Anthropic influences in water cycle compartments in small catchments from Central Amazonia: an evaluation based on a multi tracer approach

• Grant number: 20/08971-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2021
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Agreement: FAPEAM
• Principal Investigator: Didier Gastmans
• Grantee: Didier Gastmans
• Host Institution: Centro de Estudos Ambientais (CEA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Amauri Antonio Menegário ; Breno Pupin ; Carlos Daniel Meneghetti ; Laura de Simone Borma ; Lucas Vituri Santarosa ; Ricardo Sanchez Murillo ; Zayra Christine Sátyro dos Santos
• Associated research grant(s): 25/01649-8 - EGU General Assembly 2025, AR.EXT

Abstract

The effects on water storage, quality and movement through the continental compartments of hydrological cycle, resulting from climate change and urbanization processes have been observed and described in different parts of the world, however their effects in Central Amazonia, where the municipality of Manaus is located, can be intensified due to the disordered processes of land use conversion and urbanization observed in this region. The sustainable use of water resources requires an understanding of the mechanisms involved on water movement and storage variations along the compartments of the hydrological cycle, because water scarcity and quality changes have been increasing disputes over safe sources of water supply. Within a complex environmental scenario, such as the Central Amazon, the project aims to determine the origins of water flows and evaluate quality changes related to urbanization processes, with special attention to the relationships between groundwater and surface waters, in two small watersheds: the Igarapé Asú located in the Cueiras Biological Reserve, and the Igarapé Educandos, located in a very dense occupied and urbanized area, through the use of hydrochemical, isotopic and hydrological techniques. We expect with this project to delimit the relationships and seasonal variations in the flow contributions to the surface water due to groundwater discharge, as well as to estimate the average transit times of groundwater, and the recognition of changes promoted by anthropic activities in the quality and interactions between groundwater and surface water, seeking to establish scientific bases for proposing environmental restoration measures with a focus on water resources. (AU)