Sub-ice geology inland of the Transantarctic Mountains in light of new aerogeophysical data

The Transantarctic Mountains are a major geologic boundary that bisects the Antarctic continent, separating the low-lying, tectonically active terrains of West Antarctica from the East Antarctic craton. A new comprehensive aerogeophysical data set, extending 1150 km from the Ross Sea into the interior of East Antarctica provides insights into the complex structure inland of the Transantarctic Mountains. Geophysical maps, compiled from 21 000 km of gravity, magnetic and subglacial topography data, outline the boundaries of several geologic and tectonic segments within the survey area. The coherent pattern in magnetic data and mesa topography suggests a subglacial extent of the Transantarctic Mountains 400–500 km inland the last exposed rock outcrops. We estimate the maximum thickness of a potential sediment infill in the Wilkes Subglacial Basin to be less than 1 km, based on gravity modeling and source depth estimates from magnetic data. The coherent nature of the potential field and topography data, together with the northwest–southeast trends, define the Adventure Subglacial Trench and the Resolution Subglacial Highlands as a tectonic unit. The crustal structure and the strong similarity of the observed gravity with fold-and-thrust belts suggest a compressional scenario for the origin of the Adventure Subglacial Trench and the Resolution Subglacial Highlands. The complexity and apparent structural control of the Wilkes Subglacial Basin raise the issue of what influence pre-existing structures may have played in the formation of the Transantarctic Mountains system. The previous hypothesis of a thermal boundary beneath the mountains is difficult to reconcile with our new gravity data. The apparent difficulties to match our new data with certain key aspects of previous models suggests that a reassessment of the existing uplift models is necessary. We have modeled the prominent gravity anomaly over the Transantarctic Mountains with thicker crust.     

Interpretation of regional aeromagnetic data by the scaling function method: the case of Southern Apennines (Italy)

A complex aeromagnetic anomaly in Southern Apennines (Italy) is analysed and interpreted by a multiscale method based on the scaling function. We use multiscale methods allowing analysis of a potential field along ridges, which are lines defined by the position of the extrema of the field at the considered scales. The method developed and applied in this paper is based on the study of the scaling function of the total magnetic field. It allows recovering of source parameters such as depth and structural index. The studied area includes a Pleistocene volcanic structure (Mt. Vulture) whose intense dipolar anomaly is superimposed on a longer wavelength regional anomaly. The interpretation of ridges of the modulus of the analytic signal at different altitude ranges allows recognition of at least three distinct sources between about 5 km and 20 km depth. Their interpretation is discussed in light of borehole data and other geophysical constraints. A reasonable geological model for these sources indicates the presence of intrusions, probably linked to the past activity of Mt. Vulture.     

区域航磁资料在预测松辽盆地北部区域地温场中的应用

分析了应用区域航磁资料研究区域地温场的方法,提出了在探井井温资料控制下采用指数形式的方法计算地温梯度,并建立起居里深度与近地表地温梯度、指数因子的关系,给出了求取近地表地温梯度、指数因子的方法及公式,推导了不同深度地温及平均地温梯度的计算公式.通过对松辽盆地北部区域地温场计算结果分析认为,应用区测航磁资料结合一定数量的井温资料可较好地预测区域地温场,为盆地评价提供较为可靠的地温场资料.     

Rift-related Jurassic basaltic phreatomagmatic volcanism in the central Transantarctic Mountains: precursory stage to flood-basalt effusion

 The Middle Jurassic Kirkpatrick flood basalts and comagmatic Ferrar intrusions in the Transantarctic Mountains represent a major pulse of tholeiitic magmatism related to early stages in the breakup of Gondwana. A record of the volcano-tectonic events leading to formation of this continental flood-basalt province is provided by strata underlying and only slightly predating the Kirkpatrick lavas. In the central Transantarctic Mountains, the lavas rest on widespread (≥7500 km²) tholeiitic pyroclastic deposits of the Prebble Formation. The Prebble Formation is dominated by lahar deposits and is an unusual example of a regionally developed basaltic lahar field. Related, partly fault-controlled pyroclastic intrusions cut underlying strata, and vents are represented by the preserved flanks of two small tephra cones associated with a volcanic neck. Lahar and air-fall deposits typically contain 50–60% accidental lithic fragments and sand grains derived from underlying Triassic – Lower Jurassic strata in the upper part of the Beacon Supergroup. Juvenile basaltic ash and fine lapilli consist of nonvesicular to scoriaceous tachylite, sideromelane, and palagonite, and have characteristics indicating derivation from hydrovolcanic eruptions. The abundance of accidental debris from underlying Beacon strata points to explosive phreatomagmatic interaction of basaltic magma with wet sediment and groundwater, which appears to have occurred in particular where rising magma intersected upper Beacon sand aquifers. Composite clasts in the lahar deposits exhibit complex peperitic textures formed during fine-scale intermixing of basaltic magma with wet sand and record steps in subsurface fuel-coolant interactions leading to explosive eruption. The widespread, sustained phreatomagmatic activity is inferred to have occurred in a groundwater-rich topographic basin linked to an evolving Jurassic rift zone in the Transantarctic Mountains. Coeval basaltic phreatomagmatic deposits of the Mawson and Exposure Hill Formations, which underlie exposures of the Kirkpatrick Basalt up to 1500 km to the north along strike in Victoria Land, appear to represent other parts of a regional, extension-related Middle Jurassic phreatomagmatic province which developed immediately prior to rapid outpouring of the flood basalts. This is consistent with models which assign an important role to lithospheric stretching in the generation of flood-basalt provinces. Received: 28 August 1995 / Accepted: 18 April 1996     

Investigation into regional thermal structure of the Thrace Region, NW Turkey, from aeromagnetic and borehole data

The aeromagnetic values over the study region are relatively uniform except for a few anomalies in the northeastern and southwestern areas. Analyses of aeromagnetic data were performed in NW Turkey, in order to have a look into the subsurface regional thermal structure of the region. For this purpose, power spectra, reduced to pole (RTP), and band-pass filtered anomalies were produced using geophysical techniques. Band-pass filtered data were produced from the RTP aeromagnetic anomalies to isolate near surface and undesired deep effects. Based on the aeromagnetic data interpretation, the thickness of the magnetized crust, named the Curie Point Depth (CPD), in the study area lies between 9.7 and 20.3 km. The CPD estimates in the Thrace region of Turkey indicate two shallow CPD (SCPD1 and SCPD2) zones (the Istranca Massif and the Saros Graben area). The deep CPD are located within the Thrace Basin with sediment thickness of about 9 km. The corresponding heat flow map prepared from the averaged thermal conductivities and thermal gradients from the CPD reveals the existence of one low heat flow zone (75 mW/m²) over the center of Thrace Basin, and two high heat flow zones over the Istranca Masif (100–125 mW/m²) in the northern side and Saros Graben (125–135 mW/m²) areas in the southern side of the Thrace Basin.     

Tafoni development in a cryotic environment: an example from Northern Victoria Land,Antarctica

Tafoni are a type of cavernous weathering widespread around the world. Despite the extensive distribution of the tafoni, their genesis is not clear and is still a matter of debate, also because they occur in such different climatic conditions and on so many different types of substrate. Geomorphological characterization of more than 60 tafoni in three different Antarctic sites (two coastal and one inland) between 74 and 76° S with sampling of weathering products and salt occurrences are described together with thermal data (on different surfaces) and wind speed recorded in different periods of the year in a selected tafone close to the Italian Antarctic station. The aim of this present study is to provide further information to help understand the processes involved in the growth of tafoni in a cryotic environment, and the relationship of these processes to climate, with particular attention to the thermal regime and the role of wind. The new data presented in this paper suggest that there is no single key factor that drives the tafoni development, although thermal stress seems the most efficient process, particularly if we consider the short‐term fluctuations. The data also confirm that other thermal processes, such as freezing–thawing cycles and thermal shock, are not really effective for the development of tafoni in this area. The wind speed measured within the tafoni is half that recorded outside, thus favouring snow accumulation within the tafoni and therefore promoting salt crystallization. On the other hand, the wind effect on the thermal regime within the tafoni seems negligible. While both salt weathering and thermal stress appear active in this cryotic environment, these are azonal processes and are therefore active in other climatic areas where tafoni are widespread (such as the Mediterranean region). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of multivariate statistical procedures to the hydrochemical study of a coastal aquifer: an example from Crete,Greece

A variety of multivariate statistical procedures were applied to three separate sets of quantitative analytical data from a coastal aquifer located in Malia, Crete (Greece), in order to identify the major hydrochemical processes affecting the groundwater quality and to investigate the evolution of groundwater composition in three different sampling periods. Two of them were carried out on October 2001 and September 2002 at the end of the dry season and the third on April 2002 at the end of the wet period. Two factors were found that explained major hydrochemical processes in the aquifer. These factors reveal the existence of an intensive intrusion of seawater and mechanisms of nitrate contamination of groundwater. Bivariate plots of the scores of the two main factors showed that the seawater intrusion and nitrate pollution processes are maintained through three surveys and that the process of nitrate pollution increases from the first to the second dry survey. Q‐mode factor analysis and discriminant analysis of the three sampling periods clearly showed a seasonal variation of the whole chemistry of groundwater samples. This seasonal variation can be attributed to the freshwater recharge and seawater intrusion that affect the groundwater quality of the Malia aquifer. The results of trend surface analysis are in agreement with those of factor analysis. Moreover, the fourth‐order trend surfaces of EC, Cl^? and NO₃^? showed that the salinization process is more intensive during the first dry period and the spatial variation of NO₃^? maxima plumes are strongly affected by the flow regime of the Malia aquifer. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Los Azufres silicic center (Mexico): inference of caldera structural elements from gravity, aeromagnetic, and geoelectric data

Los Azufres geothermal field is located within a silicic volcanic complex in central Mexico. The complex is one of the major silicic centers in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). Pradal and Robin (1985) first suggested the existence of the Los Azufres caldera, and Ferrari et al. (1991) recognized the existence of a collapse structure. According to Pradal and Robin this is a caldera of resurgent type. This geophysical study aims to contribute to the knowledge of the structure of the Los Azufres area. Gravity, aeromagnetic, magnetotelluric (MT) and d.c. vertical electric-resistivity soundings were analyzed. Results show that Los Azufres is a very structurally complex setting with relatively thin crust caused by the extensional tectonics characterizing this central sector of the TMVB. Faults belonging to the E-W to NE-SW (extensional neotectonics) and NW-SE (Basin and Range province) systems are observed to affect the geologic units of Los Azufres. According to our study, the Los Azufres geothermal field is located in a structural high located in the middle of a sub-circular depression delimited to the north-northeast by the Santa Ines Range, and to the southwest by the Mil Cumbres formation. The larger depression consists of two narrow, deep depressions that correspond to La Venta and to the Valley of Juarez. They are separated by the above mentioned structural high. These sub-depressions are believed to be the sites of a maximum caldera collapse, and the structural high is interpreted to be at least in part the caldera's resurgent dome. Geoelectric structure of the caldera derived from d.c. resistivity indicates that the brines of the Los Azufres geothermal system ascend along faults, both bounding and internally disrupting the structural high/resurgent dome. A reasonable correlation is observed between gravity and aeromagnetic data.     

Results from an aeromagnetic investigation of the nares strait region

An analysis of published and recently collected aeromagnetics in the Naires Strait region shows that short wavelength, moderate amplitude magnitic anomalies are coincident with previously mapped Precambrian Shield rocks under southeast Ellesmere Island. Similar magnetic anomalies are also observed in northwestern Greenland across Nares Strait. On Greenland the characteristic magnetic anomalies persist about 105 km beyond and northeast of the exposed Precambrian outcrops. This suggests that the Greenland Pre-Cambrian Shield structures previously shown as only occuring as far north as Inglefield Land actually extend at least 100 km further north. Correlation of the magnetic anomalies with mapped geological units suggest a 105+−10 km left lateral displacement in the boundary between the Lower Paleozoic and Precambrain terrains across Nares Strait. This, we interpret, is due to the relative motion between Greenland and Ellesmere Island during the evolution of the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay in the Early to Mid Tertiary.     

Maximum likelihood (ML) estimation of depth from the spectrum of aeromagnetic fields

Summary Starting from the assumption that the aeromagnetic field is a Gaussian random function the probability density function of log-radial spectrum is shown to be a slightly asymmetric non-Gaussian function, [2q/2 (q/2)]^–1 q( ^q/2)–1 exp(q/2(r-exp(r))). The depth to magnetic layer is determined by maximum likelihood (ML) technique and is compared with the least square (LS) estimate. The difference between the two is only marginal, about 15%. The least square estimate is lower than the maximum likelihood estimate.     

An attempt to define Curie point depths in Greece from aeromagnetic and heat flow data

The objective of this study is to understand the nature and extent of the regional geothermal system at depth beneath the area of Greece by constructing the Curie isotherms.Spectral analysis of aeromagnetic data in conjunction with heat flow information revealed an almost inverse linear relation between heat flow and Curie depths and was used to construct the Curie isotherms from the existing heat flow data.The results showed that Curie depths in the area range from about 20 km in western Greece, up to 1 km beneath the Hellenic volcanic arc. These results are consistent with the existing geothermal and geotectonic regime in the area.     

联合GRACE和ICESat数据分离南极冰川均衡调整(GIA)信号

2002年发射的GRACE重力卫星为南极冰盖质量平衡提供了一种新的测量方式,但由于南极GIA模型的不确定较大,进而影响GRACE结果的可靠性.本文联合2003-2009年的GRACE和ICESat等数据实现了南极GIA信号的分离,联合方法所分离的GIA不依赖于不确定性很大的冰负荷等假设模型,而是直接基于卫星观测数据估算而来的,具有更大的可靠性.在分离过程中,本文提出了冰流速度加权改正法和GPS球谐拟合改正法对GIA结果进行精化,同时引入了南极GPS观测站的位移数据对分离的GIA进行详细的评估和验证,GPS验证表明经过冰流速度加权和GPS球谐拟合双改正后的GIA结果精度明显得到提高.最后本文利用所分离的GIA对GRACE和ICESat结果进行了改正,得到2003-2009年南极冰盖质量变化的趋势为-66.7±54.5 Gt/a（GRACE）和-77.2±21.5 Gt/a（ICESat）,相比采用其他的GIA模型,本文的GIA结果使GRACE和ICESat这两种不同观测技术得到的南极冰盖质量变化结果更加趋于一致.     

Internal structure of Tenerife (Canary Islands) based on gravity, aeromagnetic and volcanological data

Gravity and magnetic methods have been applied to the Tenerife Island, to provide new information about its internal structure. For this study, 365 gravity stations covering the central part of the island have been selected. The anomalous density maps at different depths were obtained by means of an inversion global adjustment, on fixed density contrast, to describe the three-dimensional (3D) geometry of the anomalous bodies. On the other hand, several analysis techniques, such as reduction to the pole, spectral analysis, low-pass filtering, terrain correction and forward modelling, were applied to process the high-resolution data obtained in an aeromagnetic survey, completed with marine and terrestrial data.The joint analysis of gravity and magnetic anomalies has shown tectonic and volcanic features that define some fundamental aspects of the structural framework and volcanic evolution of the island. A strong gravity anomaly produced by a large and deep source has been associated with an uplifted block of the basement beneath the southern part of Tenerife. The sources of the observed gravity highs from 8 km b.s.l. may be associated with the growth of the submarine shield stage that was clearly controlled by regional tectonic.The long-wavelength magnetic anomalies reveal highly magnetic sources, interpreted as gabbro-ultramafic cumulates associated with the root zone of a large dyke swarm. This intrusive body could be topped by the emplacement zone of magma chambers that correlate with a magnetic horizon at 5.7±0.8 km depth. Rooted in this highly magnetic zone, two dike–like structures can be associated with the magmatic feeding system of large recent basaltic volcanoes. A shallow magnetic horizon (1.4 km a.s.l.) can be correlated with the bottom phonolites of the Las Cañadas Edifice.In the central part of the island the coincidence of some gravity and magnetic lows is consistent with the presence of low-density and low-magnetic materials, that infill a collapsed caldera system. The structures close to the surface are characterised by low-density areas connected with the recent volcanism, in particular the minimum over the Teide volcano. Hydrothermal alteration is assumed to be the cause of a short-wavelength magnetic low over the Teide volcano.     

Luminescence chronology from the Verkhoyansk Mountains (North-Eastern Siberia)

This study presents new dating results from the Verkhoyansk Mountains in northeastern Siberia. Pleistocene sediments of aeolian and glacial origin have been studied and dated by infrared optically stimulated luminescence (IRSL). The chronostratigraphy of this vast area is mainly based on radiocarbon dating up to now. Aeolian sediments are widespread in the foreland of the Verkhoyansk Mountains. IRSL-dating results indicate two major periods of increased accumulation between 33 and 24 ka and between 13 and 9 ka. A new stratigraphy of Pleistocene glaciations in this area has been developed. Up to five end moraines have been identified in two catchments areas. IRSL was applied to date the sandy and silty sediments covering the glacial deposits in order to get minimum ages. Furthermore, glacial and glacio-fluvial deposits were also sampled from a few locations. According to the IRSL dating results, the uppermost end moraine was deposited prior to 50 ka. The three outermost moraines might have been formed during Early Weicheslian to Saalian times. It is very likely that no major glaciers reached the foreland of the Verkhoyansk Mountains during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, MIS 2).     

Cosmogenic ~(21)Ne concentrations and exposure ages of summit bedrocks in the Grove Mountains,Antarctica

Various sources of 21Ne and 22Ne exist in surface rocks:cosmogenic,in situ nucleogenic from internal U and Th,trapped crustal nucleogenic and trapped atmospheric.This paper reports the first measurement,in China,of cosmogenic 21Ne and 22Ne in surface bedrocks.We developed a unique sample pre-treatment procedure that effectively removed inclusions inside quartz grains,and thus maximally reduced nucleogenic contributions of 21Ne and 22Ne.Step-heating experiments show that concen-trations of cosmogenic 21Ne and 22Ne in summit bedrock samples R9202 and R9203 from Grove Mountains,Antarctica,are(3.83±0.87)×108 and(5.22±0.51)×108 atoms/g,respectively.The corresponding minimum exposure ages are 2.2±0.5 and 3.0±0.3 Ma.This indicates that the ice sheet in East Antarctica was uncovered the crest of Mount Harding,a typical nunatak in Grove Mountains,since at least mid-Pliocene.     

Extracting palaeoflood data from coarse‐grained Pleistocene river terrace archives: an example from SE Spain

Field‐based palaeoflood event reconstruction has the potential to contribute to the development of our understanding of long‐term landscape evolution. However, the reconstruction of past flow event histories (magnitude and frequency) over long‐term (Quaternary) timescales is fraught with difficulties. Here we make a preliminary exploration of some of the practicalities of flood reconstruction from fluvial terrace archives using commonly available sedimentological and geomorphological observations from a field perspective. We utilize Manning and palaeostage indicators to reconstruct historic events that can be used as benchmarks for a lesser used competence based approach, which is applied to coarse‐grained strath terrace deposits. We evaluate the results against gauged records for extreme and catastrophic events that affected the same region in 1973 and 2012. The findings suggest that the competence approach is most effectively applied to terrace deposits if the channel geometry is taken into account when sampling both in cross‐section and in longitudinal section and calibrated against the sedimentology for palaeo‐flow depth. Problems can arise where constrictive channel geometries allow boulder jams to develop, acting as sediment traps for the coarsest material and leading to downstream ‘boulder starvation’. Useful sites to target for palaeoflood reconstruction, therefore, would be upstream of such constrictive reaches where the coarsest transportable bedload has been effectively trapped. Sites to avoid would be downflow, where the deposited material would poorly represent palaeoflood competence. Underestimation from maximum boulder preservation and limited section exposure issues would appear to outweigh possible overestimation concerns related to fluid density and unsteady flow characteristics such as instantaneous acceleration forces. Flood data derived from river terrace deposits suggests that basal terrace geometries and coarse boulder lags common to many terrace sequences are likely the result of extreme flow events which are subsequently filled by lesser magnitude flood events, in this environmental setting. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Segmented seismicity of the M w 6.2 Baladeh earthquake sequence (Alborz Mountains, Iran) revealed from regional moment tensors

The M _w 6.2 Baladeh earthquake occurred on 28 May 2004 in the Alborz Mountains, northern Iran. This earthquake was the first strong shock in this intracontinental orogen for which digital regional broadband data are available. The Baladeh event provides a rare opportunity to study fault geometry and ongoing deformation processes using modern seismological methods. A joint inversion for hypocentres and a velocity model plus a surface-wave group dispersion curve analysis were used to obtain an adapted velocity model, customised for mid- and long-period waveform modelling. Based on the new velocity model, regional waveform data of the mainshock and larger aftershocks (M _w ?≥3.3) were inverted for moment tensors. For the Baladeh mainshock, this included inversion for kinematic parameters. All analysed earthquakes show dominant thrust mechanisms at depths between 14 and 26 km, with NW–SE striking fault planes. The mainshock ruptured a 28° south-dipping area of 24 × 21 km along a north-easterly direction. The rupture plane of the mainshock does not coincide with the aftershock distribution, neither in map view nor with respect to depth. The considered aftershocks form two main clusters. The eastern cluster is associated with the mainshock. The western cluster does not appear to be connected with the rupture plane of the mainshock but, instead, indicates a second activated fault plane dipping at 85° towards the north.     

Uplift history and structure of the Transantarctic Mountains: new evidence from fission track dating of basement apatites in the Dry Valleys area, southern Victoria Land

Fission track analysis of apatites from basement rocks of the Wright Valley in southern Victoria Land provides information about the timing, the amount and hence the rate of uplift of the Transantarctic Mountains in this area. Apatite ages increase systematically with elevation, and a pronounced break in the age versus elevation profile has been recognised at about 800 m on Mt. Doorly near the mouth of Wright Valley. The apatite age of about 50 Ma at this point approximates the time at which uplift of the mountain range began. Samples lying above the break in slope lay within the apatite fission track annealing zone prior to uplift, during a Cretaceous to Early Cenozoic period of relative thermal and tectonic stability. At the lower elevations samples had a zero apatite fission track age before the onset of rapid uplift and have track length distributions indicating rapid cooling. Some 4.8–5.3 km of uplift are estimated to have occurred at an average rate of about 100 ± 5m/Ma since uplift began. From the total stratigraphic thickness known above the uplifted apatite annealing zone it can be estimated that the Late Cretaceous/Early Cenozoic thermal gradient in the area was about 25–30°C/km.The occurrence and pattern of differential uplift across the Transantarctic Mountains can be estimated from the vertical offsets of different apatite fission track age profiles sampled across the range. These show the structure of the mountain range to be that of a large tilt block, dipping gently to the west under the polar ice-cap and bounded by a major fault zone on its eastern side. Offset dolerite sills at Mt. Doorly show the mountain front to be step-faulted by 1000 m or more down to the McMurdo Sound coast from an axis of maximum uplift just inland from Mt. Doorly.     

Crustal structure of the Mizuho Plateau, East Antarctica from geophysical data

Various kinds of geophysical surveys have been carried out in the Mizuho Plateau, East Antarctica by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expeditions (JARE). The correlation between the high-level gravity anomaly and the bedrock elevation is examined along a route where both data are sufficient to permit deriving a crustal model from gravity, radio-echo sounding and explosion seismic data. The bedrock elevation usually correlates well with the high-level gravity anomaly. However, along the traverse route S-H-Z from the Syowa to Mizuho stations, the bedrock elevation has a weak negative correlation with the high-level gravity anomaly. Such a weak negative correlation is attributed to the deeper part of the crust.The crustal structure between the Syowa and Mizuho stations is modeled from the gravimetric data and the radio-echo sounding of bedrock elevations, so as to fit the P-wave velocity structure derived from the data of explosion seismic experiments. Then the structure is extended from Syowa Station seaward across Lützow-Holm Bay and from Mizuho Station southeastwards inland, where only gravimetric data are available. Thus, a crustal section about 600 km long is obtained on a margin of East Antarctica. The depth of the Moho increases by about 7 km from Syowa Station to the point Y200 (71° 46′S, 48° 56′E), about 500 km from the coast. A graben-like structure is obtained along the line across Lützow-Holm Bay. This suggests that both sides of the bay are bounded by faults.     

Delineation of regional arid karstic aquifers: an integrative data approach

This research integrates data procedures for the delineation of regional ground water flow systems in arid karstic basins with sparse hydrogeologic data using surface topography data, geologic mapping, permeability data, chloride concentrations of ground water and precipitation, and measured discharge data. This integrative data analysis framework can be applied to evaluate arid karstic aquifer systems globally. The accurate delineation of ground water recharge areas in developing aquifer systems with sparse hydrogeologic data is essential for their effective long-term development and management. We illustrate the use of this approach in the Cuatrociénegas Basin (CCB) of Mexico. Aquifers are characterized using geographic information systems for ground water catchment delineation, an analytical model for interbasin flow evaluation, a chloride balance approach for recharge estimation, and a water budget for mapping contributing catchments over a large region. The test study area includes the CCB of Coahuila, Mexico, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve containing more than 500 springs that support ground water-dependent ecosystems with more than 70 endemic organisms and irrigated agriculture. We define recharge areas that contribute local and regional ground water discharge to springs and the regional flow system. Results show that the regional aquifer system follows a topographic gradient that during past pluvial periods may have linked the Río Nazas and the Río Aguanaval of the Sierra Madre Occidental to the Río Grande via the CCB and other large, currently dry, upgradient lakes.