Hydrochemical, Isotopic, and Geophysical Studies Applied to the Evaluation of Groundwater Salinization Processes in Quaternary Beach Ridges in a Semiarid Coastal Area of Northern Patagonia, Argentina
Quaternary sea level fluctuations have led to the development of beach ridges on many South Atlantic coasts. The objective of this paper was to asses from lithological, hydrochemical, isotopic, and geophysical studies the salinization processes affecting groundwater stored in Pleistocene and Holocen...
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/24/3509 |
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| author | Eleonora Carol Santiago Perdomo María del Pilar Álvarez Carolina Tanjal Pablo Bouza |
| author_facet | Eleonora Carol Santiago Perdomo María del Pilar Álvarez Carolina Tanjal Pablo Bouza |
| author_sort | Eleonora Carol |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Quaternary sea level fluctuations have led to the development of beach ridges on many South Atlantic coasts. The objective of this paper was to asses from lithological, hydrochemical, isotopic, and geophysical studies the salinization processes affecting groundwater stored in Pleistocene and Holocene beach ridges of the northern Patagonian coast. A hydrogeomorphological characterization of the area was performed using digital elevation models, the interpretation of satellite images, and field studies. Vertical electrical soundings were performed on transects running perpendicular to beach ridges in order to define variations in the freshwater-saltwater interface position. The salinity, chemistry, and stable isotopes of the groundwater were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the groundwater salinization of Pleistocene ridges responds to processes associated with the geological-geomorphological evolution of the area. The cementation of these surface sediments limits rainwater infiltration, which consequently prevents the development of freshwater lenses. This suggests that saline water is the result of ancient marine ingressions. Freshwater lenses develop in Holocene beach ridges; however, slight water salinization is detectable in the most populated areas as a result of intensive exploitation. The data provided are useful for freshwater resource prospection along the arid coast of Patagonia, where beach ridge deposits abound and populations experience serious drinking water supply problems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:53:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7778c1c87b06474bb58a1cfb03bb36bc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:53:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-7778c1c87b06474bb58a1cfb03bb36bc2023-11-23T11:00:18ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-12-011324350910.3390/w13243509Hydrochemical, Isotopic, and Geophysical Studies Applied to the Evaluation of Groundwater Salinization Processes in Quaternary Beach Ridges in a Semiarid Coastal Area of Northern Patagonia, ArgentinaEleonora Carol0Santiago Perdomo1María del Pilar Álvarez2Carolina Tanjal3Pablo Bouza4Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas (CIG), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata 1900, ArgentinaCentro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CITNOBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional Noreste de Buenos Aires, Pergamino 2700, ArgentinaInstituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales (IPEEC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Puerto Madryn 9120, ArgentinaCentro de Investigaciones Geológicas (CIG), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata 1900, ArgentinaInstituto Patagónico de Geología y Paleontología (IPGP-CONICET), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Puerto Madryn 9120, ArgentinaQuaternary sea level fluctuations have led to the development of beach ridges on many South Atlantic coasts. The objective of this paper was to asses from lithological, hydrochemical, isotopic, and geophysical studies the salinization processes affecting groundwater stored in Pleistocene and Holocene beach ridges of the northern Patagonian coast. A hydrogeomorphological characterization of the area was performed using digital elevation models, the interpretation of satellite images, and field studies. Vertical electrical soundings were performed on transects running perpendicular to beach ridges in order to define variations in the freshwater-saltwater interface position. The salinity, chemistry, and stable isotopes of the groundwater were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the groundwater salinization of Pleistocene ridges responds to processes associated with the geological-geomorphological evolution of the area. The cementation of these surface sediments limits rainwater infiltration, which consequently prevents the development of freshwater lenses. This suggests that saline water is the result of ancient marine ingressions. Freshwater lenses develop in Holocene beach ridges; however, slight water salinization is detectable in the most populated areas as a result of intensive exploitation. The data provided are useful for freshwater resource prospection along the arid coast of Patagonia, where beach ridge deposits abound and populations experience serious drinking water supply problems.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/24/3509freshwater lensesvertical electric soundingswater resourcesgroundwatersemi-arid zone |
| spellingShingle | Eleonora Carol Santiago Perdomo María del Pilar Álvarez Carolina Tanjal Pablo Bouza Hydrochemical, Isotopic, and Geophysical Studies Applied to the Evaluation of Groundwater Salinization Processes in Quaternary Beach Ridges in a Semiarid Coastal Area of Northern Patagonia, Argentina Water freshwater lenses vertical electric soundings water resources groundwater semi-arid zone |
| title | Hydrochemical, Isotopic, and Geophysical Studies Applied to the Evaluation of Groundwater Salinization Processes in Quaternary Beach Ridges in a Semiarid Coastal Area of Northern Patagonia, Argentina |
| title_full | Hydrochemical, Isotopic, and Geophysical Studies Applied to the Evaluation of Groundwater Salinization Processes in Quaternary Beach Ridges in a Semiarid Coastal Area of Northern Patagonia, Argentina |
| title_fullStr | Hydrochemical, Isotopic, and Geophysical Studies Applied to the Evaluation of Groundwater Salinization Processes in Quaternary Beach Ridges in a Semiarid Coastal Area of Northern Patagonia, Argentina |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrochemical, Isotopic, and Geophysical Studies Applied to the Evaluation of Groundwater Salinization Processes in Quaternary Beach Ridges in a Semiarid Coastal Area of Northern Patagonia, Argentina |
| title_short | Hydrochemical, Isotopic, and Geophysical Studies Applied to the Evaluation of Groundwater Salinization Processes in Quaternary Beach Ridges in a Semiarid Coastal Area of Northern Patagonia, Argentina |
| title_sort | hydrochemical isotopic and geophysical studies applied to the evaluation of groundwater salinization processes in quaternary beach ridges in a semiarid coastal area of northern patagonia argentina |
| topic | freshwater lenses vertical electric soundings water resources groundwater semi-arid zone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/24/3509 |
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