Integrated Water Studies: Conceptual Hydrological Modeling to Estimate Aquifer Recharge Areas

This project addresses the critical need to manage water resources in the Galapagos Islands, a sensitive archipelago affected by climate change and increasing tourism demand. The study is part of the GIIWS (Galapagos Islands Integrated Water Studies) project phase, focusing on understanding the hydrological functioning of inhabited islands, specifically San Cristóbal, to support sustainable public policies. The main problem lies in freshwater scarcity and complex hydrogeology, characterized by perched and basal aquifers susceptible to marine intrusion. The proposed solution involves detailed hydro-climatic monitoring and advanced hydrological modeling. A modification of the GR4J hydrological model will be employed to determine equivalent recharge areas, overcoming the limitations of traditional conceptual models that do not account for feeding from perched aquifers. The process includes obtaining and validating meteorological and flow data from 2016, calibrating the modified model, and comparing the resulting equivalent areas with geophysical resistivity models. The expected impact is to provide local and national authorities with robust tools for efficient water management and the delineation of protection perimeters, ensuring environmental and community sustainability.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To determine the hydrological functioning of the Galapagos Islands through the processing of hydro-climatic data and hydrological modeling. The ultimate goal is to quantify aquifer recharge and its areas to provide response elements for the sustainable management of water resources, ensuring the preservation of the unique ecosystem.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Analytical and numerical models to analyze the behavior of materials and systems taking into account current regulations