Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The intention in this work is to study (locally) the fluctuation system of groundwater levels in two small watersheds. We selected Rancho do Amaral and Rincão do Soturno small watersheds for being representative of the first order streams which compose the Vacacaí-Mirim river watershed headwaters. Both are located at the border of Paraná Sedimentary Basin, in the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. These small watersheds belong to the municipalities of Itaara and Santa Maria, and they are contributors of the Brazilian hydrographic region South Atlantic. They are considered exceptionally important for the municipality of Santa Maria because they are the main drinking water sources for the DNOS Dam at the Vacacaí-Mirim river. They belong to the system in which water is accumulated and provided to the population. The area under study is part of overlying sandstone in the Botucatu Formation, which belongs to the Guarani Aquifer System. In order to carry out the studies, three monitoring wells were made with equipment measuring the water levels and atmospheric pressure. The equipment was set to automatically take readings every hour. Based on the date collected from the equipment, we mounted a database and applied it to a specific computer program, which allowed us to adopt the Water Table Fluctuation (WTF) method. This method only applies to unconfined aquifers and measures direct groundwater recharges in drainage basins. The recharge was estimated to be 833.0 mm at well number 5; 746.2 mm at well number 6 and 467.2 mm at well number 7 during the period of evaluation. Therefore, the presence of groundwater recharge confirmed our work hypothesis. / A intenção neste trabalho foi de estudar, na situação local, o sistema de flutuação dos níveis de água subterrânea em duas microbacias hidrográficas. Foram selecionadas as microbacias Rancho do Amaral e Rincão do Soturno , por serem representativas de curso de água de primeira ordem, fazendo parte das cabeceiras da bacia hidrográfica do Rio Vacacaí-Mirim. Ambas situadas na borda da Bacia Sedimentar do Paraná, compreendendo a região central do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Estas microbacias pertencem aos municípios de Itaara e Santa Maria, e são contribuintes da região hidrográfica brasileira Atlântico Sul. Consideram-se excepcionalmente importantes para o município de Santa Maria/RS, pois são as principais fornecedoras de água potável para a barragem do DNOS, no Rio Vacacaí-Mirim, pertencente ao sistema de acumulação e distribuição de água à população. A área em estudo faz parte de afloramentos de arenitos da Formação Botucatu pertencentes ao Sistema Aquífero Guarani. Para a execução do estudo foram perfurados 3 (três) poços de monitoramento e neles instalados equipamentos de medição de nível de água e de pressão atmosférica, que são automáticos e configurados para realizarem leituras de hora em hora. Com base nos dados obtidos pelos equipamentos montou-se um banco de informações, que, aplicadas a um programa de computador específico, permitiram a adoção do método WTF (Water Table Fluctuation). Este método somente se aplica a aquífero livre e determina a recarga direta dos mananciais de água subterrânea. Estimou-se a recarga em 833 mm no Poço 5; 746,2 mm no Poço 6 e 467,2 mm no Poço 7, durante o período avaliado. A hipótese de trabalho foi comprovada, indicando haver recarga de água subterrânea.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1973.

O trabalho teve como objetivos determinar os efeitos de inundações do sistema radicular em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento sobre a produtividade das culturas da batata e da alface, identificar a velocidade mínima de rebaixamento do nível freático capaz de evitar prejuízos a estas culturas e obter relações entre a produtividade relativa das mesmas e o índice diário de estresse por excesso de água no solo. Para tal foram conduzidos dois experimentos em lisímetros construídos a partir de tubos de concreto, considerados como parcelas, de julho a outubro de 2001 com a cultura da batata, e de dezembro de 2001 a janeiro de 2002 com a cultura da alface. O delineamento experi-mental adotado foi inteiramente casualizado, arranjado em esquema fatorial [(3 x 4) + 1], com quatro repetições para a cultura da batata e três repetições para a cultura da alfa-ce. Para ambas as culturas os tratamentos consistiram de 3 períodos de aplicação do en-charcamento, 4 velocidades de rebaixamento do nível freático (30 cm em 24, 48, 72 e 96 horas), mais uma testemunha na qual não foi aplicado estresse por elevação do nível freático. A análise dos resultados revelou que dentre os três estádios nos quais o estresse foi aplicado, o que ocasionou maiores perdas para a cultura da batata foi o terceiro (apli-cado do 85o ao 88o dia após o plantio), enquanto que para a cultura da alface o estádio mais crítico foi o primeiro (aplicado do 12o ao 15o dia após o transplantio) . Não foi pos-sível determinar a velocidade de rebaixamento do nível freático mais adequada, pois mesmo com a maior velocidade testada (30 cm em 24 horas), houve decréscimos de cer-ca de 50% da produtividade, para ambas as culturas. Foram obtidas correlações lineares negativas entre as produtividades relativas de ambas as culturas e o índice diário de es-tresse por excesso de água no solo. / This work had as objectivies determinating the effects of root system flooding in three stages of growing of potato and lettuce crops, identifying the minimum water-table drawdown velocity necessary to avoid yield reductions and obtaining relations between relative yield and stress day index caused by excess of water in the soil. For these purposes two experiments were conducted in lisimeters, buit with concrete pipe, considered as parcels, from july to october of 2001, with potato crop, and from decem-ber of 2001 to january of 2002, with lettuce crop. The statistical experimental design was a complete randomizer in a factorial arrangement [(3 x 4) + 1], with four replicati-ons for potato crop and three replications for lettuce crop. For both crops the treatment consisted in 3 growing stages of water-logging application, 4 drawdown velocities (30 cm during 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours) and a control in wich was not applied the stress of rising of the water-table. The results analysis showed that among the three stages where the water-logging were applied, the one who caused bigger yield reduction was the third (applied from the 85th to the 88th day after planting), for the potato crop and the first (ap-plied from the 12th to the 15th day after re-planting), for the lettuce crop. It was not pos-sible to identify the more adequate water-table drawdown velocity because even using the biggest velocity (30 cm during 24 horas) there were a 50% yield reduction for both crops. The potato and the lettuce relative yields showed a negative linear relation with the stress day index.

A pesquisa teve como objetivo integrar o método GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) com a sísmica de refração, visando o mapeamento do N.A. e a estimativa do teor de umidade em uma área de estudos hidrogeológicos no campus da USP, assim como analisar a acurácia da medida dos dois métodos. Foram realizados ensaios geofísicos, granulométricos, de teor de umidade, do grau de saturação, do monitoramento do N.A. e acompanhamento dos índices pluviométricos em três períodos com variações sazonais no decorrer de um ano denominados período chuvoso (janeiro/2004); período intermediário (abril/2004) e período seco (setembro/2004). O mapeamento do N.A. com GPR foi feito com geometria multi-offset, com as antenas de freqüências centrais 50 MHz, 100 MHz e 200 MHz, sendo que as antenas de 100 MHz e 200 MHz foram as que caracterizaram o N.A., refletindo sua variação sazonal e mantendo a tendência prof. N.A. janeiro < prof. N.A. abril < prof. N.A. setembro. O emprego da sísmica de refração gerou maiores erros e ambigüidades na inversão dos dados. Neste estudo, a sísmica de refração não foi sensível às variações sazonais e, embora os resultados tenham se aproximado das observações diretas, não permitiram mapear a flutuação do N.A. entre os diferentes períodos. A estimativa do teor de umidade volumétrico pelo GPR foi obtida com duas metodologias diferentes que utilizaram a onda direta no solo. Foram empregadas antenas de 50 MHz, 100 MHz e 200 MHz nos diferentes períodos. Observou-se uma variação da umidade entre os períodos, sendo o teor de umidade de janeiro > abril > setembro. A antena de 200 MHz foi a que possibilitara uma melhor acurácia na estimativa do teor de umidade volumétrico. / The present study had as objective to integrate GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) method to seismic refraction, focusing on water table mapping and on the estimate of water content in an area of hydrogeological studies at USP\'s campus, as well as analysing the measuring accuracy of both methods. Several assays were accomplished, such as geophysical, granulometric, of water content, saturation degree, water table monitoring assays and also accompaniment of pluviometric indexes in the study periods with seasonal variations, along a year, denominated rainy period (january/2004), intermediaty period (april/2004), and dry period (september/2004). Water table mapping by GPR was made with multi-offset geometry, with 50 MHz, 100 MHz and 200 MHz central frequency antennas, seeing that 100 MHz and 200 MHz antennas were those ones, which characterized the water table, reflecting its seasonal variation and maintaining the depth of the water tablejanuary < depthapril < depthseptember tendency. The use of seismic refraction generated larger mistakes and ambiguities in the data inversion. In this study, seismic refraction was not sensitive to seasonal variations and, although the results have approached to direct observations, they did not allow mapping the water table fluctuation among the different periods. The estimate of volumetric water content by GPR was obtained with two different methodologies that have used the direct ground wave. Fifty MHz, 100 MHz and 200 MHz antennas were used in the different periods. A moisture variation was observed among these periods, being the water content of January > April > September. Two hundred MHz antenna was the one that had facilitated a better accuracy in the estimate of moisture content.

The research project for this PhD set out to provide a best practice example of bringing together industry (Hanson Heidelberg Cement Group), a charitable body (The Parks Trust), non-departmental public body (Environment Agency) and academia (Cranfield University). The Parks Trust (landowner) and Hanson (quarry operator) worked together with the vision of creating a new floodplain forest landscape along a 1 km reach of the River Great Ouse following extraction of gravels from the site. It was the first project of its kind in the United Kingdom where planning permission was obtained specifically for the creation of a floodplain forest habitats post quarrying. The aim of the PhD research was to determine appropriate ecological approaches to apply to the assessment and future monitoring of habitat outcomes of a floodplain forest restoration project at a mineral extraction site. A central element of the research was the design of a scientifically justified monitoring programme, with key variables determined being: soil characteristics, water quality, vegetation development, site topography and water table level data. An Adaptive Monitoring Framework (AMF) was chosen to set the proposed monitoring within which was complemented with the hypothesis - The ratio of wet/dry vegetation within the floodplain forest is determined by the site topography and water table level. The hypothesis was tested by analysis of the key variables through fieldwork and existing data sources supplemented with a study of the water table level interaction with two typical floodplain forest tree species (Salix viminalis and Populus trichocarpa x deltoides) in a glasshouse experiment. Findings from the field and experimental research were then used within a spatially based landscape ecology scenario approach to identify the most suitable areas of the study site for specific species planting according to soil-water levels and topography in the floodplain forest. Outputs of this research enhance understanding of the key aspects to consider when assessing floodplain forest re-creation/restoration and enable guidelines and recommendations to be developed for land managers based on a long-term and an adaptive ecological monitoring approach. These management guidelines and recommendations based on a systematic scientific approach applied within the research should be appropriate to other similar restoration projects. The research provides the background evidence on what should be measured to determine the environmental changes of the floodplain forest habitat restoration as it develops towards restoration success.

Este projeto visou quantificar e determinar a origem da recarga do aquífero freático na zona urbana do município de Urânia (SP). A área está localizada no extremo noroeste do Estado de São Paulo, sobre sedimentos arenosos da Formação Vale do Rio do Peixe, do Grupo Bauru. A metodologia usada foi de balanço hídrico e variação de nível de água para a quantificação da recarga e técnicas hidroquímicas e isotópicas para o estudo de origem da água. Foram analisadas águas da chuva, poços cacimbas, poços tubulares, poços que exploram o Aquífero Bauru e Sistema Aquífero Guarani, esgoto e água distribuída pela SABESP. O clima na região é dividido em duas estações: a úmida, de outubro a maio, e a seca, de junho a setembro. A precipitação acumulada, entre setembro de 2007 e agosto de 2008, foi de 2498 mm. Pelo método do balanço hídrico, 10% deste total (247 mm) correspondem ao escoamento superficial, 69% (1734 mm) voltam diretamente à atmosfera por evapotranspiração, restando 21% (517 mm) para recarga. Através do método de variação do nível d´água, monitorado em dois poços de profundidades distintas, foi calculada a recarga para o período de setembro de 2008 a abril de 2010. O volume de precipitação registrado foi de 2742 mm, e a recarga calculada somou 20% deste total (544 mm) para o poço mais raso, e 16% (456 mm) para o mais profundo. Os dados de nível de água mostraram também que apenas chuvas maiores de 100 mm por mês são capazes de elevar os níveis de água. Através da coleta de amostras mensais de chuva para análises de isótopos estáveis de oxigênio e hidrogênio foi determinada a reta meteórica local (D = 8,5 18O + 17 ( VSMOW)). Através dos isótopos estáveis de oxigênio e hidrogênio foi possível definir que a recarga da água subterrânea é predominantemente proveniente da água de chuva, podendo ter contribuição pequeno proveniente de vazamentos da rede de água da SABESP e do esgoto. Os isótopos radiogênicos de chumbo não mostraram nenhum resultado significativo para o estudo de origem da água subterrânea. Os resultados dos isótopos radiogênicos de estrôncio e de hidroquímica indicaram a existência de um zoneamento do aquífero, que pode ser dividido em raso, intermediário e profundo. Isto possibilita a identificação da contribuição de cada zona para os poços tubulares. A maioria das amostras apresentou contribuição menor do que 8% da água classificada hidroquimicamente e isotopicamente como rasa, e o restante de água profunda. Porém a contribuição pode chegar a 49% de água rasa, indicando alta vulnerabilidade à contaminação. Portanto, os isótopos de estrôncio tem potencial para ser uma ferramenta importante em estudos de vulnerabilidade e gestão de águas subterrâneas. / The focus of this project is to identify the source and quantify the recharge of the unconfined portion of the Bauru aquifer, present in the urban area of Urania, a small city located at the northwestern corner of São Paulo State, Brazil. The aquifer is composed by sandy sediments of the Vale do Rio do Peixe Formation, Bauru Group. Water balance and water table fluctuation were used to quantify the recharge. Hydrochemistry and isotopes, both stable and radioactive, were used to determine recharge sources. Rain water samples were collected, as well as from shallow and deep wells taping the Bauru aquifer and the confined Guarani Aquifer System (GAS), and from the public water supply system, which is a mixture of both aquifers. Climate is tropical, with two well defined seasons: the humid, from October to May, and the dry, from June to September. The total accumulated precipitation between September 2007 and august 2008 was 2498 mm. Using the water balance method, runoff accounted for 10% of this amount (247 mm), evapotranspiration 69% (1734 mm) and recharge 21% (517 mm). Water table was monitored in two wells with different depths in the unconfined aquifer, between September 2008 and April 2010. The total precipitation during this period was 2742 mm. Using the water table fluctuation method, recharge in the shallower well was 20% of this total (544 mm), and 16% in the deeper well (456 mm). Only rainfalls in excess of 100 mm/month caused an elevation in the water table. The local meteoric line was established (D = 8,5 18O + 17 ( VSMOW)). The stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes indicated that the main recharge source is rainfall, and a secondary source is leakage from water and sewage mains. Radioactive Pb isotopes were not useful for recharge source definition. Water samples collected at different depths in gravel-packed wells show both distinctive radioactive Sr isotope and hydrochemical signatures. Thus, groundwater can classified as shallow, intermediary and deep. Most samples collected at gravel-packed wells had less than 8% of water coming from the shallow zone, but a few wells had up to 49% of shallow water, which indicates high vulnerability to contaminants. Therefore, Sr isotopes may be used as a tool in unconfined aquifer vulnerability assessments.

One of the earliest functions to express infiltration as a function of time was introduced by Green and Ampt. In this study their formula was modified to account for air compression and counterflow. Physically,infiltration, air compression, and counterflow occur simultaneously, while in this model they are decoupled within a time step. Counterflow is calculated as a mass flux and pressure is found using the perfect gas law. First, a comparison of three infiltration methods, the original Green and Ampt formulation, a modified version incorporating air compression only, and the third version including air compression and counterflow, was conducted. Then sensitivity of the model accounting for both air compression and counterflow was explored. Results showed that accounting for both air compression and counterflow improves the predicted infiltration rate. Air effect on infiltration can be significant even for environments with an impervious layer as deep as 10m; while for very deep water table environments (100m) the three models give similar results. In shallow water table environments (0.5m), air effect on infiltration rate, cumulative infiltration, ponding time, and saturation time is substantial. The model accounting for air compression and counterflow was then tested for different parameters. It provided reasonable results compared to the Green and Ampt model and the modified version accounting for air compression only. The advantages of this model are that no additional data is required other than what's needed for the original Green and Ampt formulation, and it can be applied for any environment. The assumption of uniform soil moisture content is a limitation for the model, especially for shallow water table environments where the variations in the soil moisture profile within the wetting front depth is substantial.

No description available.

Graduation date: 1999

<p>The research was driven by a need to increase the knowledge base concerning wetland ecological responses, as well as to identify and evaluate the factors driving the functioning of the Franschhoek Trust Wetland. An ecohydrological study was undertaken in which vegetation cover, depth to groundwater, water and soil chemistry were monitored at 14 sites along three transects for a 12 month period. The parameters used include temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, chloride, bicarbonate, sulphate, total nitrogen, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and phosphorus. T-tests and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used to analyze trends and to express the relationship between abiotic factors and vegetation.</p>