Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of the unsaturated zone: An important control of groundwater hardness in limestones

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Publication Date

10-1-1977

Publication Title

Journal of Hydrology

Volume Number

35

Issue Number

1-2

Abstract

Weekly analyses of springwaters in the Mendip Hills, England, show constant PCO2. Soil air PCO2 (measured directly and calculated from soil water analyses) flucturates seasonally and is almost always less than PCO2 of springs. A source of CO2 in the unsaturated zone is proposed to account for this discrepancy, supported by direct measurements of CO2 in fractures in cave walls and analyses of drip waters. PCO2 increases with depth and values at the bottom of caves are similar to spring waters. A possible source is decay of down-washed soil organic matter.

Keywords

Karst, Caves, Springs, Carbon dioxide, Soil organic matter

Document Type

Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(77)90080-4

Language

English

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