Assessment of diffusive recharge at regional scale in karst systems, Amazon basin, Ecuador

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v53i1.13618

Keywords:

Ecuadorian karst, APLIS, karst hydrology, groundwater management, Amazon region

Abstract

Karst systems play a crucial role in drinking water supply and biodiversity. Therefore, their comprehensive characterization of their recharge mechanisms is essential for safeguard water resource quality and sustainable management. This study utilizes the open-access thematic cartography of Ecuador to analyze the lithological, geomorphological, and hydrographic boundaries of groundwater karst systems. Then, employing the APLIS method, the diffusive recharge for each system is calculated. As a result, five hydrogeological karst systems and twelve small isolated karst bodies were delineated within the Amazon Region of Ecuador, collectively occupying a total area of 11112 km2. The effective infiltration of precipitation within these systems was found to vary between 11.11% and 77.11%, with a predominant low infiltration range (20%-40%) covering 48% of the karst area. One of the multiple parameters used in water balance calculations is defined by this research, serving as the initial step in creating conceptual models for evaluating karst aquifer systems in Ecuador from a hydrological perspective. The findings not only offer insights into the vulnerability and characteristics of these systems but also establish the foundation for informed decision-making in sustainable groundwater resource management and protection efforts.

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Author Biographies

Karla Milena González, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Department of Geosciences, College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences

PhD student

Christian Orlando Camacho , University of the Armed Forces ESPE

Life and Agricultural Sciences Department, research fellow

Theofilos Toulkeridis, University of the Armed Forces ESPE

Research Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering

Associate professor

Péter Szűcs, University of Miskolc

Institute of Water Resources and Environmental Management, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Science and Engineering

Associate professor

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Published

2024-11-05

How to Cite

Flores Carpio, Y. G., González, K. M., Camacho , C. O., Toulkeridis, T., & Szűcs, P. . (2024). Assessment of diffusive recharge at regional scale in karst systems, Amazon basin, Ecuador. Acta Carsologica, 53(1). https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v53i1.13618

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Section

Original papers