The role of the subcutaneous zone in karst hydrology

Williams, Paul W.

doi:10.1016/0022-1694(83)90234-2

Cited by 332 publications

(218 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…However, peak VCB1 discharge repeatedly occurred prior to peak water content at the 25, 40, and 55 cm soil horizons, imply that preferential flow paths supplying water to VCB1 probably originate at a depth around 25 b.g.s., This supports the hypothesis that shallower soils, lacking a clay accumulation horizon, exist within the VCB1 source area. While previous investigators (Friederich and Smart, 1982;Perrin et al, 2003;Williams, 1983) implicated the epikarst as the medium in which shallow lateral flow occurs, it appears that lateral flow within soils overlying the epikarst could, in some cases, be more important.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…The epikarst was identified as a layer in which perched storage and lateral flow can occur (Friederich and Smart, 1982;Smart and Friederich, 1986;Williams, 1983). Observed rapid reactions to rain events at stalactite drip points were explained by Williams (1983) as the result of shallow lateral flow in the epikarst to vertical drains, allowing for rapid infiltration. Alternately, Klimchouk and Jablokova (1989) proposed that rising hydraulic head in the epikarst induces rapid infiltration of storm event water.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This conceptual understanding is based on a breadth of studies that investigated how and why cave drip water continued to appear within karstic vadose zones even during extended periods of drought (Bakalowicz et al, 1974;Friederich and Smart, 1982;Mangin, 1973;Williams, 1983). The epikarst was identified as a layer in which perched storage and lateral flow can occur (Friederich and Smart, 1982;Smart and Friederich, 1986;Williams, 1983). Observed rapid reactions to rain events at stalactite drip points were explained by Williams (1983) as the result of shallow lateral flow in the epikarst to vertical drains, allowing for rapid infiltration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Snowmelt infiltration and storage within a karstic environment, Vers Chez le Brandt, Switzerland

Meeks

Hunkeler

2015

Journal of Hydrology

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Even though karstic aquifers are important freshwater resources and frequently occur in mountainous areas, recharge processes related to snowmelt have received little attention thus far. Given the context of climate change, where alterations to seasonal snow patterns are anticipated, and the often-strong coupling between recharge and discharge in karst aquifers, this research area is of great importance. Therefore, we investigated how snowmelt water transits through the vadose and phreatic zone of a karst aquifer. This was accomplished by evaluating the relationships between meteorological data, soil-water content, vadose zone flow in a cave 53 m below ground and aquifer discharge. Time series data indicate that the quantity and duration of meltwater input at the soil surface influences flow and storage within the soil and epikarst. Prolonged periods of snowmelt promote perched storage in surficial soils and encourage surficial, lateral flow to preferential flow paths. Thus, in karstic watersheds overlain by crystalline loess, a typical pedologic and lithologic pairing in central Europe and parts of North America, soils can serve as the dominant mechanism impeding infiltration and promoting shallow lateral flow. Further, hydrograph analysis of vadose zone flow and aquifer discharge, suggests that storage associated with shallow soils is the dominant source of discharge at time scales of up to several weeks after melt events, while phreatic storage becomes import during prolonged periods without input. Soils can moderate karst aquifer dynamics and play a more governing role on karst aquifer storage and discharge than previously credited. Overall, this signifies that a fundamental understanding of soil structure and distribution is critical when assessing recharge to karstic aquifers, particularly in cold regions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Snowmelt infiltration and storage within a karstic environment, Vers Chez le Brandt, Switzerland

Meeks

Hunkeler

2015

Journal of Hydrology

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“…The epikarst layer is not necessarily continuous, its depth may be as thick as 10 m, even in tropical areas. Water flow within the epikarst has a lateral component moving through small conduits towards vertical pipes and a vertical component with slow percolation into small fissures (Williams 1983;Smart and Friederich 1986;Ford and Williams 1989;Klimchouk 1995).…”

Section: Conceptual Model Of a Karst Aquifermentioning

confidence: 99%

Water vulnerability assessment in karst environments: a new method of defining protection areas using a multi-attribute approach and GIS tools (EPIK method)

Doerfliger¹,

Jeannin

Zwahlen

1999

Environmental Geology

391

139

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Groundwater resources from karst aquifers play a major role in the water supply in karst areas in the world, such as in Switzerland. Defining groundwater protection zones in karst environment is frequently not founded on a solid hydrogeological basis. Protection zones are often inadequate and as a result they may be ineffective. In order to improve this situation, the Federal Office for Environment, Forests and Landscape with the Swiss National Hydrological and Geological Survey contracted the Centre of Hydrogeology of the Neuchâ-tel University to develop a new groundwater protection-zones strategy in karst environment. This approach is based on the vulnerability mapping of the catchment areas of water supplies provided by springs or boreholes. Vulnerability is here defined as the intrinsic geological and hydrogeological characteristics which determine the sensitivity of groundwater to contamination by human activities. The EPIK method is a multi-attribute method for vulnerability mapping which takes into consideration the specific hydrogeological behaviour of karst aquifers. EPIK is based on a conceptual model of karst hydrological systems, which suggests considering four karst aquifer attributes: (1) Epikarst, (2) Protective cover, (3) Infiltration conditions and (4) Karst network development. Each of these four attributes is subdivided into classes which are mapped over the whole water catchment. The attributes and their classes are then weighted. Attribute maps are overlain in order to obtain a final vulnerability map. From the vulnerability map, the groundwater protection zones are defined precisely. This method was applied at several sites in Switzerland where agriculture contamination problems have frequently occurred. These applications resulted in recommend new boundaries for the karst water supplies protection-zones.

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“…Combined with hydraulic observations, they are used to estimate water-transit times, percentage of water issued from different parts of the aquifer, reactivity within the aquifer, vulnerability, and transport processes. Parameters recorded during flood events have been interpreted in terms of proportions of diffuse and point recharge (Scanlon and Thraikill 1987;Wicks 1997;Mayer 1999;Lakey and Krothe 1996;Hess and White 1988;Vervier 1990;Worthington et al 1992), existence and importance of subsurface storage (Williams 1983, Lastennet and Mudry 1997, Bakalowicz et al 1974, and percentage of quick and matrix flow (Blavoux andMudry 1983, Kiraly andMüller 1979). Hydrochemistry can also be used for testing conceptual models of the hydraulic behaviour of karst aquifers (Kiraly andMüller 1979, Grasso andJeannin 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Jeannin

Zwahlen

2003

Hydrogeology Journal

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The Milandre test site is an ideal karstic aquifer for studying the spatial heterogeneity of groundwater chemistry. Numerous observation points can be sampled: the spring, the underground river and its tributaries, and boreholes at different depths. The main causes of the spatial variability of the chemical parameters are: nature and localisation of the input, the structure of the infiltration zone, chemical reactions (transit time vs. reaction kinetics) and mixing of different waters. Physicochemical data on springs discharging from the karstic system represent the sum of this spatial heterogeneity. Therefore, it is difficult to interpret the global-chemical response with a simple mixing model of the aquifer subsystems (runoff, matrix reservoir, epikarst). Chemical constituents related to agricultural inputs show important seasonal variations (coefficient of variation approximately 15%) and parameters linked to rainfall (d 18 O) and to the aquifer (Ca 2+ , HCO 3 ) present variations of less than 5%. This result indicates the importance of water storage in the epikarstic aquifer for periods of a few months.RØsumØ Le site test de Milandre est un aquif re karstique idØal pour Øtudier l'hØtØrogØnØitØ spatiale des ØlØments chimiques majeurs car de nombreux points d'observation sont accessibles : source, rivi re souterraine et affluents, forages à diffØrentes profondeurs. Les principales causes de la variabilitØ spatiale des param tres chimiques sont : nature et localisation des intrants, la structure de la zone d'infiltration, la rØactivitØ des param tres (temps de transit vs. cinØtique de rØaction) et le mØlange des eaux. Les chimiogrammes observØs à la source du syst me karstique reprØsentent la somme de cette hØtØrogØnØitØ spatiale. Il est de fait difficile, pour un tel aquif re, d'interprØter la rØponse chimique globale en termes de mØlanges d'eau des diffØrents sous-syst mes de l'aquif re (ruissellement, rØservoir matriciel, Øpikarst). Les ØlØments chimiques correspondant aux intrants agricoles montrent des variations saisonni res relativement importantes (Coefficient de variation d'environ 15%) alors que les param tres liØs à la pluie (d 18 O) et à l'aquif re (Ca 2+ , HCO 3 -) prØsentent des variations de quelques pour cents. Un tel rØsultat indique un stockage d'eau d'au minimum quelques mois dans l'Øpikarst.Resumen La zona de ensayos de Milandre (Suiza) es un acuífero kµrstico ideal para estudiar la heterogeneidad especial de la química de las aguas subterrµneas. Se puede muestrear numerosos puntos de observación, incluyendo manantiales, ríos subterrµneos y sus tributarios, y sondeos a diferentes profundidades. Las causas principales de la variabilidad espacial de los parµmetros químicos son las siguientes: naturaleza y localización de la entrada, estructura de la zona de infiltración, reacciones químicas (tiempo de trµnsito versus la cinØtica de las reacciones), y mezcla de aguas diferentes. Los grµficos hidroquímicos de los manantiales en el sistema kµrstico representan la suma de esta heterogenei...

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The role of the subcutaneous zone in karst hydrology

Cited by 332 publications

References 13 publications

Snowmelt infiltration and storage within a karstic environment, Vers Chez le Brandt, Switzerland

Snowmelt infiltration and storage within a karstic environment, Vers Chez le Brandt, Switzerland

Water vulnerability assessment in karst environments: a new method of defining protection areas using a multi-attribute approach and GIS tools (EPIK method)

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

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