Quantification of the geological value of the Lomas de Banao Ecological Reserve (Cuba), according to the Protekarst method

En este trabajo se indica la metodología para obtener la cuantificación relativa del valor geológico del karst, integrantes del método Protekarst. Se basa en la determinación de lugares de interés geológico, en la distribución espacial de la riqueza de elementos geológicos y la geomorfología kárstica. La integración de estos mapas en un SIG permite obtener la distribución del valor geológico del karst para determinar las zonas en las que es necesaria una mayor protección en base a este aspecto. La metodología se aplica a la Reserva Ecológica Lomas de Banao, al presentar características geológicas de interés y pretender su declaración como Parque Nacional.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Methane concentration and isotopic composition (d13C-CH4) in the Nerja Cave system (South Spain)

Air in underground caves often has methane (CH4) concentrations below the atmospheric level, due to methanotrophic or other unkown CH4 consuming processes. Caves are thus considered a potential sink for atmospheric methane. If globally important, this underground CH4 oxidation should be taken into account in the atmospheric methane budget, in addition to the known soil methanotrophy and tropospheric/stratospheric sinks. A large set of data is however necessary to understand how and how much methane from external atmospheric air is consumed in the caves. While methane concentration data are available for several caves worldwide, its isotopic composition and variations in space and time are poorly documented. We measured methane concentration and stable C isotope composition (d13C) in the Nerja cave (Southern Spain) air during two surveys in March and April 2015. CH4 concentration decreases progressively from the more external cave rooms, with atmospheric levels of 1.9 ppmv, to the more internal and isolated rooms down to 0.5 ppmv. d13C increases correspondingly from -47 h to -41 h (VPDB). CH4 is systematically 13C-enriched (d13C > -45 permil) in areas of the cave where the concentration is below 1.4 ppmv. This combination of concentration decrease and 13C-enrichment towards the more internal and isolated zones of the cave confirms the importance of CH4 oxidation, likely driven by methanotrophic bacteria. Further data, including stable H isotope composition of subatmospheric CH4 concentrations, CO2 and microbial analyses, shall be acquired over time to assess the actual role of methanotrophic bacteria and seasonal controls in the CH4 consumption process.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL INCLUSION FROM MUSIC AND THE WORD

La inclusión educativa y social desde la música y la palabra, trata de incidir por una parte en la mejora de las personas más vulnerables, facilitando la integración en su entorno y en contextos difíciles, y por otra parte crear un programa formativo con el fin de que el alumnado de grado en maestro/a de primaria pueda aportar, desde su experiencia y conocimientos adquiridos en su formación, una aplicación práctica complementaria a estudiantes de características similares y en entornos de dificultad. Esta propuesta es una iniciativa para llevarse a cabo en futuros proyectos de cooperación y parte de la hipótesis de que la educación puede incidir en factores de resiliencia y de inclusión social, utilizando la música y la palabra como ejes vertebradores para evitar la exclusión social y educativa en personas adultas. Este proyecto parte de 10ª Convocatoria de ayudas para proyectos de investigación y formación del Observatorio Permanente de la Inmigración (OPI-UJI).The educational and social inclusion of music and speech is aimed, on the one hand, at improving the most disadvantaged people, facilitating integration in their environment and in difficult contexts, and on the other hand, creating a training program in order to That students of primary level could contribute, from their experience and knowledge acquired in their training, a complementary practical application to students of similar characteristics and in environments of difficulty. This proposal is an initiative to be carried out in future cooperation projects and is based on the hypothesis that education can influence factors of resilience and social inclusion, using music and word as the backbone to avoid social and educational exclusion in adults. This project is part of the 10th Call for aid for research and training projects of the Permanent Observatory of Immigration (OPI-UJI).Grupo de Investigación HUM-672 AREA (Análisis de la Realidad EducativA

The protection of the groundwater used for human consumption and its integration in land management

El agua subterránea constituye una reserva de vital importancia para el abastecimiento de la población. Por ello, es necesario establecer medidas de protección adecuadas con objeto de cumplir con los requerimientos de la Directiva Marco del Agua. El objetivo de este artículo es complementar la metodología para la delimitación de zonas de salvaguarda como figura de protección de las masas de agua subterránea utilizadas para consumo humano mediante la elaboración de una cartografía de actividades permitidas en su interior, con objeto de dotarlas de una herramienta efectiva en la gestión del territorio. Los resultados obtenidos en una masa de agua carbonatada del sur de España muestran el porcentaje de territorio que debe ser protegido para conservar la calidad de las aguas destinadas al consumo humano, facilitando así su futura integración en los instrumentos de planificación para una adecuada ordenación del territorioGroundwater constitutes a reservoir of essential importance for human supply. For this, it is necessary to establish suitable protection measures in order to achieve the requirements of theWater Framework Directive. The objective of this paper is to complement a methodology to define safeguard zones for the protection of carbonate groundwater bodies intended for human consumption by means of the development of a cartography illustrating the permitted activities in its interior, in order to provide an effective tool in the management of the territory. The results obtained in a karst groundwater body in southern Spain show the percentage of land that must be protected to preserve the quality of water intended for human consumption, thus facilitating their future integration into adequate land use planning tool

Hydrogeological characteristics of the Prieta-Bonela-Alcaparaín aquifer system (Yunquera-Nieves Hydrogeological Unit, Andalusia, province of Málaga)

The analysis of the natural answers of the principal springs (Río Jorox, Fuente Quebrada and Carratraca) of the Prieta-Bonela-Alcaparaín aquifer system has allowed to determine the hydrogeological characteristics and the different degree of karstification existing in the same one. In the sector of aquifer that is drained by the Río Jorox spring (Sierra Prieta) exists a developed karstic net, across which there is produced a rapid flow of the rainwater. In the sector of aquifer that is drained by the Fuente Quebrada spring (Sierra Bonela), the degree of karstification is less developed. The sector drained by the Carratraca spring (Sierra Alcaparaín) presents a behaviour pattern that is typical of a diffuse flow aquife

New hydrochemical and isotopic data in the karstic spring of Maro (Nerja, Málaga). Considerations on the origin of solutes and on the influence of the vadose zone ventilation

The previously stated model concerning the behaviour of the karstic spring of Maro is corroborated with new data from the 2004-2014 period. Sulphate isotopes allow linking the origin of solutes with the dissolution of Mesozoic gypsum. Other hydrochemical data (pH, DO) suggest the association of the spring with relatively large and well-ventilated karstic conduits in the vadose zone of the carbonate aquifer drained by the spring. During the winter season, such conduits could be affected by pressure or temperaturedriven high-PCO2 airflows that may be responsible for local decreases in the pH of the spring waterEl modelo de funcionamiento del manantial kárstico de Maro propuesto en estudios previos se corrobora con nuevos datos del periodo 2004-2014. Los isótopos del sulfato precisan el origen de solutos por disolución de yesos mesozoicos. Otros datos hidroquímicos (pH, OD) sugieren la asociación del manantial con conductos kársticos relativamente grandes y bien ventilados dentro de la zona vadosa del acuífero carbonático triásico al que drena. En el periodo invernal, por diferencias de presión o temperatura entre el interior y el exterior de estos conductos, se pueden producir flujos de aire con PCO2 relativamente elevada hacia los mismos, con el resultado de inducir disminuciones locales del pH del agua del manantia

Vadose zone air as a biogenic source of methane in Nerja Cave system (South of Spain)

Subterranean air in karst cavities has often low methane contents in comparison to atmosphere and so karst systems have been considered a sink of atmospheric methane. Methane-oxidizing bacteria have been hypothesized as responsible for CH4 depletion in many caves around the world, although ionization radiation was also proposed as possible mechanism for this process. We measured CO2 and CH4 concentration and their C isotopic composition (d13C-CO2 and d13C-CH4) over 2 years within the Nerja cave system (South Spain) and in 9 boreholes drilled into the vadose zone (Triassic carbonate aquifer) surrounding the cave. According to d13C-CO2 and d13C-CH4 vadose zone of this karst system is a source of biogenic methane, produced both by acetate fermentation and CO2 reduction. Biogenic and atmospheric methane flows (along fractures from the vadose zone, and through ventilation, respectively) into the cave, where it is oxidized by methanotrophic bacteria that we detected on soil samples into the cave.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Condensation water in heritage touristic caves: Isotopic and hydrochemical data and a new approach for its quantification through image analysis

Condensation water is a major factor in the conservation of heritage caves. It can cause dissolution of the rock substrate (and the pigments of rock art drawn on it) or covering thereof with mineral components, depending on the chemical saturation degree of the condensation water. In show caves, visitors act as a source of CO2 and thus modify the microclimate, favouring negative processes that affect the conservation of the caves. In spite of their interest, studies of the chemical composition of this type of water are scarce and not very detailed. In this work we present research on the condensation water in the Nerja Cave, one of the main heritage and tourist caves in Europe. The joint analysis of isotopic, hydrochemical, mineralogical and microbiological data and the use of image analysis have allowed us to advance in the knowledge of this risk factor for the conservation of heritage caves, and to demonstrate the usefulness of image analysis to quantify the scope of the possible corrosion condensation process that the condensation water could be producing on the bedrock, speleothem and rock art. To our knowledge, this application of image analysis (relative to the condensation water in caves) is the first one of this type that has been documentedNerja Cave Foundation Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBU

Dating the groundwater drained by the Meliones spring (Málaga province) for integration into a regional hydrogeological conceptual model

El manantial de Meliones (provincia de Málaga) es una polisurgencia hipersalina asociada a la formación arcilloso- evaporítica del Trías de Antequera. Su drenaje natural deteriora la calidad química del agua embalsada en la presa del Guadalhorce, una de las fuentes de abastecimiento a la ciudad de Málaga. Algunos organismos públicos ejecutaron medidas correctoras con un enfoque muy local, centradas en la alteración de los procesos de infiltración rápida en el entorno inmediato al manantial, que no han solucionado el problema. Sin embargo, existen evidencias de que el Trías de Antequera es un sistema hidrogeológico complejo, en el que flujos rápidos localizados en los enclaves kársticos evaporíticos coexistirían con otros de tipo difuso. En este trabajo se ha datado el agua del manantial de Meliones con 3H, CFC-12 y 4He. Además, se han creado modelos de parámetros agregados que definen la distribución de edad de la muestra. Los resultados evidencian que la mayor parte del agua hipersalina drenada por la surgencia fue infiltrada hace más de un siglo. Esto confirma la existencia de un sistema regional con flujos jerarquizados donde flujos regionales lentos y de gran recorrido confluyen con otros rápidos y más cortos.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Experimental survey of soil CO2 content over a karstic cave in mediterranean climate

The CO2 content and the temperature of the air have been measured within the scarce soil (although with relatively high organic matter concentration) which partially covers the carbonate outcrops over the Nerja Cave (Málaga). General yearly average values of around 850 ppm and 25 ºC have been identified, both using continuous recording devices and separated measures with portable equipment. Temperature evolution closely follows that of the outside atmosphere. Spatial variations in CO2 contents are related with the vegetal cover and with the soil depth. Seasonal variations are important, with a maximum of more than 1000 ppm in May (main vegetation development) and minimum (around 350- 500) in December. Daily oscillations have also been identified, ranging up to more than 600 ppm in the period of maximum CO2 production. These results agree with estimates based in hydrogeochemical modelling as well as in the TOC content of drip water to the cav