4. Conclusion
The study aimed to test the efficacy of remote sensing and geophysical techniques to quantify and understand the water cycle in a savanna wetland of Brazil. ERT and the digital aerial photogrammetry from RGB sensors aboard UAV are non-destructive techniques for assessing water cycling in wetlands and can be used to identify, quantify and promote the protection of water resources. The studied wetland is a depressed area in a well-drained lateritic environment in the Cerrado biome, surrounded by agricultural areas. The wetland acts as a natural seasonal rainwater reservoir, storing up to 416.996,3 m³ of water on the land surface during the rainy months. The distinct internal compartments that characterize the wetland morphology present distinct water storage. Furthermore, water is retained in soil porosity, feeding the aquifer by vertical flow and permeable and impermeable layers in soil and rock characterize the complex hydrology of this environment. Surface water and aquifer are connected in the center of the wetland through direct vertical flow, whereas the subsurface heterogeneity interrupts the flow direction, driving the water laterally and expanding the flooded area. Remotely sensed VHR images allied with geophysical techniques allowed complete surface and subsurface imaging and offered visual tools that significantly contribute to understanding hydrodynamics of the wetland. Further studies will be focused on assessing water use conflict between wetland water storage and agricultural consumption.