Plan to join us for the Nexus Webinar: "High-elevation sources of groundwater recharge in Arequipa: Findings from the Nexus Water Origins project" this Friday, October 8 from 12-1 PM (Purdue time) and from 11 AM-12PM (Peru time). 

The Nexus Project Team:  Estimating relative inputs of glacial melt-water, groundwater, and irrigation runoff in rivers of Arequipa, Peru" will present the findings on their research on the sources of groundwater recharge in Arequipa.

 Presentation Abstract: 

The objective of the Nexus Water Origins project is to better understand the influence of meltwater from glaciers, rain and seasonal snow, and runoff from irrigation to groundwater springs, rivers, and communities of the valleys. In this presentation, we will share our findings on the sources of groundwater recharge in Arequipa, specifically for springs and rivers near Chiguata, Characato, and Coropuna. We used water chemistry and stable isotopes to identify a subsurface connection of Lagunas Salinas saline waters to Chiguata and Characato, likely through fault networks. The source of these groundwaters is likely very stable because the water stable isotope values have nearly identical to measurements made a decade earlier. On Nevada Coropuna, we find geochemical evidence of glacial meltwater, with the highest contributions near the ice cap, diminishing due to precipitation contributions downslope. The highest fractions of glacial meltwater occur on the southwestern slopes where remote sensing shows the fastest rates of ice melt. There are also indication of hydrothermal influence from volcanic processes in one of the drainages studied. We will comment on what this means for future groundwater resources for communities around Coropuna and the downstream reach of the Rio Majes. Throughout, we will highlight the many intersections with other Nexus projects that contribute to the growing wholistic understanding of regional water resources. At the end, we will discuss scientific questions that future research collaborations could target.

Follow the Zoom link below to join the webinar:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/97057878876?pwd=ZFRiWEtEMDdOSzNSc0hXMTFseFkydz09

Meeting ID: 970 5787 8876

Passcode: 124734