Análisis temporal de las modificaciones en los médanos del Partido de la Costa y su relación con los recursos hídricos

The modifications in the capabilities of the coastal aquifer recharge were analyzed for the Partido de La Costa (Buenos Aires, Argentina) according to the land-use change occurred over the last four decades. A multitemporal analysis of Landsat images (1973-2010) allowed recognizing four land-use classes. Their comparison pointed out an important development of urbanized areas at the expense of natural field dunes. In 1973 only few scattered architectonic structures were present while in 2010 an important development of urban areas associated with dunes fixation is noticed. The hydrologic budgets were calculated and, according to the values of infiltration, the recharge was evaluated for each situation. An important growth of population associated to the urban development has increased the water needs and consequently the groundwater demand. The expansion of impermeable areas has modified recharge conditions and the volume of available freshwater.