Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Eco-hydrological role of deep aquifers in the Salado sedimentary basin in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although not well known, the eco-hydrological functions of deep aquifers (those having no contact with surface hydrological events) play an important role in the hydrological regime because they can affect the type of habitats, the availability of water and nutrients and the salinity of the medium, among other environmental features. This work aims at characterizing the deep Tertiary hydrogeological units of the Salado sedimentary basin in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, at a regional scale, and to determine their environmental importance in the hydrological cycle. The geological characterization of the study area is based on the drilling profiles from oil exploration wells bored by different oil companies between 1948 and 1994, and also from the existing literature. The conclusion is that water exchange between quaternary surface aquifers in contact with atmospheric events and deep tertiary aquifers is one of the main processes that keep the hydrologic balance of the region. Not only is this crucial for the conservation of the numerous and well-developed ecosystems in the basin wetlands, but also significant for the agricultural and cattle-raising activities of the region.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bonorino A (2005) Acuíferos profundos e hidrotermalismo [Deep aquifers and hydrothermalism]. En: de Barrio R, Etcheverry R, Caballé M, Llambías E (eds) Geología y Recursos Minerales de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Relatorio del XVI Congreso Geológico Argentino, La Plata, Argentina, 327–346, Septiembre de 2005

  • Bracaccini O (1972) Cuenca del Salado [The Salado basin]. En: Turner JC (ed) Geología regional Argentina. Academia Nacional de Ciencias, Córdoba, Argentina, 407–418

  • Bracaccini O (1980) Cuenca del Salado [The Salado basin]. En: Turner JC (ed) Segundo Simposio de Geología regional Argentina. Academia Nacional de Ciencias, Córdoba, Argentina, 879–918, Septiembre de 1976

  • Criado Roque P, De Ferraris P, Mingramm A, Rolleri E, Simonato I, Suero T (1959) Cuencas sedimentarias de la Argentina [Sedimentary basins of Argentina]. Boletín de Informaciones Petroleras 321:816–835

    Google Scholar 

  • Domínguez O, Carballo S (1983) Uso de la imagen satelitaria en el estudio de los procesos de anegamiento y/o inundación en grandes llanuras [The use of satellite images in the study of flood processes in large plains]. En: Fuschini Mejía M (ed) Hidrología de las grandes llanuras, vol 2. Buenos Aires, pp 1087–1137

  • EASNE (1972) Estudio de Aguas Subterráneas del Noreste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires [Study of groundwater in the northeast of the Province of Buenos Aires]. Consejo Federal de Inversiones (CFI). Serie Técnica 24, tomos I y II, Buenos Aires

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez M, Fili M, Auge M, Ceci J (1975) Geohidrología de los acuíferos profundos de la Provincia de Buenos Aires [Geohydrology of deep aquifers in the Province of Buenos Aires]. Sexto Congreso Geológico Argentino, Buenos Aires, Acta 2:479–500, Septiembre de 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Klijn F, Witte P (1999) Eco-hydrology: groundwater flow and site factors in plant ecology. Hydrogeol J 7:65–77. doi:10.1007/s100400050180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovács G, Associates (1981) Subterranean Hydrology. Water Resources Publications, Littleton, p 978

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruse E (1992) Estimación de escurrimientos secundarios en la cuenca del Arroyo Azul (Buenos Aires) [Estimation of groundwater flow in the Azul creek watershed (Buenos Aires)]. Situación ambiental de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas (CIC) 15:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruse E, Laurencena P (2005) Aguas superficiales, relación con el régimen subterráneo y fenómenos de anegamiento [Surface waters: their relationship with groundwater regime and flood phenomena]. En: de Barrio R, Etcheverry R, Caballé M, Llambías E (eds) Geología y Recursos Minerales de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Relatorio del XVI Congreso Geológico Argentino, La Plata, Argentina, 313–326, Septiembre de 2005

  • Nullo F (1991) Evolution of marine basins in Southern South America. 28th international geological congress Abstracts 2:256

  • Paterlini M, Parker G, Costa I (1993) Afloramiento de las Arenas Puelches en el Río de la Plata superior [The outcropping of Puelche sands in the Rio de la Plata]. XII Congreso Geológico Argentino II:213–219 (Octubre de 1993)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponte F, Fonseca J, Carozzi A (1978) Petroleum habitat in the Mesozoic–Cenozoic of the continental margin of Brazil. 50th Congress of Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologist, pp 857–885

  • Rodríguez-Iturbe I (2000) Ecohydrology: a hydrologic perspective of climate–soil–vegetation dynamics. Water Resour Res 36:3–9. doi:10.1029/1999WR900210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sala JM (1977) Caracterización hidrológica preliminar del ambiente periserrano de Balcarce [Preliminary hydrologic characterization of the surroundings of the Balcarce sierra]. Report of the University of La Plata and Ministry of Agricultural Affaires, Argentina

  • Stuyfzand P (1999) Patterns in groundwater chemistry resulting from groundwater flow. Hydrogeol J 7:15–27. doi:10.1007/s100400050177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tavella G (2005) Cuenca del Salado [The Salado basin]. En: de Barrio R, Etcheverry R, Caballé M, Llambías E (eds) Geología y Recursos Minerales de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Relatorio del XVI Congreso Geológico Argentino, La Plata, Argentina, pp 459–472, Septiembre de 2005

  • Tavella G, Wright C (1996) Cuenca del Salado [The Salado basin]. En: Ramos V, Turic M (eds) Geología y Recursos Naturales de la Plataforma Continental Argentina. Relatorio del XIII° Congreso Geológico Argentino y III° Congreso de Exploración de Hidrocarburos, Buenos Aires, Argentina, pp 95–116, Septiembre de 1996

  • Thornthwaite C (1948) An approach toward a rational classification of climate. Geogr Rev 38:55–94. doi:10.2307/210739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thornthwaite C, Mather J (1955) The water balance. Certerton, NJ: Drexel Institute of Technology, Laboratory of Climatology 8:1–104

  • Tóth J (1963) A theoretical analysis of groundwater flowing small drainage basins. J Geophys Res 68:4795–4811. doi:10.1029/JZ068i008p02354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tóth J (1995) Hydraulic continuity in large sedimentary basins. Hydrogeol J 3:4–16. doi:10.1007/s100400050250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tóth J (1999) Groundwater as a geologic agent: an overview of the causes, processes and manifestations. Hydrogeol J 7:1–14. doi:10.1007/s100400050176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yrigoyen M (1975) Geología del Subsuelo y Plataforma Continental [Geology of the subsoil and the continental shelf]. En: Angelelli V, De Francesco F, Etchevehere P, Fidalgo F, Kilmurray J, Llambias E, Pascual R, Prozzi C, Rolleri E, Sala J, Teruggi M, Turner J, Yrigoten M (eds) Relatorio de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. VI Congreso Geológico Argentino. Buenos Aires, Argentina, pp 139–168, Septiembre de 1975

  • Yrigoyen M (1999) Los depósitos Cretácico y Terciarios de las cuencas del Salado y del Colorado [Cretaceous and Tertiary deposits of the Salado and the Colorado basins]. Geología Argentina, Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales, Buenos Aires, Anales 29(21):645–649

  • Zalewski M, Janauer GA, Jolankai G (1997) Ecohydrology: a new paradigm for the sustainable use of aquatic resources. UNESCO IHP Technical Document in Hydrology No. 7, UNESCO, Paris, 60 pp

  • Zambrano J (1971) Las cuencas sedimentarias en la Plataforma Continental Argentina [Sedimentary basins in the Argentine Continental Shelf]. Protecnia Revista del Instituto Argentino del Petróleo 21(4):29–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Zambrano J (1974) Cuencas sedimentarias en el subsuelo de la Provincia de Buenos Aires y zonas adyacentes [Sedimentary basins in the subsoil of the Province of Buenos Aires and adjacent zones]. Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina 29(4):443–469

    Google Scholar 

  • Zambrano J, Urien M (1970) Geologycal outline of basins in southern Argentina and their continuation in the Atlantic shore. J Geophys Res 75(8):257–265. doi:10.1029/JB075i008p01363

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Calle 60 y 122 (1900), La Plata, Argentina

    Eleonora S. Carol, Eduardo Emilio Kruse & Jorge L. Pousa

Authors
  1. Eleonora S. Carol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eduardo Emilio Kruse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jorge L. Pousa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eduardo Emilio Kruse.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Carol, E.S., Kruse, E.E. & Pousa, J.L. Eco-hydrological role of deep aquifers in the Salado sedimentary basin in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Environ Earth Sci 60, 749–756 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0212-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0212-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation