Implications of the spatial variability of infiltration-water chemistry for the investigation of a karst aquifer: a field study at Milandre test site, Swiss Jura

Perrin, José; Jeannin, Pierre‐Yves; Zwahlen, François

doi:10.1007/s10040-003-0281-5

Cited by 51 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The remaining discharge (5%) is issued from secondary tributaries and low permeability volumes. Perrin et al (2003a) showed a strong relation between land use and ground water chemistry of the respective tributaries: the AM and BU catchments show evidences of human activities, whereas the AF catchment is still well preserved (Table 1).…”

Section: Study Area and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of tributary mixing in chemical variations at a karst spring, Milandre, Switzerland

Perrin

Jeannin

Cornaton

2007

Journal of Hydrology

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Summary Solute concentration variations during flood events were investigated in a karst aquifer of the Swiss Jura. Observations were made at the spring, and at the three main subterraneous tributaries feeding the spring. A simple transient flow and transport numerical model was able to reproduce chemographs and hydrographs observed at the spring, as a result of a mixing of the concentration and discharge of the respective tributaries. Sensitivity analysis carried out with the model showed that it is possible to produce chemical variations at the spring even if all tributaries have constant (but different for each of them) solute concentrations. This process is called tributary mixing. The good match between observed and modelled curves indicate that, in the phreatic zone, tributary mixing is probably an important process that shapes spring chemographs. Chemical reactions and other mixing components (e.g. from low permeability volumes) have a limited influence.Dissolution-related (calcium, bicarbonate, specific conductance) and pollution-related parameters (nitrate, chloride, potassium) displayed slightly different behaviours: during moderate flood events, the former showed limited variations compared to the latter. During large flood events, both presented chemographs with significant changes. No significant event water participates in moderate flood events and tributary mixing will be the major process shaping chemographs. Variations are greater for parameters with higher spatial variability (e.g. pollution-related). Whereas for large flood events, the contribution of event water becomes significant and influences the chemographs of all the parameters. As a result, spring water vulnerability to an accidental pollution is low during moderate flood events and under base flow conditions. It strongly increases during large flood events, because event water contributes to the spring discharge.

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Section: Study Area and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of tributary mixing in chemical variations at a karst spring, Milandre, Switzerland

Perrin

Jeannin

Cornaton

2007

Journal of Hydrology

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“…The Milandre test site is situated in the Swiss Jura, 8 km N-W of Porrentruy (Kovacs and Jeannin, 2003;Perrin et al, 2003b). The catchment area, estimated to be on the order of 13 km 2 , is drained by the Milandre karst network (Fig.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon and CO2 as natural tracers to investigate the recharge dynamics of karst aquifers

Savoy¹,

Surbeck²,

Hunkeler³

2011

Journal of Hydrology

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Keywords:Karst hydrogeology Soil Epikarst Radon Carbon dioxide Unsaturated zone s u m m a r y This study investigated the use of radon ( 222 Rn), a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 3.8 days, and CO 2 as natural tracers to evaluate the recharge dynamics of karst aquifer under varying hydrological conditions. Dissolved 222 Rn and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) were measured continuously in an underground stream of the Milandre test site, Switzerland. Estimated soil water 222 Rn activities were higher than baseflow 222 Rn activities, indicating elevated 222 Rn production in the soil zone compared to limestone, consistent with a 226 Ra enrichment in the soil zone compared to limestone. During small flood events, 222 Rn activities did not vary while an immediate increase of the CO 2 concentration was observed. During medium and large flood events, an immediate CO 2 increase and a delayed 222 Rn activity increase to up to 4.9 Bq/L and 11 Bq/L, respectively occurred. The detection of elevated 222 Rn activities during medium and large flood events indicate that soil water participates to the flood event. A soil origin of the 222 Rn is consistent with its delayed increase compared to discharge reflecting the travel time of 222 Rn from the soil to the saturated zone of the system via the epikarst. A three-component mixing model suggested that soil water may contribute 4-6% of the discharge during medium flood events and 25-43% during large flood events. For small flood events, the water must have resided at least 25 days below the soil zone to explain the background 222 Rn activities, taking into account the half-life of 222 Rn (3.8 days). In contrast to 222 Rn, the CO 2 increase occurred simultaneously with the discharge increase. This observation as well as the CO 2 increase during small flood events, suggests that the elevated CO 2 level is not due to the arrival of soil water as for 222 Rn. A possible explanation for the CO 2 trend is that baseflow water in the stream has lower CO 2 levels due to gas loss compared to water stored in low permeability zones. During flood event, the stored water is more rapidly mobilised than during baseflow with less time for gas loss. The study demonstrates that 222 Rn and CO 2 provides value information on the dynamics of groundwater recharge of karst aquifer, which can be of high interest when evaluating the vulnerability of such systems to contamination.

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“…This method requires, to be reliable, to select conservative tracers (Perrin et al, 2003b;Jeannin et al, 2007) such as halides (Cl -, Br -, I -) or possibly alkali metals (Li + , Na + , K + ) which are only provided by rainwater (nor geogenic�� nor anthropogenic). Their meteoric concentration (which origin can be exclusively natural�� or introduced in the atmosphere by remote air pollution)�� must be weighted by rainvalues of the different shower episodes.…”

Section: Global Estimation Of the Water Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two types of infiltration can be distinguished in the unsaturated zone of carbonate aquifers (Bakalowicz, 1995;Perrin et al�� 2003b): the first of these corresponds to the circulation of water through karst conduits�� which ensures the rapid transit of water towards deeper zones�� with relatively high�� but shortlived flow volumes. The second type features the slow circulation of water through the matrix bedrock and fissures�� with a small flow volume and a low velocity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Some applications of geochemical and isotopic techniques to hydrogeology of the caves after research in two sites (Nerja Cave-S Spain and Fourbanne system-French Jura)

Mudry¹,

Andreo²,

Charmoille³

et al. 2008

IJS

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Implications of the spatial variability of infiltration-water chemistry for the investigation of a karst aquifer: a field study at Milandre test site, Swiss Jura

Cited by 51 publications

References 14 publications

The role of tributary mixing in chemical variations at a karst spring, Milandre, Switzerland

The role of tributary mixing in chemical variations at a karst spring, Milandre, Switzerland

Radon and CO2 as natural tracers to investigate the recharge dynamics of karst aquifers

Some applications of geochemical and isotopic techniques to hydrogeology of the caves after research in two sites (Nerja Cave-S Spain and Fourbanne system-French Jura)

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