Articles | Volume 29, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-6685-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-6685-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Evolution of low-karstified rock-blocks and their influence on reservoir leakage: a modelling perspective
Youjun Jiao
Beijing Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS/Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR & GZAR/International Research Centre on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China
Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, Titov trg 2, Postojna 6230, Slovenia
Pingguo Guangxi, Karst Ecosystem, National Observation and Research Station, Pingguo, Guangxi 531406, China
Franci Gabrovšek
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, Titov trg 2, Postojna 6230, Slovenia
Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska ulica 19, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
Xusheng Wang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Qingchun Yu
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Beijing Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
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Gravimetry offers a valid complement to classical hydrologic measurements in order to characterize karstic systems in which the recharge process causes fast accumulation of large water volumes in the voids of the epi-phreatic system. In this contribution we show an innovative integration of gravimetric and hydrologic observations to constrain a hydrodynamic model of the Škocjan Caves (Slovenia). We demonstrate how the inclusion of gravity observations improves the water mass budget estimates.
Hong-Yu Xie, Xiao-Wei Jiang, Shu-Cong Tan, Li Wan, Xu-Sheng Wang, Si-Hai Liang, and Yijian Zeng
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Freezing-induced groundwater migration and water table decline are widely observed, but quantitative understanding of these processes is lacking. By considering wintertime atmospheric conditions and occurrence of lateral groundwater inflow, a model coupling soil water and groundwater reproduced field observations of soil temperature, soil water content, and groundwater level well. The model results led to a clear understanding of the balance of the water budget during the freezing–thawing cycle.
Franci Gabrovšek and Wolfgang Dreybrodt
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2895–2913, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2895-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-2895-2021, 2021
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The evolution of karst aquifers is often governed by solutions gaining their aggressiveness in depth. Although the principles of
hypogene speleogenesisare known, modelling studies based on reactive flow in fracture networks are missing. We present a model where dissolution at depth is triggered by the mixing of waters of different origin and chemistry. We show how the initial position of the mixing zone and flow instabilities therein determine the position and shape of the final conduits.
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Short summary
Dams and reservoirs in karst areas often struggle with significant leakage, making construction both challenging and costly. This study uses a numerical model to show how karst aquifers in water divide regions evolve to form low-karstified rock-blocks (LKB). It also explores how and when these LKBs can significantly reduce leakage across the water divides if a reservoir is built on one side.
Dams and reservoirs in karst areas often struggle with significant leakage, making construction...