Identifying the characteristics of groundwater flow in the Classical Karst area (Slovenia/Italy) by means of tracer tests

2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Metka Petrič ◽  
Janja Kogovšek
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Tracer Tests ◽  
Karst Area

Flow pattern and residence time of conduit flow and diffuse flow in calcareous sandstones (Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, Czech Republic)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iva Kůrková ◽  
Jiří Bruthans
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Residence Time ◽  
Dispersion Model ◽  
Tracer Tests ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Northwestern Part ◽  
Residence Times ◽  
Karst Springs ◽  
Bohemian Cretaceous Basin

<p>Localities containing karst features were studied in the northwestern part of Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. Namely Turnov area in facies transition between coarse-delta sandstones and marlstones (Jizera Formation, Turonian) and Miskovice area in limestones and sandy limestones - sandstones (Peruc-Korycany Formation, Cenomanian). Evolution of karst conduits is discussed elsewhere (Kůrková et al. 2019).</p><p>In both localities, disappearing streams, caves and karst springs with maximum discharge up to 100 L/s were documented. Geology and hydrogeology of this area was studied from many points of view to describe formation of karst conduits and characterize groundwater flow. Tracer tests were performed using NaCl and Na-fluoresceine between sinkholes and springs under various flow rates to evaluate residence times of water in conduits and to describe geometry of conduits. Breatkthrough curves of tracer tests were evaluated by means of Qtracer2 program (Field 2002). Groundwater flow velocity in channels starts at 0.6 km/day during low water levels up to 15 km/day during maximum water levels, the velocity increases logarithmically as a function of discharge. Similar karst conduits probably occur in other parts of Bohemian Cretaceous Basin where lot of large springs can be found.</p><p>Mean residence time of difussed flow based on tritium, CFC and SF<sub>6</sub> sampled at karst springs is 20 years for 75% of water and 100 years for remaining 25%, based on binary mixing dispersion model. This shows that most of the water drained by karst conduits is infiltrated through the soil and fractured environment with relatively high residence time. Residence times in different types of wells and springs were also measured in whole north-western part of Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. Results indicate long residence times in semi-stagnant zones represented by monitoring wells and short residence times in preferential zones represented by springs and water-supply wells.</p><p> </p><p>Research was funded by the Czech Science Foundation (GA CR No. 19-14082S), Czech Geological Survey – internal project 310250</p><p> </p><p>Field M. (2002): The QTRACER2 program for Tracer Breakthrough Curve Analysis for Tracer Tests in Karstic Aquifers and Other hydrologic Systems. – U.S. Environmental protection agency hypertext multimedia publication in the Internet at http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=54930.</p><p>Kůrková I., Bruthans J., Balák F., Slavík M., Schweigstillová J., Bruthansová J., Mikuš P., Grundloch J. (2019): Factors controlling evolution of karst conduits in sandy limestone and calcareous sandstone (Turnov area, Czech Republic). Journal of Hydrology: 574: 1062-1073</p>

The Use of Tracer Techniques to Assess Groundwater Flows in Site Investigations

1986 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 375-384
Author(s):  
H. J. Siddle ◽  
D. B. Jones ◽  
C. D. Warren
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Tracer Tests ◽  
Site Investigation ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Site Investigations ◽  
Tracer Techniques ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
Hydrogeological Characteristics ◽  
Ground Conditions ◽  
Groundwater Tracers

AbstractProcedures of site investigation included in BS 5930:1981 concentrate on obtaining information on ground conditions near proposed structures. Groundwater flow paths, however, are often influenced by hydrogeological conditions well beyond the area and tracer tests have been found a useful addition to investigations.Different types of groundwater tracers are described and their uses in establishing groundwater flow paths and other hydrogeological characteristics of some regimes are outlined. Precautions are always necessary when using tracers, however, and these are especially stringent with radioactive tracers. The paper shows how groundwater tracers were employed in investigations of landslips, waste disposal studies and other investigations with which the authors have been involved.The paper concludes that the specification of standard procedures for tracer tests is probably not appropriate but reference to the techniques available would be useful in promoting their application.

scholarly journals Combining implicit geological modeling, field surveys, and hydrogeological modeling to describe groundwater flow in a karst aquifer

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 2779-2802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando M. D’Affonseca ◽  
Michael Finkel ◽  
Olaf A. Cirpka
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Karst Aquifer ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Tracer Tests ◽  
Spring Discharge ◽  
Geological Modeling ◽  
Hydrogeological Model ◽  
Geological Interpretation ◽  
Elevation Data ◽  
Contact Data

AbstractIn three-dimensional (3-D) implicit geological modeling, the bounding surfaces between geological units are automatically constructed from lithological contact data (position and orientation) and the location and orientation of potential faults. This approach was applied to conceptualize a karst aquifer in the Middle Triassic Muschelkalk Formation in southwest Germany, using digital elevation data, geological maps, borehole logs, and geological interpretation. Dip and strike measurements as well as soil-gas surveys of mantel-borne CO2 were conducted to verify the existence of an unmapped fault. Implicit geological modeling allowed the straightforward assessment of the geological framework and rapid updates with incoming data. Simultaneous 3-D visualizations of the sedimentary units, tectonic features, hydraulic heads, and tracer tests provided insights into the karst-system hydraulics and helped guide the formulation of the conceptual hydrogeological model. The 3-D geological model was automatically translated into a numerical single-continuum steady-state groundwater model that was calibrated to match measured hydraulic heads, spring discharge rates, and flow directions observed in tracer tests. This was possible only by introducing discrete karst conduits, which were implemented as high-conductivity features in the numerical model. The numerical groundwater flow model was applied to initially assess the risk from limestone quarrying to local water supply wells with the help of particle tracking.

scholarly journals Estimating traveltimes and groundwater flow patterns using 3D time-lapse crosshole ERT imaging of electrical resistivity fluctuations induced by infiltrating river water

Geophysics ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. E239-E250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Coscia ◽  
Niklas Linde ◽  
Stewart Greenhalgh ◽  
Tobias Vogt ◽  
Alan Green
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
River Water ◽  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Tracer Tests ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Flow Patterns ◽  
Bank Filtration ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Drinking Water Production

The infiltration of river water into aquifers is of high relevance to drinking-water production and is a key driver of biogeochemical processes in the hyporheic and riparian zone, but the distribution and quantification of the infiltrating water are difficult to determine using conventional hydrological methods (e.g., borehole logging and tracer tests). By time-lapse inverting crosshole ERT (electrical resistivity tomography) monitoring data, we imaged groundwater flow patterns driven by river water infiltrating a perialpine gravel aquifer in northeastern Switzerland. This was possible because the electrical resistivity of the infiltrating water changed during rainfall-runoff events. Our time-lapse resistivity models indicated rather complex flow patterns as a result of spatially heterogeneous bank filtration and aquifer heterogeneity. The upper part of the aquifer was most affected by the river infiltrate, and the highest groundwater velocities and possible preferential flow occurred at shallow to intermediate depths. Time series of the reconstructed resistivity models matched groundwater electrical resistivity data recorded on borehole loggers in the upper and middle parts of the aquifer, whereas the resistivity models displayed smaller variations and delayed responses with respect to the logging data in the lower part. This study demonstrated that crosshole ERT monitoring of natural electrical resistivity variations of river infiltrate could be used to image and quantify 3D bank filtration and aquifer dynamics at a high spatial resolution.

scholarly journals The Upwelling Groundwater Flow in the Karst Area of Grassano-Telese Springs (Southern Italy)

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Fiorillo ◽  
Guido Leone ◽  
Mauro Pagnozzi ◽  
Vittorio Catani ◽  
Giovanni Testa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Unconfined Aquifer ◽  
Spring Water ◽  
Numerical Code ◽  
Karst Area ◽  
Karst Springs ◽  
Radon Activity ◽  
Different Types

The hydraulic phenomenon of upwelling groundwater flow affecting the karst area of the Grassano-Telese springs (southern Italy) has been investigated through piezometric measurements, discharge, and chemical–physical monitoring of springs, radon activity included. Locally, both large karst springs and sulfurous thermal springs are closely located, and raise several questions on their origin. In this study, the phenomenon of the upwelling flow is supported by different types of evidences: Amazing density of sinkholes connected to hypogenic speleogenesis processes, constancy of temperature, and hydraulic conductivity of spring water, change of radon activity during the hydrological year, increasing of the hydraulic head with depth. Numerical code provides an estimation of the upwelling phenomenon in an unconfined aquifer feeding the karst springs, using MODFLOW tools. Based on the results reached, the phenomenon of the upwelling flow is able to explain the hydrological processes observed in the Telese karst area.

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