Contact Info
Department of Applied Mathematics
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32700
Fax: 519-746-4319
PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader
MC 6460
Aaron Coutino | Applied Math, University of Waterloo
Measuring and Modeling the Hydrogeology of the Yucatan Peninsula
The Yucatan peninsula is composed of Miocene to Late Pleistocene biogenic limestone with both a surface portion and a submerged shelf. The surface portion encompasses three Mexican states and has a total area of 165,000 km squared. As a result of the karst platform which makes up the geology of the low-lying regions of the peninsula, the subsurface is extremely porous and results in no naturally flowing rivers. Freshwater, in the form of rainfall, percolates directly into the aquifer or flows into fissures and sinkholes which occur commonly throughout the landscape. The extreme porosity of the subsurface further results in seawater infiltrating from the coasts and flowing under a freshwater lens. The aquifer located within the Yucatan peninsula is extremely important from both an economic and ecological standpoint, for both modern and historical societies like the Maya. We have conducted multiple measurement campaigns within the cave networks. The resulting data has been analyzed with time series methods such as wavelets, wavelet coherence and Empirical Orthogonal Functions. The results suggest that mixing of the stratified fluid in the cave networks is profoundly influenced by large rain events, such as the passage of hurricanes. Since parts of the cave network are open, we have contrasted the behaviour of open and cave portions, finding differences in the timing of response to rain events. The results of the measurement campaigns will be synthesized to a model of long term climate variability, with possible implications for the decline of late period Mayan cities.
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Contact Info
Department of Applied Mathematics
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32700
Fax: 519-746-4319
PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.