Influence of Soil Layer Thickness on Karst Aquifers Protection in Humid and Mediterranean Climates by the COP Vulnerability Method

Published
2020-01-29
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14295/ras.v34i1.29762
Keywords: Karst Aquifer. Tropical Climate. COP Method. Vulnerability. Thickness. Aquífero Cárstico. Clima Tropical. Método COP. Vulnerabilidade. Espessura.

    Authors

  • Rogério Tadeu de Souza Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-UFMG https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7069-8841
  • Olga Susana Heredia Universidad de Buenos Aires-UBA
  • Luiz Eduardo Panisset Travassos Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais-PUCMG
  • Leila Nunes Menegasse Velásquez Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-UFMG
  • Jarbas Lima Dias Sampaio Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-UFMG

Abstract

Karst refers to a unique type of landscape where caves coexist and an extensive groundwater system developed especially on soluble rocks. Karst aquifers are highly fragile due to their highly developmental nature, where water circulates through conducts, fissures or fractures. Once contaminated, decontamination is almost impossible. Vulnerability methods have been created to predict the susceptibility of aquifer contamination by anthropogenic activities.  There are several methods, but few are specific to karst. The COP method, an acronym used to designate the parameters C= Concentration flow, O= Overlaying layers, and P= Precipitation, was developed for the protection of karst aquifers of European Mediterranean countries and had good results. However, its application in humid tropical karst requires modification, mainly because there are differences in the aquifer protective layer (O Factor) between European Mediterranean karst and humid tropical karst which has a higher soil thickness. In this paper, two situations were simulated for a 240 km2 karst area: first, one with the direct application of the original COP method and the other adapting the method to more realistic tropical soil thickness. The results showed that the direct application of the method generate high protection, hanged to predominantly moderate given the reality of humid tropical climate karst, pointing to  the need for adaptation of the original method.

How to Cite
Souza, R. T. de, Heredia, O. S., Travassos, L. E. P., Velásquez, L. N. M., & Sampaio, J. L. D. (2020). Influence of Soil Layer Thickness on Karst Aquifers Protection in Humid and Mediterranean Climates by the COP Vulnerability Method. Águas Subterrâneas, 34(1), 50–65. https://doi.org/10.14295/ras.v34i1.29762