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Unusual behaviour of epikarst in the Acqua dei Faggi carbonate aquifer (Southern Italy)
Author(s) -
Petrella Emma,
Capuano Paolo,
Celico Fulvio
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3121.2006.00720.x
Subject(s) - geology , aquifer , hydrogeology , carbonate , permeability (electromagnetism) , groundwater , geomorphology , carbonate rock , test site , geochemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , sedimentary rock , geotechnical engineering , seismology , materials science , genetics , membrane , biology , metallurgy
Hydrogeological and geophysical investigations demonstrated the existence of an epikarstic zone in a carbonate aquifer of Southern Italy, about 10 m thick. Nevertheless, the hydrogeological behaviour of the epikarst is different from that schematized by several authors. In the test site, the contrast in permeability at the bottom of the epikarst does not cause retention of percolation and storage of water in a perched temporary aquifer within the uppermost portion of the carbonate medium. Because of the high fracture density and good interconnection of openings within the underlying limestone, the percolation is diffuse also below the epikarstic zone, as well as the groundwater flow. The ‘funnelling’ effect into larger shafts does not play an important role on the hydrogeological behaviour of the aquifer.