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Contribution of geophysical methods to karst-system exploration: an overview

Contribution des méthodes géophysiques à l’exploration des systèmes karstiques: une vue d’ensemble

Contribución de los métodos geofísicos a la exploración de sistemas kársticos: una visión general

地球物理方法对岩溶系统勘探的贡献综述

Contribuição dos métodos geofísicos para a exploração de sistemas cársicos: uma visão geral

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Abstract

The karst environment is one of the most challenging in terms of groundwater, engineering and environmental issues. Geophysical methods can provide useful subsurface information in karst regions concerning, for instance, hazard estimation or groundwater exploration and vulnerability assessment. However, a karst area remains a very difficult environment for any geophysical exploration; selection of the best-suited geophysical method is not always straightforward, due to the highly variable and unpredictable target characteristics. The state of the art is presented, in terms of the contributions made by geophysical methods to karst-system exploration, based on extensive analysis of the published scientific results. This report is an overview and should be used as a preliminary methodological approach, rather than a guideline.

Résumé

Le milieu karstique est l'un des milieux hydrogéologiques qui présente le plus de défis en termes d’hydrogéologie, d’ingénierie et d’environnement. Les méthodes géophysiques peuvent fournir des informations de subsurface utiles dans les régions karstiques, notamment pour l’estimation des risques géotechniques, la recherche d’eau souterraine et l’évaluation de la vulnérabilité de la ressource en eau. Toutefois, l’exploration géophysique se révèle complexe en milieu karstique; le choix de la méthode la mieux appropriée reste difficile en raison de la structure et des propriétés très hétérogènes du milieu. Un état de l’art sur la contribution des méthodes géophysiques à l’exploration hydrogéologique des systèmes karstiques est présenté ici. Il est basé sur une analyse extensive des résultats scientifiques publiés en la matière. Ce rapport est une vue d’ensemble et doit être considéré davantage comme une approche méthodologique préliminaire que comme un guide.

Resumen

El ambiente kárstico es uno de los más desafiantes en términos de cuestiones de agua subterránea, de ingenieria y del medio ambiente. Los métodos geofísicos pueden proporcionar información de subsuperficie útil en areas kársticas, en particular para la estimación de peligros o para la exploración de agua subterránea y la evaluación de la vulnerabilidad. Sin embargo, un área kártica sigue siendo un ambiente muy difícil para cualquier exploración geofísica; la selección del método geofísico más apropiado no es siempre directo, debido a las características muy heterogéneo. Un estado del arte sobre la contribución de los métodos geofísicos en la exploración hidrogeológica de los sistemas kársticos se presenta aquí, basados en análisis extensivos de los resultados científicos publicados. Este reporte es una visión general y debe ser usado como una aproximación metodológica preliminar, en lugar de una guía.

摘要

无论就地下水,工程地质,还是环境问题而言,岩溶环境都是最具挑战性的类型之一。地球物理方法可提供关于岩溶区的有用的地下信息,比如灾害评估、地下水勘探和脆弱性评价。然而,岩溶区的地球物理勘探仍很困难。由于目标属性的高度可变及不可预测,选择最佳的地球物理方法并不容易。本文基于已出版科学文献的全面分析,按照地球物理方法对岩溶系统勘探的贡献阐述目前发展现状。这篇综述可作为初步的技术路线,而非指导方针。

Resumo

O ambiente cársico é um dos meios mais desafiadores em termos de água subterrânea, engenharia e questões ambientais. Os métodos geofísicos podem fornecer informações úteis de subsuperfície em regiões cársicas, relativas, por exemplo, à estimativa de risco ou de exploração de águas subterrâneas e à avaliação da vulnerabilidade. No entanto, uma área cársica continua a ser um ambiente muito difícil para qualquer exploração geofísica; a seleção do método geofísico mais adequado nem sempre é fácil, devido às características altamente variáveis e imprevisíveis do meio. É apresentado o estado da arte, em termos de contribuições feitas pelos métodos geofísicos para a exploração de sistemas cársicos, com base na análise exaustiva dos resultados científicos publicados. Este relatório é uma revisão geral e deve ser usado como uma abordagem metodológica preliminar, ao invés de ser usado como um guia orientador.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Peter Huggenberger, Arthur Batte, Kristine Walraevens and Timothy Bechtel for their comments and suggestions, which helped to improve this technical report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR 1114 EMMAH (UAPV-INRA), Université d’Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, 33, rue Pasteur, 84000, Avignon, France

    Konstantinos Chalikakis

  2. UMR 7619 SISYPHE, Université Pierre et Marie Curie–Paris 6, case 105, 4 place Jussieu, 75252, Paris cedex 05, France

    Valérie Plagnes, Roger Guerin & Rémi Valois

  3. Applied Geophysics and Geothermal Energy (GGE), E.ON Energy Research Center, RWTH Aachen University, Mathieustr. 6, E.ON ERC Bldg., 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Frank P. Bosch

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Correspondence to Konstantinos Chalikakis.

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Chalikakis, K., Plagnes, V., Guerin, R. et al. Contribution of geophysical methods to karst-system exploration: an overview. Hydrogeol J 19, 1169–1180 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0746-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0746-x

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