Juanma30 Day Map Challenge - Day 3: Polygons
Atlas of desertification often omit the condition of groundwater in their analysis. Nonetheless, in drylands, where precipitations are usually much lower than the quantity of water evapotranspirated (evaporated from the soil and water surfaces + transpirated by plants), aquifers can lead the development of ecosystems and society.
Because of that, we have to take into account their condition to assess our impacts and design good exploitation approaches that ensure a good condition in both: quality and quantity.
Nonetheless, their state is often disregarded or not even known. In the map, we show the condition of spanish aquifers respect their quality (i.e. salinification, seawater intrusion, chemical pollution, and nutrients concentration). Is interesting that, although drylands are not shown, the aquifers condition (bad condition) follow their extent up to some point.
This map, though open sourced, has helped us to understand desertification processes and state in our "Desertification Atlas of Spain" project, which we will publish by the end of November.
#30DayMapChallenge #Spain #Desertification #LandDegradation #UNCCD #Science #Ecology #GIS
earthling
The-14
SustainabilityOnline
Drought Center
