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| Titel |
Quantification and spatial distribution of nutrients in the unsaturated zone of the Tablas de Daimiel National Park |
| VerfasserIn |
H. Aguilera, L. Moreno, S. Castaño, E. Jimenez, A. De la Losa |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2009
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 11 (2009) |
| Datensatznummer |
250027912
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The Tablas de Daimiel National Park is located at the end of both a 15,000 km2 surface
catchment and a 5,000 km2 groundwater one, the “Mancha occidental” aquifer. The intensive
exploitation of this aquifer has caused that groundwater discharge in the Tablas de Daimiel
area has been decreasing since the 1980’s decade until they completely stopped. This fact has
favoured the progressive development of an unsaturated zone which had not existed before
and a full inversion in the water flux direction as drainage zones of the aquifer became
recharge areas. To assess the impact of this process on groundwater quality, a first
approximation to the problem has been made through the quantification of the spatial
distribution and concentrations of labile nutrients stored in the unsaturated zone, which are
readily available to be exported to the saturated zone. Results indicate that nutrients tend
to accumulate in areas consisting on charophyte layers with high organic matter
content and vegetal remains mainly originated from reed (Phragmites australis)
decomposition, and in channels filled with fluvial silts and peaty clay sediments linked
to the superficial drainage network of the basin. The risk of nutrient leaching to
groundwater through the unsaturated zone is favoured by shallow water tables in
some areas inside the National Park and by the low quality of infiltrating waters. |
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