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Review: The Yucatán Peninsula karst aquifer, Mexico

Revue: L’aquifère karstique de la péninsule du Yucatán, Mexique

Revisión: El acuífero kárstico de la península de Yucatán, Mexico

墨西哥尤卡坦半岛岩溶含水层综述

Revisão: O aquífero cársico da Península do Yucatão, México

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Abstract

The Yucatán Peninsula karst aquifer is one of the most extensive and spectacular karst aquifer systems on the planet. This transboundary aquifer system extends over an area of approximately 165,000  km2 in México, Guatemala and Belize. The Triassic to Holocene Yucatán limestone platform is located in the vicinity of the North American/Caribbean plate boundary and has been reshaped by a series of tectonic events over its long geologic history. At the end of the Cretaceous period, the Yucatán Peninsula was hit by a large asteroid, which formed the Chicxulub impact crater. The Yucatán Peninsula karst aquifer hosts large amounts of groundwater resources which maintain highly diverse groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Large parts of the aquifer are affected by seawater intrusion. Anthropogenic pollution of the aquifer has been increasing over the past few decades, owing to relentless economic development and population growth on the Peninsula. This review summarizes the state of knowledge on the Yucatán Peninsula karst aquifer and outlines the main challenges for hydrologic research and practical groundwater-resources management on the Peninsula.

Résumé

L’aquifère karstique de la péninsule du Yucatán est un des systèmes karstiques les plus étendus et les plus spectaculaires au monde. Ce système aquifère transfrontalier s’étend sur une surface d’environ 165,000 km2 concernant le Mexique, le Guatémala et le Belize. La plateforme carbonatée comprend des formations du Trias à l’Holocène; elle est située à proximité de la limite des plaques Nord-Américaine et Caribéenne, et a été affectée par une série d’événements tectoniques tout au long de cette longue histoire géologique. A la fin du Crétacé, la péninsule du Yucatán a été impactée par une grande météorite qui a provoqué la formation du cratère du Chicxulub. L’aquifère karstique de la péninsule du Yucatán renferme une très grande quantité de ressources en eaux souterraines dont dépendent fortement de nombreux et divers écosystèmes. De grandes parties de l’aquifère sont affectées par des intrusions d’eau de mer. La contamination d’origine anthropique de l’aquifère a augmenté au cours des dernières décennies, liée à un développement économique important et à une augmentation de la population sur la péninsule. Cette revue résume l’état des connaissances de l’aquifère karstique de la péninsule du Yucatán et ébauche les principaux défis concernant la recherche scientifique en hydrologie et hydrogéologie et la gestion pratique des ressources en eaux souterraines de la péninsule.

Resumen

El acuífero kárstico de la Península de Yucatán es un de los más extensos y espectaculares sistema de acuíferos kársticos del planeta. Este sistema de acuífero transfronterizo se extiende sobre un área de aproximadamente 165,000 km2 en México, Guatemala y Belice. La plataforma de caliza del triásico al holoceno de Yucatán está localizada en las vecindades del límite entre la placa Norteamericana/Caribeña y ha sido reformada por una serie de eventos tectónicos a través de su larga historia geológica. Al fin del período Cretácico, la península de Yucatán fue impactada por un gran asteroide, que formó el cráter de impacto Chicxulub. El acuífero kárstico de la península de Yucatán aloja grandes cantidades de recursos de agua subterránea lo cuales mantienen ecosistemas dependientes del agua subterránea altamente diversos. Grandes partes del acuífero son afectadas por la intrusión de agua de mar. La contaminación antrópica del acuífero se ha incrementado durante las últimas décadas, debido al desarrollo económico descontrolado y al crecimiento de la población de la península. Esta revisión resume el estado del conocimiento del acuífero kárstico de la Península de Yucatán y delinea los principales desafíos para la investigación hidrológica y el manejo práctico de los recursos de agua subterránea de la Península.

摘要

尤卡坦半岛岩溶含水层是地球上最大, 最壮观的岩溶含水层系统之一。这个跨境含水层系统的面积约165,000 km2, 分布于墨西哥、危地马拉和伯利兹三个国家。三叠纪到全新世的尤卡坦灰岩层位于北美/加勒比海板块边界附近, 并且在其较长的地质历史时期内被一系列的构造事件改造。在白垩纪末期, 尤卡坦半岛被一个大的小行星撞击, 并形成了Chicxulub撞击坑。尤卡坦半岛岩溶含水层含有丰富的地下水资源, 并维持着依赖地下水存活的高度多样化的生态系统。该含水层的大部分地区受海水入侵的影响。在过去的几十年里, 由于该半岛上经济的发展以及人口增长, 人类活动造成的地下水污染已经越来越严重了。本篇评述主要总结了尤卡坦半岛岩溶含水层的研究现状, 指出了该半岛上水文研究和实际地下水资源管理面临的主要挑战。

Resumo

O aquífero cársico da Península do Yucatão é um dos mais extensos e espectaculares sistemas cársicos do planeta. Este sistema aquífero transfronteiriço estende-se sobre uma área de aproximadamente 165,000 km2 do México, Guatemala e Belize. A plataforma carbonatada triássica a holocénica situa-se na vizinhança do limite das placas norte americana e caribenha e tem sido redefinida por uma série de eventos tectónicos ao longo da sua história geológica. No final do período Cretácico, a Península do Yucatão foi atingida por um grande asteróide, que formou a cratera de impacto de Chicxulub. O aquífero cársico da Península do Yucatão contém enormes quantidades de recursos hídricos subterrâneos, os quais mantêm uma grande diversidade de ecossistemas dependentes de águas subterrâneas. Grandes áreas do aquífero encontram-se afectadas por intrusão salina. Devido ao grande desenvolvimento económico e ao crescimento da população na Península, há um incremento da poluição antropogénica no aquífero nas últimas décadas. Esta revisão sumariza o estado do conhecimento do aquífero cársico da Península do Yucatão e delineia os principais desafios para a investigação hidrogeológica e para a prática da gestão dos recursos hídricos subterrâneos na Península.

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Acknowledgements

P. Bauer-Gottwein, B. Gondwe and G. Merediz-Alonso would like to acknowledge support and input from the Geological Survey of Austria, the Comisión Nacional del Agua (Mexican National Water Commission), Comisión de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado (CAPA), C. Lasch, J. Coleman, L. & M. Hausman, the Secretaría de Marina Armada de México (Mexican Navy), The Nature Conservancy, WWF Verdensnaturfonden/Aase & Ejnar Danielsens Fond 2006 and 2007 and the COWIfoundation. G. Charvet acknowledges Aguakan S.A. de C.V. for data and information about the Cancún water-supply system and El Eden Reserve for logistic support during field campaigns. L. Marín acknowledges support from the Dirección General de Asuntos del personal Académico de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Project IN119506. We thank the Editor and Associate Editor of the Hydrogeology Journal as well as two anonymous reviewers for thoughtful suggestions and comments, which helped us to significantly improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby,, Denmark

    Peter Bauer-Gottwein, Bibi R. N. Gondwe & Guillaume Charvet

  2. Departamento de Recursos Naturales, Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,, Ciudad Universitaria Del. Coyoacán, México D.F., C.P. 04510, Mexico

    Luis E. Marín

  3. Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, A.C., Calle 43, No. 130, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida,, Yucatán, Mexico

    Mario Rebolledo-Vieyra

  4. Amigos de Sian Ka’an A.C., Calle Fuego #2, Manzana 10, SM. 4, Cancún,, Quintana Roo,, C.P. 77511, Mexico

    Gonzalo Merediz-Alonso

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  1. Peter Bauer-Gottwein
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Correspondence to Peter Bauer-Gottwein.

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Bauer-Gottwein, P., Gondwe, B.R.N., Charvet, G. et al. Review: The Yucatán Peninsula karst aquifer, Mexico. Hydrogeol J 19, 507–524 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-010-0699-5

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