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Home > GCR > Vol. 36 > Iss. 1 (2025)

 

Alternate Title

Heterogeneity of Groundwater Level across a Karstic Landscape under Extreme Rainfall and Patterns of Nearshore Chlorophyll-

Document Type

Article

Abstract

One of the most active cyclone seasons in decades for the Atlantic occurred during 2020. The Yucatan Peninsula (YP) lies along the corridor of Atlantic hurricanes and experiences heavy rainfalls brought about by such hydrometeorological events. The groundwater level was inferred during this period from time series provided by NASA’s GLDAS model. The study domain encompassed geohydrologically distinctive areas in the YP, including the juxtaposition among intact water reserves, secondary vegetation, and livestock—impacted areas. The overall purpose of this research was to inspect the hydrologic cycle constraints across a mainly unconfined aquifer and undertake a sub—regional scale test of the aquifer system’s sensitivity to extreme hydrometeorological phenomena. The northern YP aquifers’ water table rose as a direct response to abundant rainfall during these hydrometeorological events. A relatively sluggish hydrologic gradient relaxation (~7 mm/day) was evident for a protected area after these storm—driven increases. By comparing the aquifers’ response to past strong hurricanes, it was hypothesized that the former system’s recovery capability to normal water levels (resilience) has been undermined. A paramount question this study aims to answer is whether the YP physiography conditions further aquifer responses to extreme rainfall events, and how they are modulated by prevalent vegetation across the karstified landscape. Peak nearshore chlorophyll—a following heavy rainfalls adjacent to an inland area featuring high sinkhole density and impacted vegetation due to cattle production as the main economic activity was discussed in terms of further implications under an increased cyclone frequency scenario and current regional development paradigms.

First Page

49

Last Page

58

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Statement

No artificial intelligence (AI) was used in the preparation of this manuscript

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