Hydrological Characteristics and Paradoxes of Mediterranean High-Mountain Water-Bodies of the Sierra-Nevada, SE Spain
Each lake complex must be understood before attempting any regional synthesis leading us to view these water-bodies as indicators of regional climate change. Therefore, in order to improve knowledge of these Mediterranean biotopes, we examined the dependence of the fringes of hygrophilous communitie...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Hydrology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/6/3/59 |
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| author | Jose Luis Diaz-Hernandez Antonio Jose Herrera-Martinez |
| author_facet | Jose Luis Diaz-Hernandez Antonio Jose Herrera-Martinez |
| author_sort | Jose Luis Diaz-Hernandez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Each lake complex must be understood before attempting any regional synthesis leading us to view these water-bodies as indicators of regional climate change. Therefore, in order to improve knowledge of these Mediterranean biotopes, we examined the dependence of the fringes of hygrophilous communities surrounding the water-bodies (green fringes) on their hydrological and geomorphological features. The climate of the western sector of this massif is cryo−oromediterranean, where thawing produces 53 hm<sup>3</sup> of run-off and 11 hm<sup>3</sup> of sub-surface flow. Part of this water is stored in 123 water-bodies located from 2480 to 3200 m a.s.l., 72 of which (58%) are located on the south-facing Mediterranean watershed. The total surface of the water sheet is approximately 170,000 m<sup>2</sup>, and volume is approximately 215,000 m<sup>3</sup>, of which 140,000 m<sup>3</sup> (65%) are stored in the south-facing water-bodies. Green fringes surrounding 84 water-bodies have a total surface area of approximately 186,000 m<sup>2</sup>. Surprisingly, the more xeric Mediterranean watershed holds 58 such fringes (149,000 m<sup>2</sup>, 80%) while 26 are found on the Atlantic watershed (38,000 m<sup>2</sup>, 20%). Green fringes are mainly associated with small water-bodies (<5000 m<sup>3</sup>), which occupy 148,000 m<sup>2</sup> on the Mediterranean watershed, while on the Atlantic side, green fringes occupy 31,000 m<sup>2</sup>. Sierra Nevada also has 46 times higher water-efficiency in the smaller water-bodies than in the large ones; 16.4 and 335.8 times higher on the Atlantic and Mediterranean watersheds, respectively. The differences in gradient of the massif hillsides must largely explain this uneven behaviour. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T03:34:47Z |
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| issn | 2306-5338 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T03:34:47Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Hydrology |
| spelling | doaj.art-4be6fb41c68f47779862bd487deda08b2022-12-22T02:03:44ZengMDPI AGHydrology2306-53382019-07-01635910.3390/hydrology6030059hydrology6030059Hydrological Characteristics and Paradoxes of Mediterranean High-Mountain Water-Bodies of the Sierra-Nevada, SE SpainJose Luis Diaz-Hernandez0Antonio Jose Herrera-Martinez1IFAPA Camino de Purchil, Área de Recursos Naturales, Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca y Desarrollo Rural, Junta de Andalucía, Apartado 2027, 18080 Granada, SpainENSN, Área de Uso Público, Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio, Junta de Andalucía, 18191 Pinos Genil (Granada), SpainEach lake complex must be understood before attempting any regional synthesis leading us to view these water-bodies as indicators of regional climate change. Therefore, in order to improve knowledge of these Mediterranean biotopes, we examined the dependence of the fringes of hygrophilous communities surrounding the water-bodies (green fringes) on their hydrological and geomorphological features. The climate of the western sector of this massif is cryo−oromediterranean, where thawing produces 53 hm<sup>3</sup> of run-off and 11 hm<sup>3</sup> of sub-surface flow. Part of this water is stored in 123 water-bodies located from 2480 to 3200 m a.s.l., 72 of which (58%) are located on the south-facing Mediterranean watershed. The total surface of the water sheet is approximately 170,000 m<sup>2</sup>, and volume is approximately 215,000 m<sup>3</sup>, of which 140,000 m<sup>3</sup> (65%) are stored in the south-facing water-bodies. Green fringes surrounding 84 water-bodies have a total surface area of approximately 186,000 m<sup>2</sup>. Surprisingly, the more xeric Mediterranean watershed holds 58 such fringes (149,000 m<sup>2</sup>, 80%) while 26 are found on the Atlantic watershed (38,000 m<sup>2</sup>, 20%). Green fringes are mainly associated with small water-bodies (<5000 m<sup>3</sup>), which occupy 148,000 m<sup>2</sup> on the Mediterranean watershed, while on the Atlantic side, green fringes occupy 31,000 m<sup>2</sup>. Sierra Nevada also has 46 times higher water-efficiency in the smaller water-bodies than in the large ones; 16.4 and 335.8 times higher on the Atlantic and Mediterranean watersheds, respectively. The differences in gradient of the massif hillsides must largely explain this uneven behaviour.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/6/3/59cryo–oromediterranean water-bodiescryo–oromediterranean green fringesSierra Nevada water-bodiesthawing hydrology |
| spellingShingle | Jose Luis Diaz-Hernandez Antonio Jose Herrera-Martinez Hydrological Characteristics and Paradoxes of Mediterranean High-Mountain Water-Bodies of the Sierra-Nevada, SE Spain Hydrology cryo–oromediterranean water-bodies cryo–oromediterranean green fringes Sierra Nevada water-bodies thawing hydrology |
| title | Hydrological Characteristics and Paradoxes of Mediterranean High-Mountain Water-Bodies of the Sierra-Nevada, SE Spain |
| title_full | Hydrological Characteristics and Paradoxes of Mediterranean High-Mountain Water-Bodies of the Sierra-Nevada, SE Spain |
| title_fullStr | Hydrological Characteristics and Paradoxes of Mediterranean High-Mountain Water-Bodies of the Sierra-Nevada, SE Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrological Characteristics and Paradoxes of Mediterranean High-Mountain Water-Bodies of the Sierra-Nevada, SE Spain |
| title_short | Hydrological Characteristics and Paradoxes of Mediterranean High-Mountain Water-Bodies of the Sierra-Nevada, SE Spain |
| title_sort | hydrological characteristics and paradoxes of mediterranean high mountain water bodies of the sierra nevada se spain |
| topic | cryo–oromediterranean water-bodies cryo–oromediterranean green fringes Sierra Nevada water-bodies thawing hydrology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/6/3/59 |
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