De Agua Research Articles

El rol de la paradiplomacia en las entidades binacionales: análisis del accionar de las provincias argentinas y regiones chilenas en los casos de EBITAN y EBIFETRA

Since the end of the eighties, Argentina and Chile have begun a process of integration, favored by the return to democracy. Since then, the sub-state component has beenincorporated in the process, especially through the Maipu Treaty of 2009, offering the non-central governments greater opportunities of participation. Nonetheless, it is necessary to explore whether the Argentinean provinces and the Chilean regions have exploited the channels of participation offered to them by the states. To this end, thispaper analyzed the binational entities created for the projects Tunel Internacional de Agua Negra (EBITAN) and Ferrocarril Trasandino Central (EBIFETRA), comparatively.

Modelo Hidrogeológico Conceitual da Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara (EEcSB) em área do Sistema Aquífero Bauru (SAB)

A modelagem hidrogeológica possibilita responder várias questões capazes de descrever a variabilidade espacial e temporal do comportamento dos aquíferos, como as variações nos níveis, a direção e velocidade dos fluxos, a origem da água e volume disponível. A gestão das águas subterrâneas pode ser beneficiada pelas informações geradas pela construção de um Modelo Hidrogeológico Conceitual (MHC), buscando maximizar os dados e experiências, utilizando ambos de forma sistemática para obtenção de respostas e conhecimentos sobre a dinâmica das águas subterrâneas. Este estudo teve como objetivo construir um MHC utilizando técnicas de análise espacial aplicadas a variáveis ambientais e dados de nível freático. Buscou-se com a utilização de uma metodologia quantitativa e qualitativa gerar um MHC para descrever a dinâmica do Sistema Aquífero Bauru (SAB) na Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara (EEcSB), município de Águas de Santa Barbara/SP. Os resultados forneceram um MHC que permite uma serie de interpretações iniciais sobre o comportamento do escoamento subterrâneo, subsidiando a tomada de decisões para proteção dos recursos hídricos nos limites da EEcSB. Conclui-se que as descargas por fluxos subterrâneos recentes abastecem as drenagens superficiais presentes na área e este fluxo subterrâneo acompanha a topografia em direção às drenagens principais.

Environmental and zooplankton parameter changes during the drying of a saline shallow temporary lake in central Argentina

Central Argentina has numerous saline lakes sustained by groundwater sources and rainfall. These lakes are temporary and experience significant changes in water level and salinity, depending on wet and dry climate cycles. This study aims to investigate the scarcely known dynamics of environmental and zooplankton parameters during the drying phase of one of these lakes. Monthly samples were taken from December 2 012<br />to July 2 013 in the Ojo de Agua Uriburu lake, previous to its drying. At the beginning of the study, the lake’s depth was 0.7 m and its salinity was 16.65 g/L, later, in July, its depth decreased to 0.06 m and its salinity increased to 92.9 g/L. Zooplankton species richness was low (three crustaceans and three rotifers), with <em>Boeckella poopoensis</em> and <em>Moina eugeniae</em> dominating in the system. Maximum density and biomass were attained<br />by the two dominant species in April (318.5 ind/L and 3 029.1 g /L dry weight; and 242.4 ind/L and 1 530.4 g/L dry weight, for <em>B. poopoensis</em> and <em>M. eugeniae</em>, respectively), and no correlation was found between these parameters and salinity. Maximum average body lengths for both species were observed in the last months of sampling (<em>M. eugeniae</em>: 1 020 84.2 m and<em> B. poopoensis</em>: 1 348.8 89.0 m). At this point of the study, neither juvenile nor larval stages were found. The increase in average body size is, arguably, the result of increased salinity in the system through a negative<br />effect on reproduction. Because this lake reached hypersalinity, its ecological dynamics are unique among those of other temporary, saline lakes that dried in central Argentina. Similar studies on other temporary ecosystems are needed to increase the information on these little known ecological aspects.

UMA NATUREZA QUE EDUCA: AS ESTÂNCIAS HIDROMINERAIS NO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO (1930-1940)

As estâncias hidrominerais no Brasil se fizeram importante reduto de uma nova educação do corpo no início do século XX. Indicadas por um discurso médico que prescrevia uma fuga em direção à natureza, os novos divertimentos procurados pelos viajantes foram expressão de uma natureza domesticada pela mão humana e contraponto à vida na cidade. Entre curas, regenerações e divertimentos, este artigo propõe uma viagem em meio à natureza nas estâncias hidrominerais paulistas de Serra Negra e Águas de Lindoia, nas décadas de 1930 e 1940, período de seu esplendor, e tem como objetivo compreender de que forma essas estâncias, com suas indicações, prescrições e possibilidades, operavam uma determinada e específica educação do corpo dos visitantes. As fontes constituídas compreendem guias de viagens, revistas médicas e anais de congressos que tratam das águas termais.

The Younger Dryas black mat from Ojo de Agua, a geoarchaeological site in Northeastern Zacatecas, Mexico

New explorations in the desert of northeastern Zacatecas, in central-northern Mexico, revealed dozens of archaeological and geoarchaeological sites. One of them, Ojo de Agua, contains the remains of a Pleistocene spring-fed hydrographic system located at the southeastern end of a large elongated endorheic basin. The locality yielded a particularly dark, highly organic stratigraphic layer commonly known in the Americas as Black Mat (BM), exposed on the natural profiles of a creek, but not associated with cultural materials. Several radiocarbon assessments confirmed the formation of the Ojo de Agua Black Mat during the Younger Dryas chronozone, with ten calibrated results clustering between 12,700–12,100 cal BP. This multi-proxy study confirmed the peculiarity of the deposit and found similarities and differences with other contexts of Younger Dryas age. The Ojo de Agua Black Mat (stratum C2) is far richer in charcoal specks than the related strata, but lacks phytoliths, diatoms or ostracods. No further biological remains were found in it, except for intrusive capillary roots. Clearly water-lain in a shallow pond, the stratum qualifies as a clayey silt with an acidic-to-neutral pH. Rich in heavy metals and with high contents of titanium, the Ojo de Agua Black Mat yielded significant indicators of intense wildfires during the Younger Dryas, but produced no carbon spherules or nanodiamonds supposedly linked to the impact theory.

Simulando la interacción entre la densidad inicial y los flujos de agua y nutrientes para comprender el desarrollo de rodales mixtos de Pinus sylvestris y Fagus sylvatica bajo cambio climático

Candel-Perez, D., Blanco, J.A., Gonzalez de Andres, E., Lo, Y.-H., Imbert, J.B., Castillo, F. 2017. Simulating the interaction among initial stand density and water and nutrient flows to understand the development of Pinus sylvestris and Fagus sylvatica mixedwoods under climate change. Ecosistemas 26(2): 38-51. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2017.26-2.05 Management of mixed forest has become an adaptation strategy to reduce the risks related to climate change. At the same time, ecological models can be a useful tool for studying the growth and productivity of these stands. This work introduces an assessment of the capacity of the ‘FORECAST Climate’ hybrid model to simulate water stress and productivity in mixed Scots pine and beech forests in Navarre (northern Spain), and their interaction with different levels of regeneration density. The study included three climate scenarios to test the model capacity to simulate water flows under climate change conditions. Model estimations of water deficit and biomass accumulation were sensitive to the reduction in the initial regeneration density rates. The results indicated that the model shows sufficient capacity to simulate the effects of competition between species on tree mortality in mixedwoods, and to estimate the variables related to water flows. On the one hand, the most significant effects of stand density on water availability occur during the first stage of development, while on the other hand, water stress is greater in the case of beech, although the reduction in competition could offset this increase. The implications of this work for adaptive management of mixed forests suggest applying density control soon in order to have significant cumulative effects in coming decades.

Probabilistic assessment of annual repair rates in pipelines and of direct economic losses in water and sewage networks: application to Manizales, Colombia

A methodology for the development of fully probabilistic seismic risk assessments on water and sewage networks is presented in this paper together with a case study for the system of Manizales, Colombia. These kinds of assessments require the development of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, the consideration of local site effects, when relevant, the assembly of databases to identify and characterize the exposed elements and the development and assignment of vulnerability models for each type of component. For the case of Manizales, a high-resolution exposure database has been developed (element by element, segment by segment) based on the information and data provided by the owner and operator of the network, Aguas de Manizales. Losses due to earthquakes are obtained after convoluting the hazard and vulnerability inputs in a fully probabilistic manner, using the state-of-the-art methodologies incorporated in the CAPRA risk assessment module. Several risk metrics such as the loss exceedance curve, the loss exceedance probabilities for different time frames and the average annual loss are obtained for the system as a whole as well as disaggregated by component. In addition, repair rates for the pipelines were also calculated. The risk results obtained in this study have been useful for the company in designing and implementing expansion and maintenance plans that explicitly account for seismic risk mitigation issues, as well as to explore and negotiate financial protection alternatives by means of risk transfer and retention schemes, thus becoming a valuable input in the continuous development of good disaster risk management practices in this city.

Modeling Agricultural Potential Near the Ocampo Caves, Tamaulipas: Integrating Archaeological and Geospatial Applications

The Ocampo Caves of Tamaulipas, Mexico are well-known for archaeological evidence of early domesticated plants and the development of prehistoric food production. Richard S. MacNeish's 1953–1954 investigations in Romero's, Valenzuela's, and Ojo de Agua Caves yielded important insights into local prehistoric societies, the adoption of domesticated plants, and the use of caves as temporary campsites. Our research approaches the broader context of landuse by the occasional occupants of the caves through a geospatial analysis of the agricultural potential of the surrounding landscape. A recent archaeological survey revealed additional cave sites, as well as open-air settlements in the vicinity of the Ocampo Caves. The distribution of open settlements with architecture in a wide range of topographic settings raises the question of how this very rugged landscape might have been cultivated on a sufficient scale to support village populations. To address this issue, we developed a suitability raster using a geogr...

Factores condicionantes de la buena gestión del servicio de agua potable en doce comunidades del altiplano mexicano

La Buena Gestión del agua en comunidades de México es un tema de actualidad, porque refleja la capacidad comunitaria para el manejo de un Recurso de Uso Común. En este caso se presenta el trabajo realizado a órganos denominados Comisiones de Agua Potable de 12 comunidades del Altiplano central mexicano. El objetivo fue analizar los factores de desempeño al interior de dichas organizaciones. Se examinaron cinco dimensiones de la Buena Gestión con información generada por encuestas y entrevistas a doce representantes de las Comisiones de Agua Potable y a dos representantes del municipio. Para determinar las dimensiones que registraron el mayor número de incumplimientos de Buena Gestión, se utilizó el gráfico de Pareto. Los factores que inciden negativamente en los criterios de Buena Gestión, se asocian a las dimensiones administrativa, comercial y financiera. Los factores que operan a favor son autonomía, reconocimiento y existencia de límites definidos.

Fronteras de agua: Las ciudades portuarias y su universo cultural (siglos XIV-XXI)

In Fronteras de Agua Manuel-Reyes Garcia Hurtado and Ofelia Rey Castelao skilfully coordinate 34 articles authored by 43 researchers from both sides of the Atlantic written in 4 different languages...

Uso de geotecnologias na avaliação da favorabilidade hidrogeológica em aquíferos fraturados

Este artigo trata do mapeamento da favorabilidade hidrogeológica em aquíferos fraturados, na região do Circuito das Águas Paulista. As técnicas de sensoriamento remoto e análise geoespacial foram utilizadas para criação e combinação de mapas geológico, fisiográficos, estrutural, de uso e cobertura do solo e de favorabilidade. Estes dados foram manipulados em sistemas de informação geográfica, visando ao mapeamento da favorabilidade hidrogeológica, utilizando lógica Fuzzy. O mapeamento de favorabilidade se mostrou de acordo com os valores de capacidade específica, e com o padrão de distribuição dos poços. Além disso, a superfície de tendência gerada a partir dos dados de capacidade específica se mostrou em conformidade com o mapa de favorabilidade, corroborando a acurácia do método utilizado e demonstrando uma alta favorabilidade hidrogeológica nos municípios e Águas de Lindóia de Lindóia.

Turismo y Sistemas Empresariales Resilientes: Factores Críticos de Adaptabilidad en Baños de Agua Santa – Ecuador

Resilience is understood as dynamic learning ability, self-organization and adaptability of a system, when affected by unforeseen Within this context, this research focuses on business dimension of resilience and establishes a methodology based on Fuzzy AHP to determine the incidence of five analysis criteria that related to: business vision, opportunity entrepreneurship, business environment, company behavior disaster response and female entrepreneurship, according to scientific literature and expert opinion, are immersed in the adaptability of the territories and regions affected by natural disasters. The empirical application in the turistic town of Banos de Agua Santa in Ecuador, is justified to be recognized by the United Nations as Resilient City to volcanic events. The results present an assessment of the resilience of business system in this town, while identifying how these factors contributed to its adaptability. Fuzzy AHP model considers expert judgment catastrophic events in Ecuador and Chile in the last sixteen years.

Fatores condicionantes dos processos erosivos na sub-bacia hidrográfica de Água de Gato – Cabo Verde

O presente trabalho, realizado na Sub-Bacia Hidrográfica de Água de Gato-Concelho de São Domingos, teve como objetivo fundamental o diagnóstico e a aferição dos processos erosivos aí presentes. Os resultados do estudo indiciam que a ocorrência dos processos erosivos na área de estudo não é devida exclusivamente aos processos naturais, sendo que as práticas tradicionais de uso e gestão do solo praticadas nessa área, são significativamente influentes, especialmente por ocorrerem em encostas com declives acentuados e onde estão ausentes práticas adequadas de conservação de solo. https://doi.org/10.14195/1647-7723_24_4

A high precision U–Pb radioisotopic age for the Agrio Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina: Implications for the chronology of the Hauterivian Stage

A new CA-ID TIMS U–Pb age of 130.39 ± 0.16 Ma is presented here from the Pilmatué Member of the Agrio Formation, lower Hauterivian of the Neuquén Basin in west-central Argentina. This high precision radioisotopic new age, together with the two former ones from the upper Hauterivian Agua de la Mula Member of the Agrio Formation and modern cyclostratigraphic studies in the classical sections of the Mediterranean Province of the Tethys indicate that the Hauterivian Stage spans some 6 Ma, starting ca. 132 Ma and ending ca. 126 Ma. These radioisotopic ages are tied to ammonite biostratigraphy and calcareous nannofossil bioevents and biozones recognized in the Neuquén Basin which in turn are correlated with the Mediterranean standard zones. A new geological time scale for the Valanginian–Hauterivian stages in the Mediterranean region integrating astrochronological and radiochronological data differs with the current official geological time scale which still maintains poorly constraint absolute ages for the Berriasian-Aptian interval.

Historical water supply to The Monastery of El Paular: a “qanat” in the Guadarrama mountain range (Madrid, Spain)

The "qanat" is an ingenious system of collecting and conducting groundwater to a supply point. Its origin dates back to 3,000 years ago in the area known today as Armenia, and it had spread widely throughout Persia by 600 BC. The expansion of Islam spread this technique from China to the Iberian Peninsula, where it has received various local names. In Madrid, the technique was widely used for water supply from the ninth century until the mid-twentieth century, and in recent centuries received the name "Viajes de agua". However, the geological and socio-economic environment of the Sierra de Guadarrama in Madrid is not, and has never been, appropriate for the implementation of this type of water catchment. This is why the qanat supply of the former Charterhouse of Santa María de El Paular (Rascafría), which shows a very similar typology to the "Viajes de agua" modified or constructed in Madrid between the 17th and 19th centuries, is so original. Three "capirotes" (hoods) and a "distribution ark" have been located "in situ" in the vicinity of the Monastery and another "capirote" is used as an ornamental element in the courtyard of the old Hotel El Paular. In this paper, we present the results obtained in the field study and files on this "Viaje de agua", its context within the old Monastery supply, its water quality, and various hydrological and hydraulic considerations. Its builders must have been "plumbers" from Madrid in the seventeenth century, and it underwent several modifications during the eighteenth century.

Paleoecological quantitative analysis based on benthic foraminifera of the Aalenian–Bajocian boundary (upper Bradfordensis–lower Discites) in the Barranco de Agua Larga section (Betic Cordillera, Southern Spain)

To report, for the first time, the benthic foraminiferal assemblages recorded across the upper Bradfordensis–lower Discites ammonite zones (Aalenian–Bajocian boundary, Middle Jurassic) in the Barranco de Agua Larga section (Betic Cordillera, Southern Spain),in order to infer the paleecological conditions that affected their development. A total of 17 samples were collected in this reference section, and the composition of the foraminiferal assemblages recorded throughout the studied stratigraphical was analyzed using quantitative data obtained through the estimation of relative abundances and the calculation of several diversity indexes. The assemblages are abundant (a total of 3, 139 well-preserved specimens) and diverse(82 species). Their composition displays close similarities to those already described for the Jurassic carbonate platforms of the Boreal Realm (Type-A), Boreal Atlantic subdivision. The studied assemblages were developed in distal marine environmental conditions, at a depth situated above the level of the calcite compensation, well oxygenated and with normal salinity, although for certain times (Aalenian–Bajocian boundary) unfavorable environmental conditions could have developed. The sharp decrease in the abundance and diversity that was recorded during the Aalenian–Bajocian transition has also been recognized in other coeval basins of the Iberian Plate paleomargin, thus representing a bioevent of regional rank.

Redes y capacidades de actores en torno a comités independientes de agua potable: el caso de San Felipe Tlalmimilolpan, Toluca, México.

Se realiza un análisis sobre capacidades y falta de capacidades del Comité de Agua de San Felipe Tlalmimilolpan 2006-2009 y 2009, organización comunitaria responsable del control y distribución del líquido en esta localidad perteneciente al municipio de Toluca. El Comité es considerado parte de una red de política pública con eventuales propósitos de gobernanza, entendido no como concepto normativo, sino como diversidad de configuraciones que surgen en espacios de conflicto de intereses. Con esta perspectiva se estudia el uso y manejo de los recursos de los actores. Los recursos se comprenden a la luz de teorías como capacidades y no capacidades complementadas con el concepto de cerrazón, derivado del enfoque de redes, y mediante la propuesta de “matriz de capacidades territoriales” se ubican los tipos de capacidades: cognitivas, instrumentales y sociorrelacionales. Mediante el uso de entrevistas a miembros de los Comités y funcionarios gubernamentales de agua se identificó la presencia y ausencia de capacidades necesarias para el manejo de la organización, lo que al final ocasionó que el tiempo, recursos y confianza invertidos se perdieran al destituir a los integrantes bajo un proceso de auditoría. También se encontró en la cultura de la red características como aislamiento, hermetismo, desconfianza y falta de respeto a la autoridad, lo que ha propiciado ambientes que dificultan una adecuada gestión del recurso público. La principal conclusión es que a pesar de la falta de algunas capacidades, el Comité ha podido mantenerse y abastecer de agua a la comunidad, no obstante se presenta una fragilidad que podría poner en riesgo su estabilidad.

Linear Programming Approach for Feed Ration Formulation of Pre-Starter Swine using Locally- Available Feed Ingredients in the Philippines

Objectives: In this study, alternative feed rations for backyard pre-starter swine are formulated using various combinations of locally-available feed ingredients in the Philippines. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Feed rations are formulated using linear programming techniques. Various combinations of feed ingredients, namely coconut residue, water spinach, sweet potato leaves, cassava leaves, banana pseudo stem, duckweed fern, lead tree leaves, taro leaves, madre de agua leaves, water hyacinth leaves, rice bran D1and rice bran D2, mixed with preferred commercially-available pre-starter feeds are considered to find cheaper feed rations while ensuring that required basic nutrients for pre-starter swine are met. Findings: Results of the numerical experiments provide cheaper feed ration formulations for pre-starter swine. Specifically, 18 least-cost feed rations were obtained using various combinations of the 12 ingredients with the cheapest at PHP 9.20 (Ration 1) per kilo and the most expensive at PHP 11.57 (Ration 13). When the feed rations are formulated to include 10%, 25% or 50% of the preferred commercially-available pre-starter feed, the cheapest feed ration costs, respectively, PHP 13.93 (Ration1), PHP 21.07 (Rations 1 and 5), and PHP 33.10 (Ration 1). Feed ration formulations obtained in all 4 cases considered in this study were way cheaper as compared to the most preferred pre-starter feed available in the market which is sold at PHP 42 per kilo. Based on linear programming formulations, all feed rations obtained in this study contain the required amount of calcium, crude protein, moisture, crude fiber, phosphorus and crude fat for pre-starter swine. Application/ Improvements: Using the results of this study, backyard swine raisers can have cheaper pre-starter swine feed rations by mixing commercially-available pre-starter feed with the appropriate locally-available feed ingredients.

Urban resilience efforts must consider social and political forces

Environmental disasters, ranging from catastrophic floods to extreme temperatures, have caused more than 30,000 deaths per year and more than US$ 250–300 billion a year in economic losses, globally, between 1995 and 2015 (1). Improved infrastructure and planning for extreme events is essential in urban areas, where an increasingly greater fraction of the world’s inhabitants reside. In response, international governmental and private initiatives have placed the goal of resilience at the center stage of urban planning. [For example, The 100 Resilient Cities Initiative (www.100resilientcities.org/); the Global Covenant of Mayors (https://www.compactofmayors.org/globalcovenantofmayors/); and the recent UN Habitat III (https://habitat3.org/the-new-urban-agenda)]. In addition, scientific and policy communities alike now recognize the need for “safe-to-fail” infrastructural design, and the potential role of green and blue infrastructure in mediating hydrological and climatic risks in cities (2). Fig. 1. Improving urban resilience could help cities better cope with natural disasters, such as neighborhood flood events in Mexico City pictured here. Data source: Unidad Tormenta, Sistema de Aguas de la Ciudad de Mexico. Nevertheless, the social and political norms, values, rules, and relationships that undergird and structure the myriad decisions made by public and private actors—what we call “socio-political infrastructure”—are likely to be as influential in urban vulnerability dynamics as “hard” infrastructure and environmental management. Urban planning for enhanced resilience and sustainability is ultimately a complex social and political process. Socio-political infrastructure creates patterns of behavior and action that shape the built environment. Developing more sustainable pathways of urban development hinges on making this socio-political infrastructure transparent and legible in the tools and approaches available for risk management. We argue that sustainability science is in the position to create the tools, methods, and strategies to identify, represent, and communicate the significance of these social and political processes to decision makers at all levels. In doing so, we can help … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: Hallie.Eakin{at}asu.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1

Modelado de la absorción de agua en semillas de garbanzo (Cicer arietinum L) cosechadas en el noroeste de México

Modelado de la absorción de agua en semillas de garbanzo (Cicer arietinum L) cosechadas en el noroeste de México