Flow and solute transport monitoring in the karst aquifer in SW Slovenia

B. Trček

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Publication Date

September 2007

Abstract

The role of the unsaturated zone in the karst aquifer hydraulic behaviour was brought into focus in these studies of the catchment of the Hubelj spring (SW Slovenia). The variations of natural tracers in precipitation and in groundwater during a summer storm event made it possible to trace local flow and solute transport in the observed aquifer. The results produced data on the aquifer recharge, storage and discharge processes, as well as on mechanisms that affected them, which reflects a karst groundwater dynamics also at a regional scale. They point out the significance of effects of the fast preferential flow—epiflow that is the main factor controlling solute/contaminant transport towards the aquifer saturated zone. Numerous arguments indicate that the karst aquifer flow and solute transport mechanisms depend on the hydraulic behaviour of the epikarst zone.

Keywords

Karst Aquifer, SW Slovenia, Hydraulic Behaviour, Epikarst Zone

Document Type

Article

Notes

Environmental Geology, Vol. 55, no. 2 (2007-09-01).

Identifier

SFS0055908_00001

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