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Identification and assessment of groundwater flow and storage components of the relict Schöneben Rock Glacier, Niedere Tauern Range, Eastern Alps (Austria)

Identification et évaluation des composantes d’écoulement et de stockage d’eau souterraine dans le glacier résiduel rocheux de Schöneben, Chaîne du Niedere Tauern, Alpes orientales (Autriche)

Identificación y evaluación de los componentes de flujo y almacenamiento de agua subterránea de un relicto de glaciar de roca en Schöneben, Niedere Tauern Range, Alpes Orientales (Austria)

(奥地利)阿尔卑斯地区东部Niedere Tauern山脉残留的Schöneben岩石冰川地下水流和储存库的确定和评价

Identificação e avaliação do fluxo das águas subterrâneas e dos componentes de armazenamento do Glaciar Rochoso Schöneben relíquia, Cadeia dos Alpes do Tauern Orientais (Niedere Tauern), Alpes Orientais (Áustria)

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Abstract

More than 2,600 relict rock glaciers are known in the Austrian Alps but the knowledge of their hydraulic properties is severely limited. The relict Schöneben Rock Glacier (Niedere Tauern Range, Austria), with an extension of 0.17 km2, was investigated based on spring data (2006–2014) and seismic refraction survey. Spring-discharge hydrographs and natural and artificial tracer data suggest a heterogeneous aquifer with a layered internal structure for the relict rock glacier. The discharge behavior exhibits a fast and a delayed flow component. The spring discharge responds to recharge events within a few hours but a mean residence time of several months can also be observed. The internal structure of the rock glacier (up to several tens of meters thick) consists of: an upper blocky layer with a few meters of thickness, which lacks fine-grained sediments; a main middle layer with coarse and finer-grained sediments, allowing for fast flow; and an approximately 10-m-thick basal till layer as the main aquifer body responsible for the base flow. The base-flow component is controlled by (fine) sandy to silty sediments with low hydraulic conductivity and high storage capacity, exhibiting a difference in hydraulic conductivity to the upper layer of about three orders of magnitude. The high storage capacity of relict rock glaciers has an impact on water resources management in alpine catchments and potentially regulates the risk of natural hazards such as floods and related debris flows. Thus, the results highlight the importance of such aquifer systems in alpine catchments.

Résumé

Plus de 2,600 glaciers rocheux résiduels sont répertoriés dans les Alpes autrichiennes, mais la connaissance de leurs propriétés hydrauliques est sérieusement limitée. Le glacier rocheux résiduel de Schöneben (Chaîne du Niedere Tauern, Autriche), de 0.17 km2 d’extension, a été étudié grâce aux données sur les sources (2006–2014) et aux levés de sismique réfraction. Les hydrogrammes des débits des sources et les données de traçage naturel et artificiel suggèrent un aquifère hétérogène, avec une structure interne stratifiée du glacier rocheux résiduel. Le comportement du débit montre une composante d’écoulement rapide et une composante d’écoulement retardé. Le début de la source répond aux évènements de recharge en quelques heures, mais un temps de résidence moyen de plusieurs mois peut aussi être observé. La structure interne du glacier rocheux (jusqu’à plusieurs centaines de mètres d’épaisseur) consiste en: une couche supérieure à blocs de quelques mètres d’épaisseur, dépourvue de sédiments fins; une couche principale intermédiaire, avec des sédiments grossiers à fins, permettant un écoulement rapide; et une couche de base de till d’environ 10 m d’épaisseur, principal corps aquifère responsable de l’écoulement de base. La composante d’écoulement de base est contrôlée par les sédiments finement sableux à silteux avec une conductivité hydraulique faible et une capacité de stockage élevée, présentant une différence de conductivité hydraulique avec la couche supérieure d’environ trois ordres de grandeur. La capacité de stockage élevée des glaciers rocheux résiduels impacte la gestion des ressources en eau dans les bassins alpins et régulent potentiellement l’aléa de risques naturels tels que les inondations et les coulées détritiques associées. Ainsi, les résultats mettent en lumière l’importance de tels systèmes aquifères dans les bassins alpins.

Resumen

En los Alpes austríacos son conocidos más de 2,600 relictos de glaciares de roca, pero el conocimiento de sus propiedades hidráulicas es muy limitado. Se investigó el relicto del glaciar de roca de Schöneben (Niedere Tauern Range, Austria), de una extensión de 0.17 km2, en base a datos de manantiales (2006–2014) y a relevamiento de de refracción sísmica. Los hidrogramas de la descarga de los manantiales y los datos de trazadores naturales y artificiales sugieren un acuífero heterogéneo con una estructura interna en capas para el relicto del glaciar de roca. El comportamiento de descarga exhibe un componente de flujo rápido y retardado. La respuesta en la descarga del manantial a eventos de recarga es de unas pocas horas, pero se observó que el tiempo de residencia es de varios meses. La estructura interna del glaciar de roca (hasta varias decenas de metros de espesor) se compone de: una capa superior del bloque con un par de metros de espesor, que carece de los sedimentos de grano fino; una capa principal intermedia con sedimentos de grano gruesos y finos, lo que permite el flujo rápido; y una capa basal de aproximadamente 10 m de espesor que es el cuerpo principal de acuífero principal y responsable del flujo base. El componente del flujo base está controlado por sedimentos limosos y arenosos finos con baja conductividad hidráulica y alta capacidad de almacenamiento, que presenta una diferencia en la conductividad hidráulica con respecto a la capa superior de alrededor de tres órdenes de magnitud. La elevada capacidad de almacenamiento de los relictos de los glaciares de roca tiene un impacto en la gestión de los recursos hídricos en las cuencas alpinas y potencialmente regula el riesgo de desastres naturales, como inundaciones y flujos de escombros relacionados. Por lo tanto, los resultados ponen de manifiesto la importancia de este tipo de sistemas de acuíferos en cuencas alpinas.

摘要

在奥地利的阿尔卑斯地区已知有2,600多个残留岩石冰川,但对他们的水力特性认识非常有限。(奥地利Niedere Tauern山脉)残留的Schöneben岩石冰川面积0.17 km2,根据泉资料(2006–2014年)及震波折射勘查结果对该冰川进行了研究。泉水排泄流量过程线及天然和人工的示踪剂资料显示,在残留岩石冰川有一个一层内部结构的非均质含水层。排泄显示为一种快速的、延迟的水流成分。泉排泄对几个小时内的补给事件有响应,但平均几个月的滞留时间也可以观察到。岩石冰川(厚度达几十米)的内部结构包括:几米厚的上部块状层,缺少细颗粒的沉积物;主要的中部层,由粗颗粒和较细颗粒的沉积物组成,可以使水流快速流动;大概10米厚的基部冰碛层,是主要的含水层体,是基流的供水源。基流成分受具有低水力传导率和高储存量的(细颗粒的)砂质至粉砂质沉积物控制,显示出其水力传导率与上层大约有三个数量级的差别。残留岩石冰川的高储存量对阿尔卑斯地区流域的水资源管理有影响,并且可调整自然灾害诸如洪水和泥石流的风险。因此,研究结果彰显了阿尔卑斯地区流域此类含水层系统的重要性。

Resumo

Mais de 2,600 glaciares rochosos relíquia são conhecidos nos Alpes Austríacos, mas o conhecimento de suas propriedades hidráulicas é severamente limitado. O Glaciar Rochoso relíquia Schöneben, (Cadeia dos Alpes do Tauern Orientais (Niedere Tauern), Áustria), com uma extensão de 0.17 km2, foi investigado com base nos dados de nascente (2006–2014) e levantamento por refração sísmica. Hidrogramas de descarga de nascente, e dados de traçadores artificiais e naturais sugerem um aquífero heterogêneo com uma estrutura interna em camadas para o glaciar rochoso relíquia. O comportamento da descarga exibe um componente rápido e um atrasado de escoamento. A descarga da nascente responde a eventos de recarga dentro de poucas horas, mas um tempo de residência médio de vários meses também pode ser observado. A estrutura interna do glaciar rochoso (até várias dezenas de metros de espessura) consiste em: uma camada de bloco superior com poucos metros de espessura, o qual carece de sedimentos de granulação fina; uma camada média principal com sedimento de granulação mais fina e grosseira, permitindo um rápido escoamento; e um basal de aproximadamente 10-m de espessura até a camada basal de tilito como o principal corpo do aquífero responsável pelo escoamento da base. O componente do escoamento de base é controlado por sedimentos (fino) arenosos à siltosos com baixa condutividade hidráulica e alta capacidade de armazenamento, exibindo uma diferença em condutividade hidráulica para a camada superior de aproximadamente três ordens de grandeza. A alta capacidade de armazenamento do glaciar rochoso relíquia tem um impacto na gestão dos recursos hídricos em bacias alpinas e regula potencialmente o risco de perigos naturais tais como enchentes e escoamentos de detritos relacionados. Portanto, o resultado ressalta a importância de tal sistema aquífero nas bacias alpinas.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Federal Government of Styria. The authors are grateful to the Hydrographic Service of Styria for providing the spring discharge data of the SRG spring (HZB No. 396762). The digital elevation models and the topographic maps were provided by the GIS Service of the federal government of Styria (GIS Steiermark). Water samples (dye tracer, stable isotopes) and charcoal samples (dye tracers) were analysed at JOANNEUM RESEARCH, Dept. of Water Resources and Environmental Analytics. The authors appreciate constructive comments from Victor Bense and an anonymous reviewer and Alan M. MacDonald the associate editor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Earth Sciences, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 26, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Gerfried Winkler, Thomas Wagner, Marcus Pauritsch & Steffen Birk

  2. Department of Geography and Regional Science, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 36, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Andreas Kellerer-Pirklbauer

  3. Resources – Institute for Water, Energy and Sustainability, JOANNEUM RESEARCH, Elisabethstrasse 18/II, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Ralf Benischke, Albrecht Leis, Rainer Morawetz & Marcellus G. Schreilechner

  4. Current employer: Geo5 GmbH, Roseggerstrasse 17, 8700, Leoben, Austria

    Rainer Morawetz & Marcellus G. Schreilechner

  5. Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 23-B, 79104, Freiburg, Germany

    Stefan Hergarten

Authors
  1. Gerfried Winkler
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  2. Thomas Wagner
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  3. Marcus Pauritsch
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  4. Steffen Birk
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  5. Andreas Kellerer-Pirklbauer
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  6. Ralf Benischke
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  7. Albrecht Leis
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  8. Rainer Morawetz
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  9. Marcellus G. Schreilechner
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  10. Stefan Hergarten
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerfried Winkler.

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Winkler, G., Wagner, T., Pauritsch, M. et al. Identification and assessment of groundwater flow and storage components of the relict Schöneben Rock Glacier, Niedere Tauern Range, Eastern Alps (Austria). Hydrogeol J 24, 937–953 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-015-1348-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-015-1348-9

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