Hydrogeological Changes along a Fault Zone Caused by Earthquakes in the Moncayo Massif (Iberian Chain, Spain)

Eugenio Sanz, Ignacio Menéndez Pidal, José Ignacio Escavy and Joaquin Sanz de Ojeda
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Eugenio Sanz: Laboratorio de Geología, Departamento de Ingeniería y Morfología del Terreno, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Ignacio Menéndez Pidal: Laboratorio de Geología, Departamento de Ingeniería y Morfología del Terreno, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
José Ignacio Escavy: Laboratorio de Geología, Departamento de Ingeniería y Morfología del Terreno, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Joaquin Sanz de Ojeda: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28003 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-9

Abstract: The response of springs to earthquakes in the zone of moderate seismicity associated with the fault under study (the Talamantes–Castilruiz fault, Soria, Spain) always leads to a flow decrease regardless of the magnitude of the earthquake and the distance from the epicenter. The sensitivity of the springs is explained by the different degrees of the confinement of their aquifers. The semi-confined aquifer of the Vozmediano spring (1100 L/s) experiences short post-seismic events with a variable decrease in flow and an increase in turbidity, depending on the intensity of the earthquakes felt at the site (Intensity). These changes are likely due to elastic deformation and an increased permeability in their aquifers. This spring is an example of how previous (historical) earthquakes can break the aquifer through the fault causing horizontal movements of the groundwater and displacing the discharge point to a different fracture site located six kilometers from the initial point.

Keywords: earthquakes; paleohydrogeology; spring discharge decrease (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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