Hydrogeophysical Evaluation of the Karst Aquifer near the Western Edge of the Ring of Cenotes, Yucatán Peninsula

Abstract

In this work, electrical resistivity tomography was carried out together with physical hydrogeology techniques to evaluate the karst aquifer in the northwest region of the Yucatán Peninsula in a study area near the western edge of the Ring of Cenotes of the Chicxulub Crater. In addition, based on a systematic compilation of open-access data of water levels reported for the peninsular aquifer, maps of groundwater isolines and groundwater flows were generated using IDW interpolation, Empirical Bayesian Kriging, and the Flow Net method. From these results, a shallow aquifer is observed, with the presence of heterogeneities such as possible dissolution conduits and/or flooded caverns, approximately 20 m below ground level, formed by the dissolution processes of limestone rocks. On a regional scale, the geomorphological influence of the Ring of Cenotes on groundwater flows was observed. In general, the flow directions observed from these maps coincide with those conceptualized for this region of the peninsular aquifer. Nevertheless, some differences were observed depending on the interpolation method used. Our results contribute to hydrogeological studies carried out in the periphery of this ring, where the vulnerability of the aquifer to anthropogenic contamination has been highlighted due to the intrinsic features of the karst environment.