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Contribution of environmental isotopes to the understanding of complex hydrologic systems. A case study: Sierra de Gador, SE Spain
Author(s) -
Vallejos A.,
PulidoBosch A.,
MartinRosales W.,
Calvache M. L.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9837(199712)22:12<1157::aid-esp803>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - groundwater recharge , precipitation , meteoric water , environmental isotopes , groundwater , δ18o , hydrology (agriculture) , aquifer , altitude (triangle) , geology , stable isotope ratio , environmental science , physical geography , geography , meteorology , geotechnical engineering , physics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Determining the content of 18 O and deuterium in the groundwater at the southern edge of the Sierra de Gador, between October 1991 and March 1993, has enabled identification of the flow system of the waters, the recharge and mixing processes and the possible mechanisms of salinization. Analysis of the precipitation indicates the dominant source and direction of the air masses. The local meteoric water line that is established indicates a primarily Mediterranean origin for the precipitation recharging the aquifers. The variation of 18 O content with altitude (−0·35 per mille per 100 m) enables an estimation of the principal recharge area, which corresponds to a zone between 1200 and 1800 m a.s.l. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.