Carbon Dynamics in a Medium-Size Semiarid Basin: The Suquia River, Cordoba (Argentina)

Abstract

This contribution deals with the dynamics and sources of carbon in a medium-size drainage basin from the Pampean Ranges in Central Argentina. The drainage basin has nearly pristine headwaters, and is variably affected by human impacts along its way towards an endorreic saline lake (Mar Chiquita). The Suquia River system (Fig. 1) is located in central Argentina (31~ 63~ Its drainage area reaches 7,700 krn 2 of which over 42 % are accounted for by its headwaters. The mountainous portion (800 to 2000 m a.s.1.) of the drainage feeds a reservoir lake (San Roque), which is presently the main source of water for consumption in the city of C6rdoba (c. 1.3 million inhabitants). Mean rainfall is 750-900 mm y 1 and mean discharge leaving the reservoir lake is 9.6 m 3 s-L Mean discharges of diverse tributaries (i.e. San Antonio, Cosquin, Las Mojarras, and Los Chorrillos) entering the reservoir fluctuate between 1 and 3 m3s -1.