Laboratório da Paisagem Researchers Publish Study on Penha Mountain Groundwater

The Laboratório da Paisagem once again stands out in international scientific research with the publication of a new article in the journal Environmental Systems Research.

The study, titled “Groundwater quality and recharge mechanisms in a fractured granite aquifer system: the case of Penha Mountain, northwest Portugal”, focuses on the groundwater quality and recharge mechanisms of the Penha Mountain granite aquifer in Guimarães.

The article is authored by researchers João Miranda and Carlos A. Ribeiro from the Laboratório da Paisagem, alongside Margarida Antunes from the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Minho.

Groundwater is an essential resource, not only for public water supply but also for economic activities such as agriculture and industry. However, the impacts of climate change and the pressures of human activities are increasingly threatening the quality and availability of this vital resource. In the case of Penha Mountain, the granite aquifer plays a crucial role in the local water sustainability, making it fundamental to understand its recharge processes and the factors affecting its quality.

The study identified the main recharge sources of the aquifer as well as the parameters influencing groundwater quality, providing crucial information for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources in the region.

This publication reinforces the Laboratório da Paisagem’s commitment to producing applied scientific knowledge and its mission to contribute to the environmental sustainability of Guimarães and the surrounding region.

You can read the full article here:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41748-025-00614-1