Radiocarbon Concentration and Origin of Thermal Karst Waters in the Region of the Bükk Mountains, Northeastern Hungary

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Publication Date

1-1-1995

Abstract

Karst springs are abundant in Hungary, and many are thermal (temperatures >30°). As thermal springs are a significant part of Hungary's water resources, it is important to quantify their travel times in the karst systems. Thus, we chose to measure T and δ 18 O in the water and δ 13 C and 14 C in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in water from 50 thermal and nonthermal springs and wells in the Bükk Mountains, northeastern Hungary. Environmental isotope data confirm the karst water-flow pattern implied by earlier studies. We found the water in warm springs and boreholes to be mixtures of cold young and old thermal water. We also determined short mean-residence times for some large cold springs. The 14 C activities measured in these springs indicate that the recharge area of the karst aquifer is open to the atmosphere, and atmospheric CO 2 contributes to the 14 C activity of these groundwaters. We observed good correlation between 14 C and 3 H activities and we determined negative correlations between 14 C concentration and δ 13 C values and temperature. From the δ 18 O values of the oldest thermal waters, we attribute their origin to precipitation during colder temperatures than at present.

Document Type

Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033822200031039

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