Modelo de flujo en un acuífero volcánico : el Acuífero de la Aldea (Gran Canaria)

RESUMEN. Se ha llevado a cabo un modelo de flujo de aguas subterráneas en la desembocadura del Barranco de La Aldea (Gran Canaria). El área fue discretizada tridimensionalmente en celdas de 50x50 m considerando 3 capas. La capa superior está constituida por materiales sedimentarios y volcánicos (aluvial, derrubios de ladera y basaltos alterados) y las capas intermedia e inferior por basaltos. Se ha realizado un modelo en régimen estacionario simulando el año hidrológico medio 1991/92 y transitorio para el período de 1991/92-1998/99. Los límites norte, sur y este se han definido como bordes impermeables, la línea de costa se ha definido como nivel constante y la cabecera del barranco se ha simulado mediante un tramo de caudal prefijado representando el aporte de la cuenca alta del barranco. Las entradas en la zona son: recarga por lluvia, retornos de riego, pérdidas en la red de abastecimiento, cabecera del barranco principal y desde la zona de intra-caldera. Las salidas son: bombeos y descarga al mar. El borde inferior se define por el flujo nulo en el contacto entre los basaltos alterados y sin alterar. En el cauce de los barrancos se ha impuesto una condición de dren y las extracciones se han localizado según los datos obtenidos de las captaciones de la zona. Los parámetros resultantes de la calibración del modelo, en particular, la transmisividad, son del mismo orden que los obtenidos en estudios previos modelo. Por otro lado, los niveles calculados y observados presentan un buen ajuste y el balance hídrico resulta consistente. ABSTRACT. A groundwater flow model in La Aldea ravine lower part (Gran Canaria) has been developed. The zone has been tridimensionally discretized as cells of 50 x 50 m considering 3 layers. The superficial layer is formed by sedimentary and volcanic materials (Alluvial, screes and altered basalts) and the intermediate and lower layers are basalts. The model has been developed in stationary state for the average hydrologic year 1991/92 and in transitory state for the period of 1991/92-1998/99. The North, South and East limits have been defined as null flow boundary conditions, the coast line has been defined as constant level and the ravine bed at the east has been defined as a constant flow, representing the contribution from the upper ravine basin. Recharge is a result of rainfall, irrigation returns, supply network leaks and inflow from the intra-caldera zone. Discharge takes place by pumping wells and flows towards the sea. The bottom surface is defined as a null flow condition in the limit between altered and unaltered basalts. A drain condition has been imposed in the ravine and the pumping wells extraction has been located. The simulation results indicate that the transmisivities obtained in previous works present the same order of magnitude than the obtained in the model and the calculated levels are in good agreement with the observed levels measurements.

Disparity in regional and systemic circulatory capacities: do they affect the regulation of the circulation?

[EN] In this review we integrate ideas about regional and systemic circulatory capacities and the balance between skeletal muscle blood flow and cardiac output during heavy exercise in humans. In the first part of the review we discuss issues related to the pumping capacity of the heart and the vasodilator capacity of skeletal muscle. The issue is that skeletal muscle has a vast capacity to vasodilate during exercise [approximately 300 mL (100 g)(-1) min(-1)], but the pumping capacity of the human heart is limited to 20-25 L min(-1) in untrained subjects and approximately 35 L min(-1) in elite endurance athletes. This means that when more than 7-10 kg of muscle is active during heavy exercise, perfusion of the contracting muscles must be limited or mean arterial pressure will fall. In the second part of the review we emphasize that there is an interplay between sympathetic vasoconstriction and metabolic vasodilation that limits blood flow to contracting muscles to maintain mean arterial pressure. Vasoconstriction in larger vessels continues while constriction in smaller vessels is blunted permitting total muscle blood flow to be limited but distributed more optimally. This interplay between sympathetic constriction and metabolic dilation during heavy whole-body exercise is likely responsible for the very high levels of oxygen extraction seen in contracting skeletal muscle. It also explains why infusing vasodilators in the contracting muscles does not increase oxygen uptake in the muscle. Finally, when approximately 80% of cardiac output is directed towards contracting skeletal muscle modest vasoconstriction in the active muscles can evoke marked changes in arterial pressure.

Contenido de radón en aguas subterráneas del noreste de Gran Canaria

[ES] En este trabajo se han determinado los niveles de 222Rn en el agua subterránea en la zona noreste de Gran Canaria a partir de 28 muestras de pozos en bombeo. La concentración de actividad de radón en una muestra de agua se determina mediante un sistema en circuito cerrado que consta de un monitor AlphaGUARD que mide la concentración de radón en aire por medio de una cámara de ionización y un conjunto AquaKIT que se utiliza para transferir el radón disuelto en la muestra de agua al aire del circuito. Los valores de la concentración de radón en agua de las muestras estudiadas varían entre 0.9 y 76.9 Bq/L. Debido a la peligrosidad radiológica del radón, en España se ha establecido un límite de actividad de 100 Bq/L de 222Rn para las aguas de consumo humano. Los valores obtenidos para todas las muestras analizadas se encuentran por debajo de este límite.

On soil-structurae interaction in large non-slender partially buried structures.

[EN]This paper addresses the seismic analysis of a deeply embedded non-slender structure hosting the pumping unit of a reservoir. The dynamic response in this type of problems is usually studied under the assumption of a perfectly rigid structure using a sub-structuring procedure (three-step solution) proposed specifically for this hypothesis.