ABSTRACT Using a statistical approach, Scheihing attempts to demonstrate the direct influence of recharge events in the Precordillera and the Andean Piedmont on water table variations in downstream alluvial fans. The author “unquestionably” discards the existence of ephemeral recharge processes in alluvial fans although they are frequently impacted by major floods. However, the author does not consider previous publications about recharge processes in arid alluvial fans, the hydraulic setting of the Pampa del Tamarugal Aquifer (PTA) and anthropogenic pressure changes in the PTA. Because the sustainable management of groundwater resources in drylands depends on a good understanding of hydrogeological processes, we propose a thorough reinterpretation of the short- and long-term PTA water table variations addressed by the author. In this comment, we illustrate the limits of the sole use of a statistical approach for characterizing both recharge processes and factors controlling the water table variations in the Atacama Desert.

中文翻译：

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阿塔卡马沙漠冲积扇的地下水位变化：讨论“从安第斯山脉到阿塔卡马沙漠中部的短期地下水补给信号传播的证据：单一频谱分析方法”

摘要 Scheihing 尝试使用统计方法证明 Precordillera 和安第斯山麓的补给事件对下游冲积扇地下水位变化的直接影响。尽管冲积扇经常受到大洪水的影响，但作者“毫无疑问地”放弃了冲积扇中短暂补给过程的存在。然而，作者没有考虑之前关于干旱冲积扇补给过程、Pampa del Tamarugal 含水层 (PTA) 的水力环境和 PTA 中人为压力变化的出版物。由于旱地地下水资源的可持续管理取决于对水文地质过程的良好理解，我们建议彻底重新解释作者提出的短期和长期 PTA 地下水位变化。在这篇评论中，