Premium
Use of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) as tracer of diffuse infiltration in a dolomitic karstic system: The Nerja Cave (Andalusia, southern Spain)
Author(s) -
Batiot Christelle,
Liñán Cristina,
Andreo Bartolomé,
Emblanch Christophe,
Carrasco Francisco,
Blavoux Bernard
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl018546
Subject(s) - karst , aquifer , vadose zone , cave , geology , infiltration (hvac) , tracer , hydrogeology , lithology , total organic carbon , context (archaeology) , groundwater , hydrology (agriculture) , geochemistry , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , environmental chemistry , chemistry , geography , physics , archaeology , nuclear physics , meteorology
Recent studies in several karstic systems in France have highlighted that Total Organic Carbon (TOC) was a relevant parameter in order to characterise the behaviour of aquifers, to differentiate the water types that participate in karstic flow (fast infiltration, unsaturated zone, saturated zone) and to evaluate their vulnerability. This study on TOC dynamics at the experimental site of the Nerja Cave has been performed to test the potential of this tracer in a particular climatic (Mediterranean climate), lithologic (dolomitic marbles) and hydrodynamic (diffuse flow behaviour) context. TOC evolution, compared to those of classical tracers used in hydrogeology, permits the understanding of the hydrodynamical behaviour of the unsaturated zone of this dolomitic aquifer, whose response to precipitation is slower than that commonly obtained in karstic aquifers of calcareous nature.