Assessing Groundwater Age in Confined Aquifers from the Central Pampean Plain of Cordoba, Argentina

• DOI: 10.1017/rdc.2016.35
• Publication Date: 2016-08-22T09:25:38Z
• Authors: Marina Luciana Ma...; Mónica Teresa Bla...; Adriana Edith Cab...; Héctor Osvaldo Pa...; Cristina Dapeña
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; ARGENTINA; CONFINED AQUIFER; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5; 13. Climate action; 0207 environmental engineering; ISOTOPES; 02 engineering and technology; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1; GROUNDWATER AGE; 6. Clean water

Abstract In Córdoba Province, Argentina, the population uses groundwater from confined aquifer systems (CASs) for different activities. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out comprehensive studies in order plan more sustainable use considering that renewal times can be of several thousands years. The objective this research evaluate age aquifers based on hydraulic and isotopic methods. CASs present variable extension, are multilayered formed by thin (4–6 m) sand-pebble lenses, linked Neogene fluvial paleosystems. These layers situated at depths (120–400 interbedded with thick clay strata. interpretations made 2 H, 18 O, 3 H results calculations suggest old. Furthermore, an gradient was observed increases depth flow direction. 14 C ages obtained labeled A2, C, D were 3.6–1.1 ka BP, 10.8 46.0–40.5 respectively. indicate A2 contain recharged during Holocene cold periods, between Little Ice Age ending Climatic Optimum last glaciation. CAS contains paleowater Pleistocene.