The U-isotopes modeling in aquifers from Pocos de Caldas plateau, Brazil

U-modeled groundwater residence times were estimated by changes in U-234/U-238 activity ratio (AR) and U content of groundwaters from Pocos de Caldas city situated at the Pocos de Caldas alkaline massif, Brazil. The estimated ages are more realistic than others generated by the use of hydraulic conductivity data and available information about the weathering rate of rocks in the plateau. The U-234/U-238 AR and reciprocal of the dissolved U-content data also defined a ternary plot that allowed the calculation of the relative volume of three source waters for the mixed water. Such U-isotopes modeling for mixing calculations indicated that the dominant phase (68%) in the mixture is thermal.

Analytic element modelling for strip aquifers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Stochastic simulation of time-series models combined with geostatistics to predict water-table scenarios in a Guarani Aquifer System outcrop area, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Balanço hídrico e da salinidade do solo na bananeira irrigada com água de diferentes salinidades

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes níveis de salinidade de água de irrigação no uso consultivo na fase reprodutiva da bananeira e evolução da salinidade do solo. Adotou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado em parcelas subdivididas, totalizando oito tratamentos com quatro repetições por tratamento. Os níveis de salinidade foram obtidos a partir de águas naturais de poços dos aquíferos arenito e calcário e foram misturadas em tanques de alvenaria para a obtenção das concentrações de salinidade desejada. Verificou-se que a área do bulbo com umidade superior a 8% representa aproximadamente 50% do volume do solo. A evapotranspiração da cultura diminuiu com o aumento da salinidade entre os tratamentos, o kc médio no período variou de 1,01 a 1,09 em águas de salinidade extremas. Comparando os perfis da salinidade do solo, verificou-se que a concentração de sais foi superior na camada superficial aos 440 dias após plantio.

Estimativa da vulnerabilidade natural de aqüíferos: uma contribuição a partir da resistividade e condutância longitudinal

Este trabalho descreve os resultados obtidos com o método da eletrorresistividade usando a técnica da sondagem elétrica vertical (arranjo Schlumberger) aplicada em estudos ambientais envolvendo as águas subterrâneas. A vulnerabilidade natural de aqüíferos, importante ferramenta em estudos ambientais, pode ser estimada a partir de métodos geoelétricos, cujos parâmetros resistividade e condutância longitudinal, aliados ao tipo de ocorrência dos aqüíferos (livre a confinado) e profundidade do nível d'água, permitiram obter um índice de vulnerabilidade natural correspondente ao normalmente utilizado. Os resultados, aplicados em uma fase preliminar de estudos, são bons, permitindo um melhor direcionamento e programação das fases posteriores.

A comparative study of aquifer systems occurring at the Parana sedimentary basin, Brazil: major hydrochemical trends

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Características das águas subterrâneas numa faixa norte-sul na cidade de Manaus (AM)

A cidade de Manaus está localizada numa região próxima ao centro da bacia Amazônica, cujo abastecimento de água é realizado pelas águas do Amazonas, sendo efetuado por captação da drenagem superficial do rio Negro e por poços tubulares, que exploram aqüíferos constituídos pela Formação Alter do Chão. Com o objetivo de investigar a hidroquímica das águas subterrâneas de Manaus, para caracterizar e avaliar a qualidade dos recursos hídricos em subsuperfície, aferiram-se os parâmetros físicos, físico-químicos e químicos das amostras de águas de poços tubulares selecionados. Os resultados obtidos dos parâmetros analisados mostraram que as águas estudadas são excelentes para consumo humano e industrial, por situarem-se dentro dos limites de potabilidade estabelecidos pela legislação vigente.

Relações entre condutividade hidráulica, transmissividade, condutância longitudinal e sólidos totais dissolvidos para o aquífero livre de Caçapava do Sul (RS), Brasil

A água subterrânea é um importante recurso ao abastecimento público, principalmente para comunidades periféricas em grandes cidades ou pequenos municípios, onde a instalação ou prolongamento de sistemas de distribuição são economicamente inviáveis. Estudos voltados à análise da vulnerabilidade de aquíferos são relevantes para subsídio a políticas públicas em saneamento básico e preservação ambiental. Este estudo contou com o cadastro de 23 poços rasos localizados no município de Caçapava do Sul (RS), onde foram realizadas medidas de resistividade elétrica e cargabilidade por meio de geofísica, e medidas diretas de condutividade hidráulica e sólidos totais dissolvidos. A análise estatística dos dados demonstrou diversos graus de correlação entre parâmetros, basicamente condicionados a fatores geológicos como porosidade, permeabilidade e sólidos totais dissolvidos.

Hydrochemical relationships in groundwater from central São Paulo State, Brazil

Groundwater samples from different aquifers occurring at center/northeast portion of São Paulo State, Brazil, were collected and chemically analyzed. The waters leaching Mesozoic sediments are generally more acid (pH(average) = 5.9) and have lower values for total dissolved solids (TDSaverage = 105 mg/L) than those obtained for waters leaching Paleozoic sediments of Tubarao Group. First-degree trend surfaces revealed that the deeper tubular wells occur towards east/southeast and exploit Paleozoic sediments as well fractured/fissured diabases/basalts, whereas the tubular wells in the west/northwest region are shallower. Piper diagrams indicated that the majority of the waters are a blend of waters from different lithologies. Significant correlations were found among nitrate, chloride and bicarbonate, suggesting the occurrence of some anthropogenic inputs, whereas elevated alpha activity of geogenic Ra-226 indicated the need of a broad radiometric survey in the area.

ENHANCEMENT OF U-234 IN SPRINGWATERS OF AGUAS-DA-PRATA, SAO-PAULO, BRAZIL

Springwater samples were collected at Aguas da Prata, an important spa in São Paulo State, Brazil. The U-238 and U-234 isotopes were evaluated for Platina, Paiol, Villela, Prata-Radioativa, Prata-Nova, Boi, Vitoria, and Prata-Antiga springs. An inverse logarithmic correlation was found between U-234/U-238 activity ratio and Rn-222 content of the studied waters, which was related to different solution mechanisms of Rn-222 and U-234 nuclides at the rock-water interface. A linear correlation also exists between the U-234/U-238 activity ratios of the studied waters and total dissolved solids, ionic strength, CO2 partial pressure, and index of base exchange, which indicates that the enhancement of U-234 in solution increases with the degree of weathering in the aquifers, A higher U-234/U-238 activity ratio was found to be directly related to a higher value of dissolution rate.

Some constraints on the modelling using the uranium isotopes 238U and 234U for dating groundwaters from Guarany aquifer, South America

Groundwaters from the Guarany aquifer located at the South American continent and sampled at four wells with described geological sections in São Paulo State, Brazil, were chemically and isotopically analysed with two aims: to evaluate the quality of this important hydrological resource and to investigate the possibility of using the natural uranium isotopes 234U and 238U as a chronological tool, since the 234U/238U activity ratio and dissolved U content data in groundwater systems have generated models for dating purposes.

Specific depth cone resistivity measurements to determine soil engineering properties

The University of British Columbia (UBC) began performing piezocone penetration tests (CPTU) with electrical resistivity measurements (RCPTU) in 1989. Since then, RCPTU research at UBC has focused on obtaining geo-environmental parameters such as fluid resistivity and soil engineering properties such as porosity and degree of saturation from measurements of bulk soil electrical resistivity using the empirical relationship proposed by Archie (1942). Within this framework, the paper illustrates and discusses important design and calibration issues for resistivity modules such as the use of isolated circuitry to achieve linear calibrations over large ranges of resistivity. The suitability of RCPTU measurements for determination of geo-environmental and geotechnical parameters are assessed using typical ranges of soil and groundwater properties and methods of isolating individual factors for study are discussed. Illustrative examples of RCPTU research efforts including the environmental characterization of mine tailings, delineation of saline water intrusions in fresh water aquifers and the quality control of geotechnical ground densification are presented throughout the text. It is shown that groundwater temperature and hence ion mobility is not significantly altered by frictional heat generated during piezocone penetration and that ratio-based approaches to monitoring soil porosity can be used to eliminate the requirement for extensive groundwater sampling programs. Lastly, it is shown that RCPTU measurements above the water table can only be made using resistivity modules that are stable over a large range of resistivities and that such measurements are the most difficult to interpret because of grain surface conduction effects and generally unknown fluid resistivities.

Geo(anthropo)genic factors affecting the radioactivity in groundwaters from Guarani aquifer, Brazil

This investigation was carried out within the Paraná sedimentary basin, involved the sampling of 77 pumped tubular wells, and was realized with the puipose of evaluating the radioactivity in the Brazilian part of Guarani (Botucatu-Pirambóia, Tacuarembó, Misiones) aquifer. The radioactivity due to nuclides belonging to uranium and thorium series decay was investigated in terms of the uranium isotopes 234U and 238U, radon (222Rn), and the radium isotopes 226Ra and 228Ra. The obtained results were compared with the maximum permissible concentration limits in drinking water defined by the Brazilian national standard, as well with the guidelines for drinking water quality established by the World Health Organization. The importance of water-rock/soil interactions was considered in order to explain most of the obtained data.

Investigação de Intrusão de Água Salgada em Aqüífero Superficial a Partir de Medidas de Resistividade Elétrica

A site investigation program was carried out to detect salt-water intrusions in a shallow sedimentary aquifer based on electrical resistivity measurements. The site is located close to Paranaguá harbor, in the Paraná State, Brasil. At this site, high chloride concentration contaminated shallow water wells used to supply water for local industries. The site investigation program included a fieldwork, dipole-dipole electrical profiling, resistivity piezocone tests, physical-chemical analysis of sampled water and interpretation of borehole logs. The resistivity piezocone tests provided two simultaneous information; the soil stratigraphy at a very detailed level and a quasi-continuous resistivity profile. Both information adequately complemented dipole-dipole electrical profiling test data. The integration of all test data allowed identifying the contaminated areas as well as guided the location of new water wells to be installed in this area.