Baseflow as a reflection of hydrological processes at the watersheds scale: a case study in plain watersheds
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35305/curiham.ed24.e06Keywords:
Baseflow, BFI, Pampean Aquifer, Discharge, Climate VariabilityAbstract
Baseflow is a key component of the hydrological cycle, reflecting hydrological processes at the watershed scale. In the Azul stream basin, a plain hydrological system characterized by predominant vertical movements and storage over surface runoff, baseflow has been studied, but its relationship with climate variability remains unexplored. This study identifies baseflow in the middle section of the Azul stream and analyzes its seasonal variations in relation to precipitation seasonality, modulated by the South American Monsoon System (SAMS). A recursive digital filter was used to identify baseflow, and the results were analyzed considering the quadratic relationship proposed by Varni et al. (2019) between baseflow and groundwater level. The findings show that baseflow accounts for 60-90% of total flow during the active phase of SAMS (October-February) and 40-70% during the inactive phase (March-September). Furthermore, the proposed methodology provides a physical interpretation of digital filters by linking them to groundwater level variability. This analysis offers a comprehensive understanding of the seasonal dynamics of baseflow and its relationship with the hydrological cycle and climate variability.
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