Abstract

ARROYAVE-RINCON, Andrea; BLANCO, Juan F.  and  TABORDA, Alexander. SEDIMENT EXPORTS FROM THE EASTERN BASIN IN THE GULF OF URABA: CLIMATIC AND ANTHROPOGENIC INFLUENCES. Rev. ing. univ. Medellín [online]. 2012, vol.11, n.20, pp.13-30. ISSN 1692-3324.

This 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.

Keywords : Precipitation; discharge; sediment exports; seasonality; ENSO; deforestation.

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