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Prediction of the Quality and Quantity of Maramec Spring Water
Author(s) -
Wicks Carol M.,
Hoke John A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.2000.tb00333.x
Subject(s) - groundwater recharge , spring (device) , hydrology (agriculture) , aquifer , karst , hydrograph , environmental science , water quality , groundwater , geology , drainage basin , soil science , geotechnical engineering , geography , mechanical engineering , paleontology , ecology , cartography , engineering , biology
Our ability to predict the response of large karstic basins to contaminant pulses and recharge events is limited due to an inability to model flow through these highly hetereogeneous and anisotropic basins. The linear systems technique is useful for simulating hydrologic processes occurring in karstic basins because detailed knowledge about the internal structure of the basin is not required. The objectives of this study were to predict changes in the quantity and quality of spring water in a large karstic basin using the linear systems approach. Using a dimensionless unit hydrograph, the change in quantity of spring water was predicted and the correlation coefficient, r, between predicted and observed discharges was 0.94. A nonpoint source kernel was used to predict the change in the specific conductance of the spring water (r = 0.97). A point‐source kernel derived from a quantitative dye trace was used to predict the first arrival and dispersion of a contaminant at the spring (r = 0.11). Even though the correlation coefficient is low, the prediction matched the first and last appearances of the contaminant. Quantitative dye traces can be used to predict the movement of aqueous contaminants through karstic aquifers using the linear systems approach. Given the findings of this research, the linear systems approach is a useful predictive tool that would enable better management of ground water resources in karstic basins.