Revista Ingenierías Universidad de Medellín (Jun 2012)
EXPORTACIÓN DE SEDIMENTOS DESDE CUENCAS HIDROGRÁFICAS DE LA VERTIENTE ORIENTAL DEL GOLFO DE URABÁ: INFLUENCIAS CLIMÁTICAS Y ANTRÓPICAS SEDIMENT EXPORTS FROM THE EASTERN BASIN IN THE GULF OF URABA: CLIMATIC AND ANTHROPOGENIC INFLUENCES
Abstract
En este artículo se analizaron series de tiempo mensuales de precipitación (mm), caudal (m³/s) y exportación de sedimentos (kton/día) en cuencas de la vertiente oriental del golfo de Urabá. Se analizó la dinámica de la exportación de sedimentos, la relación caudal-exportación y caudal-precipitación. Se infirió el papel de fenómenos atmosféricos estacionales y multianuales (El Niño-Oscilación Sureña, ENOS), y factores antrópicos. Se encontraron variabilidades intra-anuales significativas (ANOVA: pThis article reports on a time-series analysis of monthly precipitation (mm), river discharge (m³/s) and sediment export (kton/day) in Urabá Gulf. We analyzed the dynamics of sediment exports relative to river discharge, and the dynamics of this latter variable relative to precipitation. We inferred the role of seasonal and multi-annual atmospheric drivers, and anthropogenic factors. We found significant intra-annual variability (ANOVA: p<0.001) consistent with the movement of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone. The Pearson correlation between variables showed direct and significant relationships (p<0.001). The ENSO did not influence precipitation. Using aerial-photographs, we analyzed anthropogenic factors in the municipalities of Apartadó (1961-2005) and Chigorodó (1961-2007), finding up to a 90% forest-cover loss. Using double-mass graphs, it was observed an increase in slope steepness (during mid 90’s), consistent with an increase in sediment export rate relative to discharge, thus suggesting that there was a significant effect of human factors, such as deforestation.
