Evolución de la conductividad en la Albufera de Valencia entre 1985 y 2018

Abstract

Changes of the conductivity in the Albufera of Valencia lagoon between 1985 and 2018 The Albufera of Valencia (Eastern Spain) is an oligohaline coastal lagoon, surrounded by an ancient marsh transformed into rice fields about 200 years ago. The surficial water inflows maintain the conductivity in steady values around the annual average, with occasional increases in periods of droughts. The concentration of chloride is the variable most related to conductivity. In this study of its long-term conductivity changes, we have observed that there has been a significant trend toward an increase of minimum values in the last decade, which could indicate a decrease in freshwater inputs to the lagoon. The measurement of this variable would be a good indicator of the alterations that may occur in a foreseeable scenario of climate change with a decrease in both rainfall and freshwater inflows.