Temperature distribution in karst systems: the role of air and water fluxes

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Publication Date

11-17-2004

Publication Title

Terra Nova

Volume Number

16

Issue Number

6

Abstract

A better understanding of heat fluxes and temperature distribution in continental rocks is of great importance for many engineering aspects (tunnelling, mining, geothermal research, etc.). This paper aims at providing a conceptual model of temperature distribution in karst environments which display thermal ‘anomalies’ as compared with other rocks. In temperate regions, water circulation is usually high enough to ‘drain‐out’ completely the geothermal heat flux at the bottom of karst systems (phreatic zone). A theoretical approach based on temperature measurements carried out in deep caves and boreholes demonstrates, however, that air circulation can largely dominate water infiltration in the karst vadose zone, which can be as thick as 2000 m. Consequently, temperature gradients within this zone are similar to the lapse rate of humid air (∼0.5 °C 100 m −1 ). Yet, this value depends on the regional climatic context and might present some significant variations.

Keywords

Karst, Caves, Geothermal resources, Heat flux, Groundwater flow

Document Type

Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3121.2004.00572.x

Language

English

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