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The application of quantitative fluorescent dye tracing to evaluate karst hydrogeologic response to varying recharge conditions in an urban area

Environmental Earth Sciences volume 74, pages 3099–3111 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Quantitative dye-tracing methods were utilized in a portion of the greater Springfield, Missouri metropolitan area. These methods were used to evaluate factors influencing groundwater movement through the shallow karst system in the area. Fortuitous timing of these studies with a summer drought allowed for very low-flow conditions to be tested, and the results of these tests suggest that shallow groundwater in the study area occurs in fractures and along bedding planes, with a significant input component from flow along bedding planes or other sub-horizontal features. Based on one unique trace, it appears that recent dye traces may be affected by groundwater elevations, where crossover from one conduit system to another occurs under most water level conditions, but ceases under the lowest flow conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the kind cooperation of numerous landowners in the study region for their assistance in this investigation. The authors also wish to thank John Thrailkill for his early work with constant-rate dye injection systems, Shuo-Sheng ‘Derek’ Wu for his assistance in improving the figures, and Van Brahana and an anonymous reviewer for very helpful comments and suggested text improvements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geography, Geology, Planning Department, Missouri State University, 901 S. National Ave, Springfield, MO, 65897, USA

    Douglas Gouzie, James Berglund & Kevin L. Mickus

Authors
  1. Douglas Gouzie
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  2. James Berglund
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  3. Kevin L. Mickus
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Correspondence to Douglas Gouzie.

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Gouzie, D., Berglund, J. & Mickus, K.L. The application of quantitative fluorescent dye tracing to evaluate karst hydrogeologic response to varying recharge conditions in an urban area. Environ Earth Sci 74, 3099–3111 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4348-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4348-0

Keywords

  • Dye tracing
  • Karst
  • Hydrogeology
  • Springfield
  • Missouri