This study presents an analysis of the hydrochemical characteristics of Lake Enriquillo in the southwestern region of the Dominican Republic. This lake is hypersaline and endorheic. The climatology of the region is in...This study presents an analysis of the hydrochemical characteristics of Lake Enriquillo in the southwestern region of the Dominican Republic. This lake is hypersaline and endorheic. The climatology of the region is influenced by the Caribbean Regulator Climate Centers (CRCCs). Due to the endorheic nature of the basin, evaporation plays an extremely important role in its dynamics [1]. During the study period, in November 2002, the water level of Lake Enriquillo was 42 m below sea level (BLS), and the salinity level was 104.2‰. By 2014, the water level of the lake rose to 29 m below sea level, and the salinity decreased to 23.4‰, as a result of the high cyclonic activity in the Caribbean region.展开更多
Lakes Enriquillo and Azuei, the two largest lakes in Hispaniola and in the Caribbean, have risen 10 and 5 m respectively within the last 8 years. Higher lake levels have submerged towns, road systems, agricultural lan...Lakes Enriquillo and Azuei, the two largest lakes in Hispaniola and in the Caribbean, have risen 10 and 5 m respectively within the last 8 years. Higher lake levels have submerged towns, road systems, agricultural lands and utilities, and have threatened to submerge the major overland highway that connects the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In this study, we use CHIRP seismic data, satellite imagery, and regional meteorological data to quantify and assess controls on the recent lake level rises. Although data are limited, the analyses indicate that the lakes’ water level changes may be attributed to a combination of increased rainfall and natural or man-made changes to the hydraulic connectivity of the various water bodies within the drainage basin. We show that a weak correlation exists between changes in Lake Enriquillo’s and Azuei’s water levels and precipitation rates (0.2 and 0.08 respectively, 1984-2012) and that both lakes experience periods of anti-correlation where, for example, water level drops at Lake Azuei (~20 masl) coincide with water level rises at Lake Enriquillo (41 mbsl). From these observations, we propose that the lakes experience intermittent periods of hydraulic connectivity along reactivated or newly developed stratigraphic-controlled sub-surface transport pathways. We also note that moderately small earthquakes along the large active fault system that extends through both lakes may promote or limit hydraulic conductivity on decadal or shorter time scales. The extents to which recent earthquakes have triggered changes in groundwater flow at this site remain unclear but represent an important topic of future research.展开更多
文摘This study presents an analysis of the hydrochemical characteristics of Lake Enriquillo in the southwestern region of the Dominican Republic. This lake is hypersaline and endorheic. The climatology of the region is influenced by the Caribbean Regulator Climate Centers (CRCCs). Due to the endorheic nature of the basin, evaporation plays an extremely important role in its dynamics [1]. During the study period, in November 2002, the water level of Lake Enriquillo was 42 m below sea level (BLS), and the salinity level was 104.2‰. By 2014, the water level of the lake rose to 29 m below sea level, and the salinity decreased to 23.4‰, as a result of the high cyclonic activity in the Caribbean region.
文摘Lakes Enriquillo and Azuei, the two largest lakes in Hispaniola and in the Caribbean, have risen 10 and 5 m respectively within the last 8 years. Higher lake levels have submerged towns, road systems, agricultural lands and utilities, and have threatened to submerge the major overland highway that connects the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In this study, we use CHIRP seismic data, satellite imagery, and regional meteorological data to quantify and assess controls on the recent lake level rises. Although data are limited, the analyses indicate that the lakes’ water level changes may be attributed to a combination of increased rainfall and natural or man-made changes to the hydraulic connectivity of the various water bodies within the drainage basin. We show that a weak correlation exists between changes in Lake Enriquillo’s and Azuei’s water levels and precipitation rates (0.2 and 0.08 respectively, 1984-2012) and that both lakes experience periods of anti-correlation where, for example, water level drops at Lake Azuei (~20 masl) coincide with water level rises at Lake Enriquillo (41 mbsl). From these observations, we propose that the lakes experience intermittent periods of hydraulic connectivity along reactivated or newly developed stratigraphic-controlled sub-surface transport pathways. We also note that moderately small earthquakes along the large active fault system that extends through both lakes may promote or limit hydraulic conductivity on decadal or shorter time scales. The extents to which recent earthquakes have triggered changes in groundwater flow at this site remain unclear but represent an important topic of future research.
