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Electronic Journal of the International Association for
Environmental Hydrology
JEH Volume 12 (2004), Paper 5, March
2004 Posted
March 30, 2004
WATER
BALANCE AND LANDSCAPE DEGRADATION OF AN UNGAUGED MOUNTAIN WATERSHED:
CASE STUDY OF THE PICO DE TANCITARO NATIONAL PARK, MICHOACAN,
MEXICO
José de
Jesús A. Fuentes Junco1
Miguel Bravo Espinosa2
Gerardo Bocco V.1
1Laboratorio
de Geoecología, CIECO-UNAM,
Morelia, Michoacan, México
2CENAPROS-INIFAP, Morelia, Michoacan, México
ABSTRACT
Water balance and
its relation to land degradation were investigated by using a spatially
distributed model and geographic information system (GIS) in the Pico
de Tancitaro National Park, Michoacan, Mexico. The water balance
components were defined through monthly climatic data and soil
characteristics using ILWIS (Integrated Land and Water Information
System) capabilities for the display and manipulation of GIS data. The
deficit of water was compared with the potential degradation of the
landscape in order to show their relationship. The study shows, in a
preliminary way, that land degradation threatens the quantity of water
in the Tancitaro National Park. The demand for water has also been
increasing to such an extent that it soon will exceed the renewable
water supply that can be used economically.
Reference: Fuentes,
J.J. , M. Bravo
and G. Bocco, Water Balance and Landscape Degradation of an Ungauged
Mountain Watershed: Case Study of the Pico De Tancitaro National Park,
Michoacan, Mexico, Journal of Environmental Hydrology, Vol. 12, Paper
5, March 2004.
CONTACT:
José de Jesús A.
Fuentes Junco
Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistema, CIECO-UNAM, Campus Morelia
Antigua Carretera a Pázcuaro # 8701, Ex-Hacienda de San
José de la Huerta
CP 58190 Morelia, Michoacan
México
E-mail: junco@oikos.unam.mx
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