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Evaluation and analysis of surface deformation in west Chapala basin, central Mexico

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Abstract

Vertical deformation was measured at 14 benchmarks within the urban area of Jocotepec Mexico using first-order leveling methods and then spatially analyzed in relation to land subsidence and soil discontinuity patterns. The study area is located within the western portion of the Chapala basin, middle-west Mexico. Observations of vertical surficial deformation were made at each benchmark (September and November 2012) relative to a fixed station and compared to an initial survey of each benchmark (April 2012). Results indicate that a maximum subsidence of 7.16 cm over the 8-month measurement interval occurs near downtown coincident with the largest levels of drawdown and translates to a maximum subsidence rate of 0.89 cm/month for the sampling period. Two benchmarks located northwest and southeast of the urban area exhibited uplift of 2.8 and 0.76 cm, respectively, suggesting a complex mechanical response between the sedimentary soil units and the factors causing deformation. A potential spatial relationship exists between subsidence patterns and soil discontinuities. Four separate cones of groundwater depression were observed with two being coincident with subsidence bowls downtown and south of the urban area; however, there is no clear relationship between drawdown and subsidence in the remaining areas. Hydrogeologic reconstructions reveal alternating sequences of alluvial aquifers and highly deformable lacustrine aquitards. An analysis of the soil discontinuities reveals that they are directly aligned with the patterns of vertical deformation.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for this research was provided by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes through internal project PIIC 12-2. Technical support by Alfredo Solis-Pinto during the leveling and elevation data processing portion of this investigation is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geotechnics and Hydraulics, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, 940 University Ave., Building 108, 20131, Aguascalientes, Mexico

    Martin Hernandez-Marin

  2. Department of Construction and Structures, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, 940 University Ave., Building 108, 20131, Aguascalientes, Mexico

    Jesus Pacheco-Martinez, Jose A. Ortiz-Lozano & Mario E. Zermeño-de-Leon

  3. Doctoral program in Studies in Sciences of the Anthropic Ambits, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, 940 University Ave., Building 108, 20131, Aguascalientes, Mexico

    Alejandro Ramirez-Cortes

  4. Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA

    Thomas J. Burbey

  5. State Commission of the Water, State of Jalisco, 1726 Francia Ave., 44190, Jalisco, Mexico

    Jacobo Guinzberg-Velmont

  6. Civil Protection of the State of Jalisco, 750 18-de-marzo Ave., 44470, Jalisco, Mexico

    German Pinto-Aceves

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  1. Martin Hernandez-Marin
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  2. Jesus Pacheco-Martinez
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  3. Alejandro Ramirez-Cortes
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  4. Thomas J. Burbey
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  8. German Pinto-Aceves
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Correspondence to Martin Hernandez-Marin.

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Hernandez-Marin, M., Pacheco-Martinez, J., Ramirez-Cortes, A. et al. Evaluation and analysis of surface deformation in west Chapala basin, central Mexico. Environ Earth Sci 72, 1491–1501 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3054-7

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