Agua y Cambio Climático en Ordesa y Monte Perdido

The Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is located in the axial zone of the Central Pyrenees. It is the highest aquifer in Western Europe and is a protected area of international importance. Water is a key element for geodiversity and biodiversity. In the framework of the PIRAGUA research project, within the INTERREG POCTEFA program, the Spanish Geological and Mining Institute has evaluated the effect of climate change on the water resources of the National Park. To this end, numerical models have been developed to estimate the recharge to the aquifer based on the most likely scenarios of climate change. The joint analysis of the available scientific data allows several conclusions to be drawn: The increase in temperature and the decrease in snow cover caused by climate change significantly affect the quantity and quality of water. Recharge to aquifers decreases, due to less snow cover and less infiltration of water from snowmelt, causing a lower flow in springs such as the Cola de Caballo, during low water. This insufficient flow increases the concentration of pollutants. It aggravates the effects on water quality in aquifers, which are highly vulnerable due to the rapid velocities and short transit times of groundwater. These results will make it possible to propose management and adaptation measures to minimize the effects of climate change in such an emblematic and unique natural area as the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park.

The video aims to present the scientific results obtained from the project to the general public. To this end, the presentation has been approached from a pleasant and intelligible perspective, facilitating the understanding of the concepts and ideas presented, without needing to be an expert.

To facilitate the dissemination of the informative video, it has been published, in Spanish with subtitled versions in French and English, on the YouTube channel of the Spanish Geological and Mining Institute (IGME-CSIC), which is publicly accessible. The video has also been publicized on the social networks of both IGME-CSIC and the PIRAGUA project partners.

Due to its entertaining and informative content, the video has been selected and presented by the Ministry of Ecological Transition at the Spanish Pavilion of the 9th World Water Forum, which took place on 21-26 March 2022 in Senegal.