3 Geomorphological, Hydrologic, and Geothermal investigations of basin aquifers in Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico
The session will explore BCS basins, focusing on groundwater storage, evaporation, runoff and transport mechanisms, featuring experts on thermal and shallow groundwater interactions, soil mapping for hydrological planning, geomorphology, and human impacts on water balance.
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LMH, Isla Carmen
Integrated analysis of groundwater level dynamics and delayed system response in the Guadalupe Aquifer based on continuous pressure sensor monitoring
Paper number: 3-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:35 AM – 8:50 AM
Authors
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Jorge Cazares Duran Presenting AuthorCentro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California, Ensenada, Baja California
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Thomas KretzschmarCentro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California, Ensenada, Baja California
Abstract
Understanding the dynamics of an aquifer strengthens water management by providing relevant information on the status of groundwater resources. This study presents a comprehensive analysis based on continuous time series of water table levels recorded by pressure sensors in monitoring wells, with the aim of characterizing the hydraulic response and status of the aquifer in the Guadalupe Valley, Ensenada, Mexico. The groundwater level series analyzed show strong influence from pumping events, which introduce noise and abrupt variability. A methodology was developed to use the signals as a source of information, explicitly separating two components: the operational response of the well associated with extraction and the static level of the aquifer, which represents the piezometric level toward which the system tends in the absence of pumping. Using filters guided by signal information and time windows defined by the characteristics of the data itself, a dominant time scale was estimated for each well, interpreted as a measure of the local hydraulic response of the system. The results reveal marked spatial heterogeneity in the aquifer's response. Wells with short recovery times, on the order of days, indicate coupled systems, while wells with longer recovery times, on the order of weeks to months, suggest hydraulic damping or regional control. Two complementary analyses were developed based on the recovered base level. The first quantifies the operational impact, assessing the frequency of partially stable states, the typical magnitude of drawdown during pumping, and recovery times, providing indicators of local resilience and vulnerability. The second focuses on the state and evolution of the aquifer, identifying sustained trends, cumulative net changes, natural ranges of fluctuation, and base level roughness, which allows us to distinguish between areas in dynamic equilibrium and areas with progressive but less visible depletion. Additionally, the temporal consistency between these hydrological signals and preliminary estimates of surface deformation derived from InSAR products was evaluated, suggesting possible delayed relationships of low magnitude. Taken together, the proposed approach transforms noisy groundwater level series into spatially integrable hydrogeological indicators, providing a solid technical basis for assessing the sustainability and management of groundwater in dynamic systems.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 3
doi: 10.1130/abs/2026CD-410907
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