Hydrogeochemical and isotopic characterisation in the high mountain watershed of the Alhorí River (Sierra Nevada, southern Spain)

The Careo ditches, hydraulic elements of an ancestral water management system, play an essential role in the hydrological functioning of watersheds in Sierra Nevada (South of Spain). This study seeks to characterize the hydrochemical and stable isotope compositions of surface water and groundwater i...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Authors: Morales Sotaminga, Edison Steven, Fernández Ayuso, Ana, Ramos, Blas, Barberá Fornell, Juan Antonio, González Ramón, Antonio, Zakaluk, Thomas, Martín Civantos, José María, Martos Rosillo, Sergio
Format: article
Publication Date:2023
Country:España
Institution:Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Repository:Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.uam.es:10486/715193
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10486/715193
https://dx.doi.org/10.55407/GEOGACETA95514
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Careo ditches
high mountain basin
major ions
stable isotopes
Geología
Description
Summary:The Careo ditches, hydraulic elements of an ancestral water management system, play an essential role in the hydrological functioning of watersheds in Sierra Nevada (South of Spain). This study seeks to characterize the hydrochemical and stable isotope compositions of surface water and groundwater in the high mountain watershed of the Alhorí river. For this purpose, 46 samples from springs and surface streams were collected in June 2020 and their content in major ions, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes was analysed. The results show that altitude is clearly influencing the characteristics of the sampled waters. Furthermore, artificial groundwater recharge with careo ditches favours evapoconcentration. Overall, this research proves the existence of short-distance flows in the groundwater of the Alhorí river basin