CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Groundwater geochemistry and dynamics are both among the main controlling factors of environmental featuresin wetlands. Coastal wetlands in particular are complex environments in which groundwater geochemistry islinked to a large number of controls, such as tidal action, landforms and interactions between groundwater andsurface water. The Parque Costero del Sur Biosphere Reserve is part of a larger wetland zone that extends alongthe right margin of the Río de la Plata estuary. The environmental characteristics present in such area are strictlyconnected to the geomorphological setting of the coastal plain. The aim of this study is to understand thehydrogeochemical processes which determine groundwater quality in this biosphere reserve. Major ions andenvironmental isotopes of groundwater were analyzed together with water balances, water table measurementsand a geological and geomorphological characterization of the coastal plain in order to analyze the hydrogeochemicaland hydrodynamic processes present in the wetland. Results point out that the groundwater hydrogeochemicaland hydrodynamic characteristics vary over the different landforms that form the Río de la Platacoastal plain, with particular chemical facies for each one. The principal hydrogeochemical mechanisms actingin groundwater are controlled by processes which include rainfall recharge, dissolution of CO2(g), carbonates,halite and gypsum, and Na+/Ca+2 exchange. Water is one of the main conditioning factors in wetlands and thisstudy is the first attempt to understand the mechanisms that rule groundwater geochemistry in this remote area.This research contributes to a better understanding both the hydrology and hydrogeochemistry of the biospherereserve and future investigations will benefit from our results. In particular, this work provides the basicknowledges on surficial water - groundwater interaction necessary to develop an integrated coastal managementplan aimed to guarantee the ecosystem protection through a sustainable use of the natural reserve.

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