Hidrodinámica de la metales pesados en una cuenca ruralimplicación de los episodios de lluvia-escorrentía

Abstract

Knowledge of the variation in the load and concentration of metals is a requisite to elaborate sustainable water quality management strategies. There is a lack of understanding of how metal loads in relatively pristine catchments respond to processes driving variability, for example, seasonal changes in runoff and changes in the amount and flow paths in storm events. This PhD Thesis was carried out with the purpose of establishing a baseline in relation to the concentration, distribution and temporal evolution of five metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) in the waters of the Corbeira stream (A Coruña), which provides information about the water quality and the factors controlling flow of these elements under different flow regime (baseflow and storm events). The results highlighted the importance of storm events in the metal losses in the Corbeira stream, which was dominated by baseflow. Essentially, some few events control metal loads. Runoff and rainfall amount were hydroclimatic factors governing the metal loads at storm-event scale.