Characteristics of discharge at Rose and Gellért Hills, Budapest, Hungary

Abstract

This study focuses on the discharge characteristics of the Buda Thermal Karst (Budapest, Hungary) found at the Rose and Gellért Hills. The Buda Thermal Karst is a recently active hydrothermal karst system in the heart of Budapest. Studying this unique hydrogeologic system is thus a challenge because of the human impact effects. The research approach is based on the concept of hydrological system analysis (Engelen and Kloosterman 1996), which means that the flow system geometry and recharge-discharge features must correlate when the influence of man on the flow regimes of an area is negligible. Therefore the flow system geometry could be deduced from the evaluation of manifestations of flowing groundwater. To achieve this archival hydrogeologic data and recent observations were used. Based on the localization of springs, collections of archival temperature and chemical data, as well as recent observations, conceptual models were established for the discharge in the Rose Hill and Gellért Hill areas. The observations indicate different discharge characteristics for the two study areas.

Comparison of bacterial and archaeal communities from different habitats of the hypogenic Molnár János Cave of the Buda Thermal Karst System (Hungary)

“…Considering the increasing number of cave divers that regularly visit the Molnár János Cave, the direct human impact on the cave ecology cannot be negligible. The temperature of the cave's water is 23-26°C near the surface, and ~19°C at 25-35 m depth in the cave due to the mixing of thermal and lukewarm components (Erőss et al, 2008).…”

Heat potential evaluation of effluent and used thermal waters in Budapest, Hungary

“…In terms of natural conditions, in the North only lukewarm springs (18-24 °C) can be found. The spatially separated, tectonically-controlled discharge of lukewarm (20-35 °C) and hot (40-65 °C) springs was found to be characteristic for the central discharge area, at the foot of Rózsadomb, whereas in the Gellért Hill discharge zone, in the South, the springs can be characterized by temporally and spatially uniform temperature (33.5-43.5 °C) and chemical composition (1450-1700 mg/l TDS), which clearly differs from the hot waters at Rózsadomb (800-1350 mg/l TDS; Papp 1942;Erőss et al 2008).…”

“…1: marls and clays; 2: carbonates; 3: Neogene sediments; 4: travertine; 5: fault; 6: inactive, dry cave; 7: local flow system; 8: intermediate flow system; 9: regional flow system; 10: active cave; 11: karst water table (modified after Erőss et al 2008) Based on the temperature of the spring a close recharge area and a local flow system can be assumed.…”

Geothermal phenomena in the context of gravity-driven basinal flow of groundwater

“…The difference in temperature was explained by the greater amount of heat which can accumulate along the longer and deeper flow path of a regional flow system than along the shallower and shorter intermediate system discharging in the same general area in the valley of the Danube river ( Fig. 10b; Erőss et al 2008). Origin and effect of thermal-karst spring waters in the Buda hills, Hungary (modified from Erőss et al 2008) Another example of faults localizing geothermal anomalies can be found in the Pechelbronn-Soultz area, Rhine Graben, NE France (Fig.…”

“…10b; Erőss et al 2008). Origin and effect of thermal-karst spring waters in the Buda hills, Hungary (modified from Erőss et al 2008) Another example of faults localizing geothermal anomalies can be found in the Pechelbronn-Soultz area, Rhine Graben, NE France (Fig. 11;Tóth and Otto 1993.…”