Water storage and transfer in the epikarst of karstic systems during high flow periods

Aquilina, Luc; Ladouche, Bernard; Dörfliger, Nathalie

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.11.054

Cited by 171 publications

(117 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…However, the good multi-objective simulation performance of the model, as well as its evaluation by the split-sample test, indicate an overall acceptable performance of the model. At almost 3-8 days the epikarst storage constant is in accordance with field studies on the epikarst storage behaviour that found retention times of some days to a few weeks (Aquilina et al, 2006;Figure 6. Individual components of the KGE: (a) ratio of simulated and observed variabilities, (b) ratio of simulated and observed average values, and (c) their correlation for the wind disturbance period; for comparison the KGE components and their interannual variability are also shown for the pre-storm period and after the correction of the DIN production model parameters during the wind period.…”

Section: Reliability Of Calibrated Parameters and Model Simulationssupporting

confidence: 88%

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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Section: Reliability Of Calibrated Parameters and Model Simulationssupporting

confidence: 88%

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

et al. 2016

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“…Aquilina et al, 2006). The value of parameter a f sep indicates that a significant part of the recharge is diffuse.…”

Section: Reliability Of the Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Process-based modelling to evaluate simulated groundwater levels and frequencies in a Chalk catchment in south-western England

Brenner

Coxon

Howden

et al. 2018

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Chalk aquifers are an important source of drinking water in the UK. Due to their properties, they are particularly vulnerable to groundwater-related hazards like floods and droughts. Understanding and predicting groundwater levels is therefore important for effective and safe water management. Chalk is known for its high porosity and, due to its dissolvability, exposed to karstification and strong subsurface heterogeneity. To cope with the karstic heterogeneity and limited data availability, specialised modelling approaches are required that balance model complexity and data availability. In this study, we present a novel approach to evaluate simulated groundwater level frequencies derived from a semi-distributed karst model that represents subsurface heterogeneity by distribution functions. Simulated groundwater storages are transferred into groundwater levels using evidence from different observations wells. Using a percentile approach we can assess the number of days exceeding or falling below selected groundwater level percentiles. Firstly, we evaluate the performance of the model when simulating groundwater level time series using a spilt sample test and parameter identifiability analysis. Secondly, we apply a split sample test to the simulated groundwater level percentiles to explore the performance in predicting groundwater level exceedances. We show that the model provides robust simulations of discharge and groundwater levels at three observation wells at a test site in a chalk-dominated catchment in south-western England. The second split sample test also indicates that the percentile approach is able to reliably predict groundwater level exceedances across all considered timescales up to their 75th percentile. However, when looking at the 90th percentile, it only provides acceptable predictions for long time periods and it fails when the 95th percentile of groundwater exceedance levels is considered. By modifying the historic forcings of our model according to expected future climate changes, we create simple climate scenarios and we show that the projected climate changes may lead to generally lower groundwater levels and a reduction of exceedances of high groundwater level percentiles.

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“…Water storage was hypothesized to occur due to decreases in permeability through an epikarst's vertical profile and differences in hydraulic conductivity between the epikarst and the lower unsaturated zone (Trçek, 2007). The significance of the epikarst storage was postulated by Trcek (2007), who concluded that karst aquifer flow largely depends on the hydraulic behavior of the epikarst zone and by Aquilina et al (2006) who asserted the major role of the epikarst reservoir in the karst recharge functioning. And in a broad assertion, Perrin et al (2003) posited that storage in the epikarst could be more significant than storage in the underlying phreatic zone.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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Water storage and transfer in the epikarst of karstic systems during high flow periods

Cited by 171 publications

References 35 publications

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

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

Process-based modelling to evaluate simulated groundwater levels and frequencies in a Chalk catchment in south-western England

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

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