Simulation of saturated and unsaturated flow in karst systems at catchment scale using a double continuum approach

Kordilla, Jannes; Sauter, Martin; Reimann, Thomas; Geyer, Tobias

doi:10.5194/hess-16-3909-2012

Cited by 63 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(33 reference statements)

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“…Villinger, 1977;Sauter, 1992;Geyer et al, 2008;Kordilla et al, 2012;Mohrlok, 2014) many data for pattern matching are available even though the karst conduit network itself is not accessible. Since the groundwater flow simulation was performed for steady-state conditions, direct recharge, which is believed to play an important role during event discharge (Geyer et al, 2008), was neglected.…”

Section: Solute Transportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing the ambiguity of karst aquifer models by pattern matching of flow and transport on catchment scale

Oehlmann¹,

Geyer

Licha³

et al. 2015

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Assessing the hydraulic parameters of karst aquifers is a challenge due to their high degree of heterogeneity. The unknown parameter field generally leads to a high ambiguity for flow and transport calibration in numerical models of karst aquifers. In this study, a distributed numerical model was built for the simulation of groundwater flow and solute transport in a highly heterogeneous karst aquifer in south-western Germany. Therefore, an interface for the simulation of solute transport in one-dimensional pipes was implemented into the software COMSOL Multiphysics ® and coupled to the three-dimensional solute transport interface for continuum domains. For reducing model ambiguity, the simulation was matched for steady-state conditions to the hydraulic head distribution in the model area, the spring discharge of several springs and the transport velocities of two tracer tests. Furthermore, other measured parameters such as the hydraulic conductivity of the fissured matrix and the maximal karst conduit volume were available for model calibration. Parameter studies were performed for several karst conduit geometries to analyse the influence of the respective geometric and hydraulic parameters and develop a calibration approach in a large-scale heterogeneous karst system. Results show that it is possible not only to derive a consistent flow and transport model for a 150 km 2 karst area but also to combine the use of groundwater flow and transport parameters thereby greatly reducing model ambiguity. The approach provides basic information about the conduit network not accessible for direct geometric measurements. The conduit network volume for the main karst spring in the study area could be narrowed down to approximately 100 000 m 3 .

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Section: Solute Transportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing the ambiguity of karst aquifer models by pattern matching of flow and transport on catchment scale

Oehlmann¹,

Geyer

Licha³

et al. 2015

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…However, improvements of the porous equivalent approach have been adopted in fractured or karst media, via numerical simulation of the flow [19,20] or transport model [21]. Karst media offer several solutions that can be applied at the time, involving a discrete approach, a porous equivalent, or a combination of both [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Double Scale Methodology to Investigate Flow in Karst Fractured Media via Numerical Analysis: The Cassino Plain Case Study (Central Apennine, Italy)

2018

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A methodology to evaluate the hydraulic conductivity of the karst media at a regional scale has been proposed, combining pumping tests and the hydrostructural approach, evaluating the hydraulic conductivity of fractured rocks at the block scale. Obtaining hydraulic conductivity values, calibrated at a regional scale, a numerical flow model of the Cassino area has been developed, to validate the methodology and investigate the ambiguity, related to a nonunique hydrogeological conceptual model. The Cassino plain is an intermontane basin with outstanding groundwater resources. The plain is surrounded by karst hydrostructures that feed the Gari Springs and Peccia Springs. Since the 1970s, the study area was the object of detailed investigations with an exceptional density of water-wells and piezometers, representing one of the most important karst study-sites in central-southern Italy. Application of the proposed methodology investigates the hydraulic conductivity tensor at local and regional scales, reawakening geological and hydrogeological issues of a crucial area and tackling the limits of the continuum modelling in karst media.

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“…Special model structures have to be applied for karst regions to account for their particular hydrological behaviour (Hartmann et al, 2014a). A range of models of varying complexity are available from the literature that deal with the karstic heterogeneity, such as groundwater flow in the rock fracture matrix and dissolution conduits (Jourde et al, 2015;Kordilla et al, 2012), varying recharge areas (Hartmann et al, 2013a;Le Moine et al, 2008) …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Model-aided quantification of dissolved carbon and nitrogen release after windthrow disturbance in an Austrian karst system

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Karst systems are important for drinking water supply. Future climate projections indicate increasing temperature and a higher frequency of strong weather events. Both will influence the availability and quality of water provided from karst regions. Forest disturbances such as windthrow can disrupt ecosystem cycles and cause pronounced nutrient losses from the ecosystems. In this study, we consider the time period before and after the wind disturbance period (2007/08) to identify impacts on DIN (dissolved inorganic nitrogen) and DOC (dissolved organic carbon) with a process-based flow and solute transport simulation model. When calibrated and validated before the disturbance, the model disregards the forest disturbance and its consequences on DIN and DOC production and leaching. It can therefore be used as a baseline for the undisturbed system and as a tool for the quantification of additional nutrient production. Our results indicate that the forest disturbance by windthrow results in a significant increase of DIN production lasting ∼ 3.7 years and exceeding the pre-disturbance average by 2.7 kg ha −1 a −1 corresponding to an increase of 53 %. There were no significant changes in DOC concentrations. With simulated transit time distributions we show that the impact on DIN travels through the hydrological system within some months. However, a small fraction of the system outflow (< 5 %) exceeds mean transit times of > 1 year.

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Simulation of saturated and unsaturated flow in karst systems at catchment scale using a double continuum approach

Cited by 63 publications

References 35 publications

Reducing the ambiguity of karst aquifer models by pattern matching of flow and transport on catchment scale

Reducing the ambiguity of karst aquifer models by pattern matching of flow and transport on catchment scale

A Double Scale Methodology to Investigate Flow in Karst Fractured Media via Numerical Analysis: The Cassino Plain Case Study (Central Apennine, Italy)

Model-aided quantification of dissolved carbon and nitrogen release after windthrow disturbance in an Austrian karst system

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