Research Article

Evaluating infiltration losses in a Mediterranean wetland: Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park, Spain

  1. S. Castaño-Castaño1,
  2. P. Martínez-Santos2,*,
  3. P. E. Martínez-Alfaro2

Article first published online: 10 SEP 2008

DOI: 10.1002/hyp.7124

Issue

Hydrological Processes

Hydrological Processes

Volume 22, Issue 26, pages 5048–5053, 30 December 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Castaño-Castaño, S., Martínez-Santos, P. and Martínez-Alfaro, P. E. (2008), Evaluating infiltration losses in a Mediterranean wetland: Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park, Spain. Hydrol. Process., 22: 5048–5053. doi: 10.1002/hyp.7124

Author Information

  1. 1

    Instituto Geológico y Minero de España. Dirección de Hidrogeología y Aguas Subterráneas. C/Ríos Rosas, 23. 28003 Madrid, Spain

  2. 2

    Fac. Ciencias Geológicas. 5a Planta. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Ciudad Universitaria s/n. 28040 Madrid, Spain

*Fac. Ciencias Geológicas. 5a Planta. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Ciudad Universitaria s/n. 28040 Madrid, Spain.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 DEC 2008
  2. Article first published online: 10 SEP 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 26 JUN 2008
  4. Manuscript Received: 27 APR 2007

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Keywords:

  • infiltration;
  • flooded area;
  • Las Tablas de Daimiel;
  • groundwater;
  • wetlands

Abstract

Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park is a series of wetlands which naturally originated from groundwater discharges from the Mancha Occidental aquifer, Spain. Despite the relatively large size of this aquifer, 30 years of intensive groundwater pumping have significantly depleted the water table. As a result, wetlands only remain functional due to artificial inflows. Infiltration loss is therefore a key parameter to evaluate how much water is needed to maintain ecosystem functionality. Although yearly infiltration estimates existed prior to this work, these did not take into account key parameters such as the temporal evolution of the flooded area. This paper presents a more concrete estimate of the average infiltration losses. Infiltration is calculated as the closure term of daily water balances during a period of time where all other elements were known to an acceptable accuracy. A validation mechanism is provided to check the potential utility of the calculated infiltration in wetland management practices. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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