Estimación de la recarga media anual de acuíferosaplicación al Baix Ebre

Resumen

To test the applicability of atmospheric chloride deposition balance and soil water balance in the estimation of aquifer recharge , the chosen area is Vall Baixa de I'Ebre. This is a coastal area of semi-arid climate, which is located to the northeast of the Iberian peninsula, between Tortosa and Morella, where field experimentation has been carried out. The aquifer is hydrodynamically complex. It comprises the Plana de La Galera, between the rivers Ebro and La Senia, and part of Els Ports de Beseit-Tortosa, a high mountainous carbonate mass if. The average annual rainfall is 550 mm.yr-1 in the Plana de La Gal er-a and 1100 m m .yr-1 in the Ports de Beseit-Tortosa . To refine the results obtained us ing these two methods a conceptual model of functioning based on geologicalhydrogeological information has been defined with the support of hydrogeochim ical and isotopic environmental water techniques, consideri ng and eva luating the effect of surface runoff originating in the mountainous area . From the definition of the conceptual hydrogeological mode I and the global study of the hydrological functioning of the Ports de Beseit- Tortosa massif, beyond of the study area (NW slope, Matarrafia River basin), and the SE s lope, Plana de La Galera, it has been possible to estimate the occasional average annual surface runoff, approximately 105 ± 20 mm .yr-1 in the 15 years of data. Multi-annual average recharge in the period of data after the soil water balance in the Plana de La Galera varies between 215 and 240 m m .yr-1, standard deviation varying between 20 and 25 m m .yr-1 , accord ing to the sub-zone, and is 500 ± 60mm .yr-1 on the Ports de Beseit-Tortosa. The balance of atmospheric chloride deposition in the Plana de La Galera provides values of the multi-annual average recharge of130-175 mm.yr-1 with as tandard deviation of35-70 mm.yr-1 and 315-365m m .ayr-1 in the Ports de Beseit- Tortosa with a standard deviation of 150-160 mm .yr-1. The coefficients of variation are around 0.1 for the soil water balance and around 0.35 for the atmospheric chloride deposition balance. With this coefficient of variation the values obtained by the soil water balance are with in the expected range of annual average recharge produced according to the atmospheric chloride deposition balance. The dispersion of the ratio the annual recharge to annual precipitation is typical of semi-arid climates , with an average threshold of rainfall required for recharge to occur between 240-300 mm .yr-1 on the Plana de La Gal era and between 56-108 m m .yr-1 for the Ports de Beseit-Tortosa , indicating a greater capacity for recharge in the Ports in dry years. The annual and monthly distribution of recharge is concentrated in October, December, January and May, with peaks that show that recharge occurs due to extraordinary events of precipitation , being the 1% of the ra ins of greater magnitude which produce 70% of the recharge. The inputs to the system are estimated to be 285 hm3.yr-1. This is the sum of the recharge by precipitation, by surface runoff and as irrigation return flows . The outputs by pumping and groundwater discharges to the Ebro River and the Mediterranean Sea in the coastline of the Plana de ,l\lcanar have been estimated between 120-320 hm3.yr-1.These lasts discharges are very difficult to quantify, but their range comprise the estimated range of recharge.