Land Cover Changes and Their Influence on Recharge in a Mediterranean Karstic Aquifer (Alicante, Spain)

María Candela Ruiz (), Javier Valdés-Abellán, Concepción Pla, Miguel Fernández-Mejuto and David Benavente
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María Candela Ruiz: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
Javier Valdés-Abellán: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
Concepción Pla: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
Miguel Fernández-Mejuto: Hydrologic Cycle, Diputación Provincial de Alicante, 03006 Alicante, Spain
David Benavente: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain

Land, 2022, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Groundwater plays a key role in the subsistence of people and their activities throughout the globe, particularly in arid zones. In the highly dynamic context of the Mediterranean landscape, a deep understanding of aquifer systems is essential for their optimal management. The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of land cover on recharge in the Almudaina-Segaria aquifer, through the simulation of different land cover scenarios. The results showed a 32% decrease in the total water volume + entering the aquifer when extensive agriculture was replaced by natural forests, with a remarkable drop in the water table elevation for a large portion of the aquifer, depending on geology and topography. Considering the demographic evolution and ongoing climatic changes, it is fundamental to incorporate a management perspective where surface and underground processes are integrated as a fundamental part of a sustainable system.

Keywords: groundwater; land cover management; karst; Mediterranean climate; modelling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2022:i:1:p:128-:d:1021211

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