Miguel Rodríguez-Rodríguez

Groundwater recharge in semi-arid carbonate aquifers under intensive use: the Estepa Range aquifers (Seville, southern Spain)

Quantifying groundwater recharge in carbonate aquifers located in semi-arid regions and subjected to intensive groundwater use is no easy task. One reason is that there are very few available methods suitable for application under such climatic conditions, and moreover, some of the methods that might be applied were originally designed with reference to non-carbonate aquifers. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the fact that, in any given aquifer, groundwater recharge is modified by the groundwater exploitation. Here we focus on four methods selected to assess their suitability for estimating groundwater recharge in carbonate aquifers affected by intensive exploitation. The methods were applied to the Estepa Range aquifers of Seville, southern Spain, which are subjected to different degrees of exploitation. Two conventional methods were used: chloride mass balance and daily soil–water balance. These results were compared with the results obtained by means of two non-conventional methods, designed for application to the carbonate aquifers of southern Spain: the APLIS and ERAS methods. The results of the different methods are analogous, comparable to those obtained in nearby non-exploited carbonate aquifers, confirming their suitability for use with carbonate aquifers in either natural or exploited regimes in a semi-arid climate.

Thermal structure and energy budget in a small high mountain lake: La Caldera, Sierra Nevada, Spain

Abstract This work examines the diel change of energy storage and its associated patterns of thermal stratification during the ice‐free period in a high mountain lake (La Caldera Lake, Sierra Nevada, Spain), in response to meteorological conditions. Bihourly data have been implemented to a standard methodology of surface heat exchange calculations in lakes. Strong variations have been observed on the diverse components of the energy budget at different time scales, ranging from diel to seasonal. Additionally, time‐series analyses have been applied to reveal the underlying periodicities involved in relation to the different variables studied. The results obtained from this study provided realistic conditions for the environmental modelling of such processes, which are very sensitive in time scale.

Applying piezometric evolution indicators to facilitate stakeholder’s participation in the management of groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Case study: Fuente de Piedra playa lake (southern Spain)

The impact derived from the exploitation of natural resources can be quantified using statistical indicators. We analyse the groundwater level evolution of jeopardised aquifers using the Temporal Variation Index and the Piezometric Situation Index. The application of both piezometric indicators to the aquifers linked to the Fuente de Piedra playa lake (southern Spain) allows us to investigate their suitability to manage groundwater resources in order to preserve its associated ecosystems. The results obtained showed that the aquifers, a detrital aquifer enclosed within Miocene–Quaternary rocks and two carbonate aquifers formed by Jurassic units, show a dissimilar piezometric level drop. In the Miocene–Quaternary aquifer various sectors are under strong pressure and piezometric levels do not recover after rainy periods. In the Jurassic aquifers, the piezometric level drops continuously over time. In view of these results, we recommend an urgent limitation of the groundwater extraction from the carbonate aquifers. This case study proves that piezometric indicators constitute a valuable tool to managers and stakeholders for identifying sectors affected by overexploitation and, thus, help to design management strategies and public participation to preserve these types of ecosystems in the future.