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Temporal variation of chemical and isotopic signals in major discharges of an alpine karst aquifer in Turkey: implications with respect to response of karst aquifers to recharge

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Abstract

Proper management of karst aquifers requires a better understanding of flow and transport mechanisms in these systems. Flow in karst aquifers is inherently very complex due to the non-linear and non-stationary relationship between recharge and discharge. Information on this relationship has been acquired for a large (1,000 km2), mountainous (>3,500 m asl) karst aquifer with a deep unsaturated zone (>2,000 m) in the Aladaglar mountain range of south-central Turkey. All major discharges from the aquifer, which drain almost all the recharge, have been observed periodically for specific electrical conductivity, tritium and oxygen-18 variations during a period of 12 months. Observations reveal that the system’s response to recharge depends strongly on the competition between the infiltration and drainage velocities. These velocities, which are controlled by variables such as the time of precipitation, time of infiltration, intensity, and continuity of recharge, determine the degree of dominance of different types of flow mechanisms in the aquifer. Bypass, well-mixed and piston flow mechanisms are used to explain the response of the aquifer to the spatio-temporal variations in recharge. It appears that the aquifer switches among these flow mechanisms depending on the prevailing recharge mode and the competition between infiltration and drainage velocities.

Résumé

Une gestion adéquate des aquifères karstiques nécessite de mieux connaître les mécanismes d’écoulement et de transport dans ces systèmes. L’écoulement dans les aquifères karstiques est fondamentalement très complexe car la relation entre la recharge et l’exutoire est non linéaire et non stationnaire. Des informations sur cette relation ont été obtenues pour un aquifère karstique de montagne (>3,500 masl) étendu (1,000 km2) avec une zone non-saturée très profonde (>2,000 m), situé dans la chaîne de montagnes de l’Aladaglar du centre-sud de la Turquie. Toutes les résurgences de l’aquifère, qui drainent quasiment toute la recharge, ont été observées périodiquement pendant 12 mois pour les variations de la conductivité électrique spécifique, du Tritium et de l’Oxygène 18. Les observations montrent que la réponse du système à la recharge dépend fortement de la compétition entre les vitesses d’infiltration et de drainage. Ces vitesses sont contrôlées par des variables tels que la durée des précipitations, le temps d’infiltration, l’intensité et la continuité de la recharge et déterminent le degré de dominance des différents mécanismes d’écoulement dans l’aquifère. Les écoulements dérivés (bypass), écoulements de mélange (well-mixed) et écoulements-piston sont les mécanismes utilisés pour expliquer la réponse de l’aquifère aux variations spatio-temporelles de la recharge. L’aquifère alterne les mécanismes d’écoulement selon le mode de recharge dominant et la compétition entre les vitesses d’infiltration et de drainage.

Resumen

La gestión adecuada de los acuíferos kársticos requiere un mejor entendimiento de los mecanismos de flujo y transporte en estos sistemas. El flujo en acuíferos kársticos es intrinsecamente muy complejo debido a la relación no lineal y no estacionaria entre recarga y descarga. Se ha obtenido información sobre esta relación para un acuífero kárstico grande (1,000 km2) y montañoso (>3,500 msnm) con una zona no saturada profunda (>2,000 m) en la cordillera Aladaglar en la parte sur-central de Turquía. Todas las descargas principales del acuífero, las cuales drenan casi toda la recarga, se han observado periodicamente por variaciones específicas de conductividad eléctrica, tritio y oxígeno-18 durante un periodo de 12 meses. Las observaciones revelan que la respuesta del sistema a la recarga depende fuertemente de la competencia entre las velocidades de drenaje y de infiltración. Estas velocidades, las cuales son controladas por variables tales como el tiempo de precipitación, tiempo de infiltración, intensidad, y continuidad de recarga, determinan el grado de predominio de los diferentes tipos de mecanismos de flujo en el acuífero. Se utilizan mecanismos de flujo en pistón, bien mezclado y de circunvalación para explicar la respuesta del acuífero a las variaciones temporales y espaciales en recarga. Parece que el acuífero cambia entre estos mecanismos de flujo dependiendo del modo de recarga dominante y la competencia entre las velocidades de drenaje y de infiltración.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial and logistical support provided by Hacettepe University Research Fund and by the Cave and Karst Research Group of the General Directorate of Mineral Resources Research and Exploration (MTA). Special thanks go to Lutfi Nazik and his field team for their generous support during field studies. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their comments, which improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Engineering, Hydrogeological Eng. Section, Hacettepe University, Ankara, 06800, Turkey

    N. Nur Ozyurt

  2. International Research and Application Center For Karst Water Resources, Hacettepe University, Ankara, 06800, Turkey

    C. Serdar Bayari

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  1. N. Nur Ozyurt
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  2. C. Serdar Bayari
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Correspondence to N. Nur Ozyurt.

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Ozyurt, N.N., Bayari, C.S. Temporal variation of chemical and isotopic signals in major discharges of an alpine karst aquifer in Turkey: implications with respect to response of karst aquifers to recharge. Hydrogeol J 16, 297–309 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0217-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0217-6

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