Abstract

Volcanic eruptions in southern Chile have repeatedly triggered cascading processes that interacted with fluvial dynamics, generating eco-hydrogeomorphological changes at multiple spatial and temporal scales. In recent decades, eruptions of the Complejo Volcanico Puyehue-Cordon Caulle (CVPCC), Chaiten and Calbuco volcanoes in Chile have profoundly altered the morphology and ecological functions of surrounding river basins, promoting long-term destabilisation and adjustment processes. While previous studies have addressed key aspects such as sediment and wood transport, vegetation recovery, and geomorphological change, these analyses often lacked a systemic approach that integrates eco-hydrogeomorphological perspectives to understand why and how processes unfold and interact. In this context, we propose a conceptual model that makes the recovery trajectories of river corridors affected by volcanic eruptions in southern Chile explicit, with Chaiten as a central case study and integrating insights from CVPCC and Calbuco. The model identifies patterns of response and adjustment in fluvial systems, emphasizing the role of biphasic flows, landform evolution, and vegetation dynamics. Based on this, we outline an integrated approach for hydrogeomorphological risk management, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring, adaptive planning, and proactive measures. This approach moves beyond short-term mitigation, aiming to strengthen preparedness and enhance resilience in volcanic landscapes exposed to recurrent disturbances. Through the systematization of evidence into a transdisciplinary framework, this study delivers one of the first integrative conceptual models for eruption-affected river basins in southern Chile, with direct implications for risk reduction and community resilience.