Author(s): A. Rodriguez; G. Caamano; G. Hillman; M. Pagot; I. Bernasconi; J. Weber; S. Menajovsky
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Keywords: MAR CHIQUITA system; Model of hydrologic balance
Abstract: The hydrological system of Mar Chiquita and the Wetlands of Dulce River is a unique ecosystem in the Latin-American region. It is constituted by the biggest salt lake of South America-Mar Chiquita or Mar de Ansenusa-and Wetlands of Dulce River – with an extension of around 10,000km2. This system is complex and its hydrologic knowledge is still insufficient. A wide quantity of hydro-meteorological information have been gathered, previously depurated and used to simulate Mar Chiquita evolution during a period of thirty years between 1967 and 1997. It has been used a model of hydrologic balance specifically developed for the study of the lake conduct before hypothetical flow extractions in the main tributary. This model has been used with six months and annual intervals, involving recent details such as taking into account the variability of the losses (evaporation y evapotranspiration) in function of the salinity, considering separately the lake and the wetlands, and the precipitation contributions by the levels of the lake. The analysis of the results shows the importance of the regimen of Dulce River as the main tributary and the effective evaporation. The impact in the lake of flows extractions upstream and the natural flow reduction of the Dulce River through the wetlands have been modelled.
Year: 2001