Curve Number (CN) as Pressure Indicator of the Hydrological Condition under Global Warming Scenarios at a Local Scale in La Mojana Region, Colombia

Abstract

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Evaluación de la dinámica de sales en el Distrito de riego La Doctrina, Colombia View project ATRATO: Contamination assessment of mercury and other toxic substances, and their impact on human health in the populations of the Atrato River basin, as a consequence of mining activities. View project Teobaldis Mercado Universidad de Córdoba (Colombia) Abstract Objective: This research study analyzed hydrological surface behavior of the lower basin of the Cauca, San Jorge and Loba tributaries of the Magdalena River in the so-called La Mojana Region in northern Colombia. Methods/Analysis: To determine hydrological behavior of the basins under study, an analysis of vegetation cover was used as the most dynamic condition; its soil use and granulometry as the natural condition, regarding the hydrological pressure degree of the territory , as well as climatic behavior in the last 40 years in the area. Findings: Results show that cover and land use do not contribute favorably to basin hydrological regulation, considering that 45.9% have pasture cover, being this least favored hydrological regulation. Application/Improvements: 92.3% of the total study area (21,650.2 km 2) shows curve numbers greater than 80, so that there is a high hydrological pressure on the territory. At the meantime, temperature shows a 0.8°C increase, while Evapotranspiration (ET) and vapor density have increases of 50.6 mm and 0.7 g m-1 respectively.