Hydrodinamics and hydrochemistry of karst aquifers from Alambari-Ouro Grosso Plateau, Iporanga, SP

• Grant number: 15/04952-1
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: September 01, 2015 - May 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal researcher: José Antonio Ferrari
• Grantee: José Antonio Ferrari
• Home Institution: Instituto Geológico. Secretaria do Meio Ambiente (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Allan Silas Calux ; Ivo Karmann ; Silvio Takashi Hiruma

Abstract

The mechanisms of genesis and development of karst aquifers lead to a highly discontinuous and heterogeneous medium. Hydrologic models based on the notion of representative elementary volume can't be used in karst. On the other hand, in karst aquifers the flow of the catchment area is often concentrated in a single spring, and this characteristic has stimulated the use of the system analysis approach to understand their properties. The principle of this technique is to consider the aquifer as a filter which transforms the input signal into an output signal. The degree of transformation of the input signal therefore provides information about the nature of flow in the system. In this analysis, variables related to the relief of recharge zone and the spatial arrangement of subterranean drainage also must be considered. This research aims at monitoring simultaneously two karst aquifers from Alambari - Ouro Grosso Plateau (PETAR, Vale do Ribeira, SP), in order to understand how the different system's components operate in the hydrodynamics and hydrochemistry in springs. In order to perform the comparative analysis the following procedures will be executed: a) monitoring of flow rate and material flow in the springs; b) rainfall monitoring of recharge areas; c) tracer tests to identify the geometry of subterranean network and solute transport dynamics; d) geomorphology analysis of recharge zone. Statistical tools for time series analysis will be used for hydrologic characterization of the systems and to quantify the several pulse-trains relations. Hydrologic parameters in tracer tests will be obtained by the method of moments. This research will provide fundamental parameters to understand the flow in synclinal karst aquifers and information for the sustained management of conservation areas. (AU)