A Global Experimental System Approach of Karst Springs¹ Hydrographs and Chemographs

Abstract

Investigation techniques for karst flow systems are based mainly on the study of different signals leaving the system caused by natural or induced external influences. Each signal represents one of the systems outputs (e.g., hydraulic, chemical, physical, or isotopic responses) that reflect the characteristics of the entire system. In this paper, we present a method to infer information about the structure of karst systems. It is based on a simultaneous analysis of chemical and hydraulic responses. Beside the classical piston flow at the beginning of a flood pulse, we define a chemically based recession flow phase. During this phase, field data show that the concentration of total dissolved solids can be considered as an exponential function of the logarithm of flow. This relationship allows two parameters to be defined, one of which is dependent on the structure and degree of development of the karst conduit network, the other is dependent mainly on bioclimatic factors. Data collected from seven karst springs are used to support ideas introduced in the paper.

Identification of glacial meltwater runoff in a karstic environment and its implication for present and future water availability

“…In remote mountain areas this could lead to water shortages, as replacement water would have to be transported from far away to regions lacking glacial meltwater. Recent research has been focusing on assessing water resources from karstic environment using karst models (Doerfliger et al, 1999;Butscher and Huggenberger, 2009;Jeannin et al, 2013), artificial tracer experiments (Goldscheider et al, 2008) and chemical and isotopic composition in runoff water (Grasso and Jeannin, 2002). Nevertheless, to assess current and future water resources, it is necessary to combine the three techniques and assemble the results in an illustrative karst model.…”

A dimensionless number describing the effects of recharge and geometry on discharge from simple karstic aquifers

“…Monitoring the response of karstic aquifers to storms is one of the main techniques that has been applied. The bulk of the previous work on storm pulses in karstic aquifers can be grouped into those studies that analyze rainfall-spring discharge relations [e.g., Ashton, 1966;Brown, 1970;Knisel, 1972;Brown, 1973;Dreiss, 1982;Labat et al, 2000aLabat et al, , 2000bDenic-Jukic and Jukic, 2003;Panagopoulos and Lambrakis, 2006] and those studies that attempt to ascertain the properties of the aquifer through characterization of the hydrographs, sometimes complemented by chemographs or thermographs [e.g., Dreiss, 1983;Eisenlohr et al, 1997;Kiraly et al, 1995;Grasso and Jeannin, 2002;Grasso et al, 2003;Birk et al, 2004;Kovács et al, 2005;Birk et al, 2006].…”

“…However, Eisenlohr et al [1997] suggested that the shape of spring hydrographs are a function of the structure of the aquifer, the form of the floods, the frequency of storm events, and the type of infiltration. Grasso and Jeannin [2002] interpret hydrographs and chemographs in terms of both aquifer structure and bioclimatic variables. The previously cited group of studies that focused on rainfall-discharge relations used rainfall as the input signal even in cases where the actual input signal is a losing stream or lake.…”

Water balance estimation in high Alpine terrain by combining distributed modeling and a neural network approach (Berchtesgaden Alps, Germany)

“…Teutsch and Sauter, 1991). Spring hydrograph, chemograph, and tracer breakthrough curve analysis focus on small-scale effects of karst conduits to define the size and the characteristics of one individual spring aquifer (Birk et al, 2004;Einsiedl, 2005;Geyer et al, 2008;Bonacci, 2004;Hauns et al, 2001;Kovacs et al, 2001;Grasso and Jeannin, 2002;Maloszweski et al, 2005;Weiler et al, 2003). Other approaches concentrate on karst genesis or theoretical conduit flow (Sauter et al, 2006;Romanov et al, 2004;Ford, 2003).…”