- Gabriela Urgilés (2021 – presente). Rain storms
- Lorena Orellana (2021 – presente).
- Juan Pesantez (2018 – 2023).
- Giovanny Mosquera (2015 – 2020).
More details are in my CV