Une approche multi-traceurs pour la détermination de la dynamique des eaux souterraines du bassin de la rivière Actopan, Etat de Veracruz, Mexique

Quezadas, Juan Pérez; Heilweil, Victor M.; Silva, Alejandra Cortés; Araguás, Luis Araguás; Ortega, María del Rocío Salas

doi:10.1007/s10040-016-1445-4

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…This inherent complexity of tropical and fractured volcanic aquifer systems requires the combination of multiple environmental tracers (e.g., stable and radioactive isotopes, noble and industrial gases or rock weathering solutes) and disciplines to fully understand groundwater age distributions and recharge mechanisms (Haji et al, 2021; Solomon et al, 2010). For example, Pérez Quezadas et al (2016) used a multi‐tracer approach to delineate recharge processes within the mountainous region of Veracruz (Mexico), with the majority of the recharge occurring in the upland parts of the watershed (tritium ranging from 0.5 up to 2 TU). In the volcanic island of Maui (Hawaii, USA), Niu et al (2020) reported tritium‐derived groundwater ages ranging between 14 up and 68 years with water source elevations (derived from noble gas temperatures; hereafter NGT) between 0.2 and 3.7 km.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deciphering complex groundwater age distributions and recharge processes in a tropical and fractured volcanic multi‐aquifer system

Sánchez‐Murillo

Montero‐Rodríguez

Corrales‐Salazar

et al. 2022

Hydrological Processes

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Groundwater recharge in highly fractured volcanic aquifers in the humid tropics remains poorly understood. In this region, rapid demographic growth and unregulated land use change are resulting in extensive surface water pollution and a large dependency on groundwater extraction. Here we present a multi‐tracer approach including δ18Oδ2H, 3H/3He dating, and noble gases (NG) within the most prominent multi‐aquifer system of central Costa Rica, with the objective to assess dominant groundwater recharge mechanisms and age distributions. We sampled wells and large springs across an elevation gradient from 868 to 2421 m asl. Our results indicate relatively young apparent ages ranging from 0.0 ± 3.2 up to 43.5 ± 7.6 years within the unconfined aquifer system. Helium isotopes (R/Ra up to 5.4) indicate a dominant signal from the upper mantle and preclude 3H/3He dating in 50% of the samples. Potential recharge elevations (based on NG and δ18O) ranged from ~1350 to 2670 m asl. NG‐derived recharge temperatures ranged from 11.0°C to 19.4°C. Recharge estimates varied from 129 ± 78 to 1605 ± 196 mm/yr with a mean value of 642 ± 117 mm/yr, representing 20.1 ± 4.0% of the total mean annual rainfall as effective recharge. The shallow unconfined aquifer is characterized by young and rapidly infiltrating water, whereas the deeper aquifer units have relatively older water (>60 years). These results are intended to guide the delineation and mapping of critical recharge areas in mountain headwaters to enhance water security and sustainability in the most important headwater dependent systems of Costa Rica.

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