The PIRAGUA PROYECT in collaboration with the Comarca de Sobrarbe and the Sobrarbe-Pirineos UNESCO Global Geopark , organized a conference about “Subterranean waters and climate change”.

The impact of climate change on subterranean waters depends, among other factors, on the type of geological formations (aquifers) in which they are. In karst aquifers, the subterranean water is characterised by high flow velocities and shorts transit times, these characteristics make vulnerable aquifers to any external change in the processes that generate the recharge, such as the decrease in precipitation and the increase in temperature predicted by the models of climate change, especially for high mountain areas.

The National Park Ordesa and Monte Perdido (PNOMP) is the largest calcareous mountain massif in Western Europe and includes the highest altitude karst in Europe. In this conference we presented a synthesis of the hydrogeological research and the main results obtained until today, as well as an advance of the research currently under development in the framework of the European project EFA 210/16 (PIRAGUA).

In the same way, the last explorations carried out by “Otxola Speleology Group, Garcés system” were explained and the main theme of the day was debated in a round table composed of experts in research, planning, management and conservation of water resources both inside and outside of the PNOMP.

Finally, there was a guided tour to the thermal natural spring “Os Baños” (Fuente de Puyarruego or Fuente de los Suspiros) in order to see its functioning in the hydrogeological framework of the PNOMP.