Dr. Sergio Contreras is specialized in the ecohydrological functioning of native and agroecosytems of arid and semiarid regions, and its relation with human activities. During his career, Dr. Contreras has shown a special interest in the interactions and feedbacks between vegetation and groundwater, in the energy and water balance and in the biomass and agricultural productivity of these regions. His studies cover a broad range of spatial scales, from plot to regional, and methodological approaches (GIS and remote sensing, hydrological modeling, hydrochemical and isotopic techniques).
He was pre and postdoctoral researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) where he developed much of his scientific career, and did research stays in Australia, Argentina and USA. He has participated in several international and national research projects and contracts, and at present he is member of the International Association of Hydrogeologists and the American Geoscience Union. Sergio works in the FutureWater office in Cartagena, Spain.
Related projects
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BONEX: Boosting Nexus Framework Implementation in the Mediterranean
BONEX is a project funded by the PRIMA-EU Foundation specifically for the Mediterranean Region. This region faces several challenges to ensure future food and water security, whilst preserving ecosystems. BONEX explores and develops specific solutions promoting the linking of governance with practice to overcome barriers to WEFE (water, energy, food,…
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Robust Decision Making for Land Use Planning in the Panama Canal River Basin
A Land Use Plan will be prepared for the river basin that belongs to and provides water for the Panama Canal. The regional plan (PIOTA) will set the framework, vision and direction for strategic planning and land use in the basin. For this purpose, the Panama Canal Authority and stakeholders…
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InfoSequia-4CAST: Forecasting and Quantifying Risks of Crop and Water Supply Failures Using Machine Learning and Remote Sensing
InfoSequia-4CAST combines historical and up-to-date observations of satellite-based meteorological and agricultural drought indices with climate variability indices, to generate seasonal outlooks of water supply and crop yield failure alerts. These impact-based indicators are computed using a simple, robust and easily understandable statistical forecasting-modelling framework. By making use of multi-sensor, state-of-the…
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G3P: Development of a Global Gravity-based Groundwater Product
Groundwater is one of the most important freshwater resources for mankind and for ecosystems, and has been declared as an Essential Climate Variable (ECV) by GCOS, the Global Climate Observing System. However, the Copernicus Services do not yet deliver data on this fundamental resource, nor is there any other data…
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Detection of On-farm Reservoirs in Irrigated Areas
The detection of on-site farm reservoirs and ponds in large areas is a complex task that can be addressed through the combination of visual inspection of orthophotos and the application of automatic pixel classification algorithms. This analysis performs a general workflow based on the usage of a Random Forest classifier…
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Satellite-based Monitoring of the Health Status of Grasslands at the Alagon Valley
This project is part of the technical-innovation support provided by FutureWater to ECOPRADERAS, an EIP-AGRI Operational Group which aims to improve the sustainable management of grasslands located at the Alagon Valley (Extremadura, Spain). Specific tasks included: the definition of a methodological framework for monitor the health of grasslands at the…
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Application of the Decision Tree Framework in the Chancay-Lambayeque Basin, Peru
The Chancay-Lambayeque watershed faces the challenges of rapid population growth and economic development in the presence of inadequate water supply, flood risk and environmental degradation. The study applies a step-wise approach, i.e. the World Bank’s Decision Tree Framework (DTF), to identify most important climate and nonclimate vulnerabilities for the system…
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TWIGA: Transforming Weather Water data into value-added Information services for sustainable Growth in Africa
TWIGA aims to provide actionable geo-information on weather, water, and climate in Africa through innovative combinations of new in situ sensors and satellite-based geo-data. With the foreseen new services, TWIGA expects to reach twelve million people within the four years of the project, based on sustainable business models. The TWIGA…
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HERMANA: Tool for Integrated Water Management
HERMANA aims to foster the development of an integrated water management decision support system (DSS) that supports daily, tactical and strategic decision-making related to water resources in Colombia, and specifically in the Cauca Valley Basin. The HERMANA tool will be a comprehensive system able to provide valuable, relevant, and reliable…
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Hydrogeological modeling of groundwater discharge to the Mar Menor lagoon
The groundwater discharge of irrigation return flows to the Mar Menor lagoon (Murcia, SE Spain), the largest coastal lagoon in Europe, is among one of the possible causes that would explain the high levels of eutrophication (hypereutrophication) and the several algal blooms accounted in this lagoon ecosystem in the last…
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IMPREX: IMproving PRedictions and management of hydrological EXtremes
FutureWater leads the coordination of the “Agriculture and Drought” sectoral Work Package of IMPREX. This WP specifically aims to study and evaluate the use of IMPREX weather forecasts and predictions, climate variability, and drought indicators to assess agricultural drought risk and impacts over four case studies and at the pan-European…
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Economic assessment of management alternatives in the protected areas of LAG Campoder
This project aims to advertise about the environmental assets found in the LAG Campoder at the Murcia Region (SE Spain), and to quantify using social and economic techniques the degree in which these assets are perceived by local population. FutureWater is responsible for the characterization and description of three representative…
Related publications
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2022 - FutureWater Report 234
Contreras, S., G. Guimarães, A. Fernández, S. Khanal, G.W.H. Simons. 2022. InfoSequia-4CAST: Report on InfoSequia-4CAST Development. FutureWater Report 234. X
InfoSequia-4CAST: Report on InfoSequia-4CAST Development
Contreras, S., G. Guimarães, A. Fernández, S. Khanal, G.W.H. Simons
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2022 - FutureWater Report 235
Contreras, S., C. Nolet, S. Khanal, A. Fernández, G.W.H. Simons. 2022. InfoSequia-4CAST: Report on InfoSequia Monitor Upgrading. FutureWater Report 235. XInfoSequia-4CAST: Report on InfoSequia Monitor Upgrading
Contreras, S., C. Nolet, S. Khanal, A. Fernández, G.W.H. Simons
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2021 - FutureWater Report 230
Contreras, S., G.W.H. Simons, A. Fernández. 2021. InfoSequia-4CAST: Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan. FutureWater Report 230. XInfoSequia-4CAST: Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan
Contreras, S., G.W.H. Simons, A. Fernández
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2021 - FutureWater Report 229
Contreras, S., A. Fernández, G. Guimarães, G.W.H. Simons. 2021. InfoSequia-4CAST: Action Plan for Developing and Testing. FutureWater Report 229. XInfoSequia-4CAST: Action Plan for Developing and Testing
Contreras, S., A. Fernández, G. Guimarães, G.W.H. Simons
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2021 - FutureWater Report 228
Contreras, S., G. Guimarães, G.W.H. Simons, C. Nolet, J.Beard, S. Khanal, A. Fernández. 2021. InfoSequia-4CAST: Baseline Design Report. FutureWater Report 228. XInfoSequia-4CAST: Baseline Design Report
Contreras, S., G. Guimarães, G.W.H. Simons, C. Nolet, J.Beard, S. Khanal, A. Fernández
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2021 - Technical Report
FutureWater - IDOM, 2021. Plan Indicativo de Ordenamiento Territorial Ambiental (PIOTA) para la Cuenca Hidrográfica del Canal de Panamá (CHCP). X
Plan Indicativo de Ordenamiento Territorial Ambiental (PIOTA) para la Cuenca Hidrográfica del Canal de Panamá (CHCP)
FutureWater - IDOM
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2020 - Internship report
Faassen, K., C. Nolet, S. Contreras. 2020. Internship Report: Determining the dryness index and evaporative fraction for satellite and drone images. Internship report.XDetermining the dryness index and evaporative fraction for satellite and drone images
Faassen, K., C. Nolet, S. Contreras
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2020 - FutureWater Report 212
Contreras, S., C. Nolet, G.W.H. Simons, 2020. Monitor Ecopraderas: Seguimiento del estado de las praderas de la Vega del Alagón mediante indicadores de satélite. FutureWater Report 212XMonitor Ecopraderas: Seguimiento del estado de las praderas de la Vega del Alagón mediante indicadores de satélite
Contreras, S., C. Nolet, G.W.H. Simons
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2019 - FutureWater Report 197
Hamed, R., A. De Tomas, S. Contreras, J.E. Hunink, J.E. 2019. Seasonal Hydrological Forecasting for the Segura River Basin, Spain. FutureWater Report 197.XSeasonal Hydrological Forecasting for the Segura River Basin, Spain
Hamed, R., A. De Tomas, S. Contreras, J.E. Hunink
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2019 - BRIGAID Internal Report
Contreras, S., J.E. Hunink. 2019. InfoSequia Testing Development Report. BRIGAID Internal Report.XInfoSequia Testing Development Report
Contreras, S., J.E. Hunink
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2019 - FutureWater Report 186
Contreras, S. 2019. Detection and coverage estimation of on-farm reservoirs and ponds in Mediterranean irrigated regions using orthophotos and pixel classification techniques. FutureWater Report 186XDetection and coverage estimation of on-farm reservoirs and ponds in Mediterranean irrigated regions using orthophotos and pixel classification techniques
Contreras, S.
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2019 - E-Proceedings of the 38th IAHR World Congress
Ball, S., M.F. Sanchez, M. Werner, S.T. Escobar Carmona, C.Y. Soto Chavez, M. Wuis, S. Contreras, K. Douben, M. Visser, J.E. Hunink. 2019. Co-Design of an Integrated Operational Water Management Tool For the Valle Del Cauca, Colombia. E-Proceedings of the 38th IAHR World Congress. doi.10.3850/38WC092019-1424.XHERMANA: Co-Design of an Integrated Operational Water Management Tool For the Valle Del Cauca, Colombia
Ball, S., M.F. Sanchez, M. Werner, S.T. Escobar Carmona, C.Y. Soto Chavez, M. Wuis, S. Contreras, K. Douben, M. Visser, J.E. Hunink
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2019 - Water
Hunink, J.E, G.W.H. Simons, S. Suárez-Almiñana, A. Solera, J. Andreu, M. Giuliani, P. Zamberletti, M. Grillakis, A. Koutroulis, I. Tsanis, F. Schasfoort, S. Contreras, E. Ercin, W. Bastiaanssen. 2019. A Simplified Water Accounting Procedure to Assess Climate Change Impact on Water Resources for Agriculture across Different European River Basins. Water 2019, 11, 1976. doi:10.3390/w11101976XA Simplified Water Accounting Procedure to Assess Climate Change Impact on Water Resources for Agriculture across Different European River Basins
Hunink, J.E, G.W.H. Simons, S. Suárez-Almiñana, A. Solera, J. Andreu, M. Giuliani, P. Zamberletti, M. Grillakis, A. Koutroulis, I. Tsanis, F. Schasfoort, S. Contreras, E. Ercin, W. Bastiaanssen
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2019 - Technical Report
Taner M.Ü., J.E. Hunink, S. Contreras, A. Hijar, R. Hamed, D. Morales, A. Wasti, P. Ray. 2019. El Marco del Árbol de Decisión: Aplicación a la Cuenca de Chancay-Lambayeque, Peru. Informe final. Deltares, FutureWater, INSIDEO and University of Cincinnati para el Banco Mundial.XEl Marco del Árbol de Decisión: Aplicación a la Cuenca de Chancay-Lambayeque, Peru
Taner M.Ü., J.E. Hunink, S. Contreras, A. Hijar, R. Hamed, D. Morales, A. Wasti, P. Ray
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2019 - FutureWater Report 194
Hunink, J.E., J.P.C. Eekhout, J. de Vente, S. Contreras, G.W.H. Simons. 2019. Satellite-based altimetry data for hydrological assessments: two case studies Report 194XSatellite-based altimetry data for hydrological assessments: two case studies
Hunink, J.E., J.P.C. Eekhout, J. de Vente, S. Contreras, G.W.H. Simons
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2019 - Science of the Total Environment
Alcolea, A., S. Contreras, J.E. Hunink, J.L. García-Aróstegui, J. Jiménez-Martínez. 2019. Hydrogeological modelling for the watershed management of the Mar Menor coastal lagoon (Spain). Science of the Total Environment (663) p901-914.XHydrogeological modelling for the watershed management of the Mar Menor coastal lagoon (Spain)
Alcolea, A., S. Contreras, J.E. Hunink, J.L. García-Aróstegui, J. Jiménez-Martínez
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2018 - Agricultural Water Management
García-León, D., S. Contreras, J.E. Hunink. 2018. Comparison of meteorological and satellite-based drought indices as yield predictors of Spanish cereals. Agric. Water Manag., 213, 388-396. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2018.10.030
XComparison of meteorological and satellite-based drought indices as yield predictors of Spanish cereals
García-León, D., S. Contreras, J.E. Hunink
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2017 - FutureWater Report 176
Contreras, S., A. Alcolea, J. Jiménez-Martínez, J.E. Hunink. 2017. Cuantificación de la descarga subterránea al Mar Menor mediante modelización hidrogeológica del acuífero superficial Cuaternario. FutureWater Report 176.XCuantificación de la descarga subterránea al Mar Menor mediante modelización hidrogeológica del acuífero superficial Cuaternario
Contreras, S., A. Alcolea, J. Jiménez-Martínez, J.E. Hunink
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2017 - FutureWater Report 174
Contreras, S., J.E. Hunink, A. Baille. 2017. Water and carbon fluxes in irrigated citrus orchards assessed from satellite data. FutureWater Report 174.XWater and carbon fluxes in irrigated citrus orchards assessed from satellite data
Contreras, S., J.E. Hunink, A. Baille
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2017 - Remote Sensing
Hunink J.E., J.P.C. Eekhout, J. de Vente, S. Contreras, P. Droogers, A. Baille. 2017. Hydrological Modelling using Satellite-Based
Crop Coefficients: A Comparison of Methods at the Basin Scale. Remote Sens., 9, 174, doi:10.3390/rs9020174XHydrological Modelling using Satellite-Based Crop Coefficients: A Comparison of Methods at the Basin Scale
Hunink J.E., J.P.C. Eekhout, J. de Vente, S. Contreras, P. Droogers, A. Baille
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2017 - FutureWater Report 167
Hunink, J.E., S. Contreras, G.W.H. Simons, P. Droogers. 2017. Hydrological Evaluation and Ecosystem Valuation of the Lukanga Swamps. FutureWater Report 167.XHydrological Evaluation and Ecosystem Valuation of the Lukanga Swamps
Hunink, J.E., S. Contreras, G.W.H. Simons, P. Droogers
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2016 - Agricultural Water Management
Romero-Triguerosa, C., P.A. Nortes, J.J. Alarcón, J.E. Hunink, M. Parra, S. Contreras, P. Droogers, E. Nicolás. 2016. Effects of saline reclaimed waters and deficit irrigation on Citrusphysiology assessed by UAV remote sensing. Agricultural Water Management. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.09.014.XEffects of saline reclaimed waters and deficit irrigation on Citrusphysiology assessed by UAV remote sensing
Romero-Triguerosa, C., P.A. Nortes, J.J. Alarcón, J.E. Hunink, M. Parra, S. Contreras, P. Droogers, E. Nicolás
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2016 - Environmental Reviews
Jimenez-Martinez, J., J.L. Garcia-Arostegui, J.E. Hunink, S. Contreras, P. Baudron, L. Candela. 2016. The role of groundwater in highly human-modified hydrosystems: a review of impacts and mitigation options in the Campo de Cartagena-Mar Menor coastal plain (SE Spain). Environmental Reviews, 2016, 24, 377-392. doi:10.1139/er-2015-0089.XThe role of groundwater in highly human-modified hydrosystems: a review of impacts and mitigation options in the Campo de Cartagena-Mar Menor coastal plain (SE Spain)
Jimenez-Martinez, J., J.L. Garcia-Arostegui, J.E. Hunink, S. Contreras, P. Baudron, L. Candela
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2016 - Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics
Cantón, Y., E. Rodríguez-Caballero, S. Contreras, L. Villagarcía, X.Y. Li, A. Solé-Benet, F. Domingo. 2016. Vertical and lateral soil moisture patterns on a mediterranean karst hillslope. Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics, 64, 209-2019. doi: 10.1515/johh-2016-0030XVertical and lateral soil moisture patterns on a mediterranean karst hillslope
Cantón, Y., E. Rodríguez-Caballero, S. Contreras, L. Villagarcía, X.Y. Li, A. Solé-Benet, F. Domingo
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2015 - Agricultural Water Management
Hunink, J.E., S. Contreras, M. Soto-García, B. Martin-Gorriz, V. Martinez-Álvarez, A. Baille. 2015. Estimating groundwater use patterns of perennial and seasonal crops in a Mediterranean irrigation scheme, using remote sensing. Agricultural Water Management, 162, 47–56. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2015.08.003XEstimating groundwater use patterns of perennial and seasonal crops in a Mediterranean irrigation scheme, using remote sensing
Hunink, J.E., S. Contreras, M. Soto-García, B. Martin-Gorriz, V. Martinez-Álvarez, A. Baille
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2015 - FutureWater Report 148
Hunink, J.E., W. Terink, S. Contreras, P. Droogers. 2015. Scoping Assessment of Erosion Levels for the Mahale region, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania. FutureWater Report 148XScoping Assessment of Erosion Levels for the Mahale region, Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania
Hunink, J.E., W. Terink, S. Contreras, P. Droogers
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2015 - FutureWater Report 138
Contreras, S., J.E. Hunink. 2015. Water accounting at the basin scale: water use and supply (2000-2010) in the Segura River Basin using the SEEA framework. FutureWater Report 138.XWater accounting at the basin scale: water use and supply (2000-2010) in the Segura River Basin using the SEEA framework
Contreras, S., J.E. Hunink
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2015 - FutureWater Report 141
Hunink, J.E., S. Contreras, P. Droogers. 2015. Hydrological pre-feasibility assessment for the Romuku hydropower plant Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. FutureWater Report 141XHydrological pre-feasibility assessment for the Romuku hydropower plant Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
Hunink, J.E., S. Contreras, P. Droogers
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2014 - Water Environment Research
Contreras, S., P. Pérez-Cutillas, C.S. Santoni, C. Romero-Trigueros, F. Pedrero, J.J. Alarcán. 2014. Effects of reclaimed waters on spectral properties and leaf traits of Citrus orchards. Water Environment Research 86: 2242-2250XEffects of reclaimed waters on spectral properties and leaf traits of Citrus orchards
Contreras, S., P. Pérez-Cutillas, C.S. Santoni, C. Romero-Trigueros, F. Pedrero, J.J. Alarcón
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2014 - Droughts: Research and Science-Policy Interfacing
Contreras, S., J.E. Hunink. 2014. Drought effects on rainfed agriculture using standardized indices: A case study in SE Spain. In Andreu et al. (eds) Droughts: Research and Science-Policy Interfacing, pp. 65-70. CRC Press (Taylor and Francis Group), London. ISBN: 978-1-138-02779-4XDrought effects on rainfed agriculture using standardized indices: A case study in SE Spain
Contreras, S., J.E. Hunink
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2014 - FutureWater Report 125
Contreras, S., J.E. Hunink, A. Baille. 2014. Building a Watershed Information System for the Campo de Cartagena basin (Spain) integrating hydrological modeling and remote sensing. FutureWater Report 125.XBuilding a Watershed Information System for the Campo de Cartagena basin (Spain) integrating hydrological modeling and remote sensing
Contreras, S., J.E. Hunink, A. Baille
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2013 - Earth observation of ecosystem services
Contreras, S., D. Alcaraz-Segura, B. Scanlon, E.G. Jobbágy. 2013. Detecting ecosystem reliance on groundwater based on satellite-derived greenness anomaly and temporal dynamics. In D. Alcaraz-Segura, C.M. Di Bella, J.V. Straschnoy (Eds.) Earth observation of ecosystem services. Chapter 13, pp. 283-302. CRC Press - Taylor & Francis Group. Boca Raton. ISBN: 978-14-665058-8-9XDetecting ecosystem reliance on groundwater based on satellite-derived greenness anomaly and temporal dynamics
Contreras, S., D. Alcaraz-Segura, B. Scanlon, E.G. Jobbágy
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2013 - Ecohydrology
Contreras, S., C.S. Santoni, E.G. Jobbagy. 2013. Abrupt watercourse formation in a semiarid sedimentary landscape of central Argentina: The roles of forest clearing, rainfall variability, and seismic activity. Ecohydrology 6: 794-805XAbrupt watercourse formation in a semiarid sedimentary landscape of central Argentina: The roles of forest clearing, rainfall variability, and seismic activity
Contreras, S., C.S. Santoni, E.G. Jobbagy
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2012 - Plant, Cell and Environment
Moreno-Gutierrez, C., G. Battipaglia, P. Cherebuni, M. Saurer, E. Nicolás, S. Contreras, J.I. Querejeta. 2012. Stand structure modulates the long-term vulnerability of Pinus halepensis to climatic drought in a semiarid Mediterranean ecosystem. Plant, Cell and Environment 35: 1026-1039XStand structure modulates the long-term vulnerability of Pinus halepensis to climatic drought in a semiarid Mediterranean ecosystem
Moreno-Gutierrez, C., G. Battipaglia, P. Cherebuni, M. Saurer, E. Nicolás, S. Contreras, J.I. Querejeta
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2011 - Environmental Earth Sciences
Alcalá, F.J., Y. Cantón, S. Contreras, A. Were, P. Serrano-Ortiz, J. Puigdefábregas, A. Solé-Benet, E. Custodio, F. Domingo. 2011. Diffuse and concentrated recharge evaluation using physical and tracer techniques: Results from a semiarid carbonate massif aquifer in southeastern Spain. Environmental Earth Sciences 62: 541-557XDiffuse and concentrated recharge evaluation using physical and tracer techniques: Results from a semiarid carbonate massif aquifer in southeastern Spain
Alcalá, F.J., Y. Cantón, S. Contreras, A. Were, P. Serrano-Ortiz, J. Puigdefábregas, A. Solé-Benet, E. Custodio, F. Domingo
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2011 - Catena
Li, X-Y., S. Contreras, A. Solé-Benet, Y. Cantón, F. Domingo, R. Lázaro, H. Lin, B. Van Wesemael, J. Puigdefábregas. 2011. Controls of infiltration-runoff processes in Mediterranean karst rangelands in SE Spain. Catena 86: 98-109XControls of infiltration-runoff processes in Mediterranean karst rangelands in SE Spain
Li, X-Y., S. Contreras, A. Solé-Benet, Y. Cantón, F. Domingo, R. Lázaro, H. Lin, B. Van Wesemael, J. Puigdefábregas
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2011 - Journal of Hydrology
Contreras, S., E.G. Jobbagy, P.E. Villagra, M.D. Nosetto, J. Puigdefábregas. 2011. Remote sensing estimates of supplementary water consumption by arid ecosystems of central Argentina. Journal of Hydrology 397: 10-22XRemote sensing estimates of supplementary water consumption by arid ecosystems of central Argentina
Contreras, S., E.G. Jobbagy, P.E. Villagra, M.D. Nosetto, J. Puigdefábregas
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2010 - Water Resources Research
Santoni, C.S., E.G. Jobbagy, S. Contreras. 2010. Vadose zone transport in dry forests of central Argentina: The role of land use. Water Resources Research 46: XVadose zone transport in dry forests of central Argentina: The role of land use
Santoni, C.S., E.G. Jobbagy, S. Contreras
