Review: Hydrogeology of Northern Mendoza (Argentina), from the Andes to the eastern plains, in the context of climate change.

GOMEZ L.; HOKE G.; D´AMBROSIO S.; MOREIRAS S.M.; CASTRO A.

Hydrology journal

Springer

Año: 2022 vol. 30 p. 725 - 750

1431-2174

In drylands of Northern Mendoza (NM), the water supply depends on rivers and groundwater. Climate change makes this region vulnerable due to snow-glacial melt regime of main rivers and the populations concentrated in ?irrigated oasis?. This review synthesizes hydrogeology knowledge in NM, from the Andes to the eastern plains, as a useful tool for scientific studies and water management. It collects hydrogeological information since 1948 to 2020 and analyzes the groundwater situation in a climate change context. The revised studies include published and unpublished data. Groundwater in NM comprises fractured and clastic aquifers. Hydrogeological studies (mainly technical reports during 1980s and 1990s) were concentrated in clastic aquifers to support agricultural activities. The studies include a general hydrochemical characteristic and localized contamination studies. Also include groundwater reserve estimations and hydraulic parameters. While in the mountain and foothills areas the hydrogeology knowledge is limited and mostly unknown. The knowledge of groundwater reserves, the contamination and overexploitation aquifers, the surface-groundwater interaction and efficient monitoring network include the urgently needs in NM. The lack of actualized information and a sustainable groundwater management in irrigated areas has created legal conflicts between groundwater users, pollution problems and strong pressure on this finite resource. The current groundwater knowledge limits the economic development and the enforcement of protections against water contamination and overexploitation. Although the impacts of climate change on groundwater resources are globally uncertain, the adaptation require to improve groundwater knowledge in this arid region, to professionalize management and incorporate technological advances in hydrogeology issue.