Groundwater-driven temperature changes at thermal springs in response to recent glaciation: Bormio hydrothermal system, Central Italian Alps

Volpi, Giorgio; Magri, Fabien; Frattini, Paolo; Crosta, Giovanni B.; Riva, Federico

doi:10.1007/s10040-017-1600-6

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…However, the impact of the topographic gradient along the fault on the fluid pathways, although theoretically demonstrated by López and Smith (1995), had never been highlighted for hydrothermal system, previous models having involved a more symmetrical or "cylindrical" topography (e.g., Magri et al, 2016;McKenna & Blackwell, 2004) or a complex topography without faults (e.g., Craw et al, 2005;Ge et al, 2008;Volpi et al, 2017). Thus, the Planes topographic high, separating the Têt valley from the Cerdagne basin, acts as a watershed for groundwater infiltrated along the permeable Têt fault (Figure 7c).…”

Section: 1029/2018gc007965mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This suggests that the fault's ability to localize hot springs is also controlled by the fault plane's location with respect to the surrounding topography. Hence, it is crucial to examine both the topography's complexities in 3-D and the fault system patterns to understand the full hydrothermal system, as recently demonstrated for other examples (e.g., Sutherland et al, 2017;Volpi et al, 2017). The location of the water table could be even more critical.…”

Section: 1029/2018gc007965mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effects of glaciation on the groundwater recharge is still an investigated topic, because numerous processes related to the geological and glacial contexts are involved, but data sets are currently insufficient (Neuzil, 2012). Numerical studies of the transitional effects of the last glaciation on Alps hydrothermal systems use the assumption that glaciations block the groundwater recharge and that a deglaciation is necessary to reproduce the currently observed temperatures (Maréchal et al, 1999;Thiébaud, 2008;Thiebaud et al, 2010;Volpi et al, 2017), which is not our case. Further, some other studies indicate that glaciers do not suspend fluid infiltrations, except maybe if impermeable permafrost develops (Ge et al, 2008;Lemieux et al, 2008).…”

Section: Fault and Basement Permeabilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…López and Smith () show, in a theoretical 3‐D numerical model, that the topography along faults also influences the hydrothermal flows, and numerical simulations have never to our knowledge explored this. Most of the recent numerical studies on hydrothermal systems now involve 3‐D topography, sometimes simplified as being flat or slightly sloping (Sonney & Vuataz, ) or cylindrical (Magri et al, ) and also using realistic topography derived from DEMs (digital elevation models; Craw et al, ; Sutherland et al, ; Volpi et al, ). However, 3‐D model geometry built from a complex topography and fault traces, and constrained by fieldwork, is just beginning to be implemented in numerical models (Sutherland et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, the challenge when studying hydrothermal systems in such contexts is to use all the shallow available data obtained from field studies (i.e., spring temperatures and locations, topography, and structural measurements) as well as geochemical analyses of surface waters so as to understand the deep processes involved (e.g., Belgrano et al, 2016). In addition, numerical modeling of hydrothermal systems has often been applied during the last 30 years to explain hot spring occurrences and to explore their controlling factors (Bense et al, 2008;Forster & Smith, 1989;Guillou-Frottier et al, 2013;López & Smith, 1995;Magri et al, 2016;McKenna & Blackwell, 2004;Volpi et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Topographic and Faults Control of Hydrothermal Circulation Along Dormant Faults in an Orogen

Taillefer

Guillou-Frottier

Soliva

et al. 2018

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Hydrothermal systems involving dormant faults within orogenic belts are rarely targeted for geothermal exploration, partly because of the complexity of the 3‐D topography, the unknown permeability of the fault zones and the basement lithology, and the lack of deep‐level data. This study brings together various types of surface information (spring features, geological data, topography, and hydrochemistry) to explain the alignment of 29 hot springs (29–73 °C) along the dormant Têt fault (Eastern Pyrénées, France). Water ion concentrations, stable water isotopes, and lithium isotopic ratios indicate that (i) fluids originating from meteoric water infiltrate above an altitude of 2,000 m, (ii) the rocks interacting with the fluids are similar for all the springs, and (iii) the maximum fluid temperatures at depth show similar variations along the fault and at the surface. A 3‐D numerical model of the system, assembled from field structural data and from a digital elevation model, explores the permeability combinations for the basement and for a three‐fault network. The models indicate that for a relatively permeable basement (10−16 m2), fluids are topography‐driven down to thousands of meters (until −3,700 m) before being captured by the more permeable Têt fault. Hot spring temperatures can be numerically reproduced when fault permeability is around 10−14 m2, a value slightly lower than the critical permeability for which free convection would occur within the Têt fault. Our study shows that thermal anomalies are possible along dormant faults close to elevated topography in the core of an orogenic belt, thereby opening new perspectives for geothermal exploration.

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Section: 1029/2018gc007965mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: 1029/2018gc007965mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Fault and Basement Permeabilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Topographic and Faults Control of Hydrothermal Circulation Along Dormant Faults in an Orogen

Taillefer

Guillou-Frottier

Soliva

et al. 2018

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Numerical modeling as a tool for evaluating the renewability of geothermal resources: the case study of the Euganean Geothermal System (NE Italy)

Torresan

Piccinini

Cacace

et al. 2021

Environ Geochem Health

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Renewable natural resources are strategic for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the human footprint. The renewability of these resources is a crucial aspect that should be evaluated in utilization of scenario planning. The renewability of geothermal resources is strictly related to the physical and geological processes that favor water circulation and heating. In the Veneto region (NE Italy), thermal waters of the Euganean Geothermal System are the most profitable regional geothermal resource, and its renewability assessment entails the evaluation of fluid and heat recharge, regional and local geological settings, and physical processes controlling system development. This renewability assessment is aimed at defining both the importance of such components and the resource amount that can be exploited without compromising its future preservation. In the second part of the twentieth century, the Euganean thermal resource was threatened by severe overexploitation that caused a sharp decrease in the potentiometric level of the thermal aquifers. Consequently, regulation for their exploitation is required. In this work, the renewability of the Euganean Geothermal System was assessed using the results from numerical simulations of fluid flow and heat transport. The simulations were based on a detailed hydrogeological reconstruction that reproduced major regional geological heterogeneities through a 3D unstructured mesh, while a heterogeneous permeability field was used to reproduce the local fracturing of the thermal aquifers. The model results highlight the role played by the resolved structural elements, in particular the subsurface high-angle faults of the exploitation field, and by the anomalous regional crustal heat flow affecting the central Veneto region.

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Glacier retreat and its impact on groundwater system evolution in the Yarlung Zangbo source region, Tibetan Plateau

Kuang

Chen

et al. 2023

Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies

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Groundwater-driven temperature changes at thermal springs in response to recent glaciation: Bormio hydrothermal system, Central Italian Alps

Cited by 17 publications

References 51 publications

Topographic and Faults Control of Hydrothermal Circulation Along Dormant Faults in an Orogen

Topographic and Faults Control of Hydrothermal Circulation Along Dormant Faults in an Orogen

Numerical modeling as a tool for evaluating the renewability of geothermal resources: the case study of the Euganean Geothermal System (NE Italy)

Glacier retreat and its impact on groundwater system evolution in the Yarlung Zangbo source region, Tibetan Plateau

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