Efecto de los cambios de usos del suelo sobre la recarga del acuífero Motril-Salobreña

Abstract

Human activity over Motril-Salobreña aquifer (south of Spain) is changing traditional land uses during the last 50 years. In this work we aim to evaluate and quantify the main changes analyzing the aerial photos of different years. The results show a dramatic decrease in the crops of sugarcane and elevated increases of the greenhouses and subtropical trees agriculture extent. Also the surface of the urban areas has been extended noticeably. The direct consequences calculated in this work are a decrease of the recharge of the aquifer by irrigation of crops near to 75 %. The velocity of these changes and the magnitude of them point out the serious risk that involves the Motril-Salobreña aquifer resources