Articles | Volume 30, issue 14
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-4699-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-30-4699-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
27 Jul 2026
Research article |
| 27 Jul 2026
| 27 Jul 2026
Impact of seasonal snow on the recharge of a mountain karst aquifer under climate change: the Dévoluy case study (Southern Alps, France)
Nathan Rispal
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Univ. Côte d'Azur, Polytech'Lab- UPR 7498, Sophia-Antipolis, France
Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France
Philippe Audra
Univ. Côte d'Azur, Polytech'Lab- UPR 7498, Sophia-Antipolis, France
Pierre Henry
Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France
Benoît Viguier
Géoazur, Univ. Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, IRD, Valbonne, France
Alexandre Zappelli
Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France
Ludovic Mocochain
independent researcher: Puy Sanières, France
Marianna Jagercikova
independent researcher: Saint-Maurice-en-Valgaudemard, France
Christine Vallet-Coulomb
Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France
Hélène Miche
Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France
Laurent Cadilhac
Agence de l'Eau Rhône Méditerranée et Corse, Lyon, France
Vianney Sivelle
HSM, Université de Montpellier, IRD, INSU,CNRS, Montpellier, France
Olivier Delestre
Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, LJAD, France
Univ. Côte d'Azur, Polytech'Lab- UPR 7498, Sophia-Antipolis, France
Related authors
No articles found.
Claudia Voigt, Christine Vallet-Coulomb, Clément Piel, Joana Sauze, Ilja M. Reiter, Jean-Philippe Orts, Françoise Chalié, Christophe Cassou, Irène Xueref-Remy, and Anne Alexandre
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 26, 9295–9335, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9295-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-9295-2026, 2026
Short summary
Short summary
Triple oxygen isotopes (17O-excess) are an upcoming tool in hydrological studies. We present the first one-year high-resolution record of 17O-excess in atmospheric water vapor from a Mediterranean forest site. The dataset provides insights into the processes driving variability of 17O-excess in atmospheric water vapor and precipitation across seasonal, diurnal, and event scales. These findings support model validation efforts and enhance the interpretation of paleoclimate archives.
Süleyman Selim Çallı, Kübra Özdemir Çallı, Brahim Akdim, Bruno Arfib, Aleksey Benderev, Sandra Beranger, Avi Burg, Onur Can, Jean-Baptiste Charlier, Mehmet Çelik, Arda Melih Çetin, Fehdi Chemseddine, Miroslava Deliyska, Lucio Di Matteo, Marco Dionigi, Romeo Eftimi, Jutta Eybl, Davide Fronzi, Nico Goldscheider, Ergin Gökkaya, Jorge Jodar, Herve Jourde, Eva Kaminsky, Konstantina Katsanou, Alireza Kavousi, Melike Kaya, David Labat, Tanja Liesch, Peter Malik, Christian Massari, Cyril Mayaud, Naomi Mazzilli, Pavel Pracny, Natasa Ravbar, Nathan Rispal, Simon Seelig, Vianney Sivelle, Marc Steinmann, Daniela Valigi, Gerfried Winkler, Ahmet Kemal Yahşi, and Andreas Hartmann
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-281, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-281, 2026
Preprint under review for ESSD
Short summary
Short summary
Karst groundwater systems are vital but highly sensitive to climate change. Their complex underground flow makes them hard to manage without good data, so we gathered 118 high-quality records of spring discharge across Mediterranean mountain ranges. With an average of 19 years of data – including one nearly century-long record – this collection provides the detailed information needed to better predict water availability and protect these vulnerable groundwater sources.
Vianney Sivelle, Guillaume Cinkus, Naomi Mazzilli, David Labat, Bruno Arfib, Nicolas Massei, Yohann Cousquer, Dominique Bertin, and Hervé Jourde
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1259–1276, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1259-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1259-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
KarstMod provides a platform for global modelling of the rain level–flow relationship in karstic basins. The platform provides a set of tools to assess the dynamics of the compartments considered in the model and to detect possible flaws in structure and parameterization. This platform is developed as part of the French observatory network on karst hydrology (SNO KARST), which aims to strengthen the sharing of knowledge and promote interdisciplinary research on karst systems at a national level.
Hugo Pellet, Bruno Arfib, Pierre Henry, Stéphanie Touron, and Ghislain Gassier
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 4035–4057, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4035-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4035-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Conservation of decorated caves is highly dependent on airflows and is correlated with rock formation permeability. We present the first conceptual model of flows around the Paleolithic decorated Cosquer coastal cave (southeastern France), quantify air permeability, and show how its variation affects water levels inside the cave. This study highlights that airflows may change in karst unsaturated zones in response to changes in the water cycle and may thus be affected by climate change.
Jérôme Texier, Julio Gonçalvès, Thomas Stieglitz, Christine Vallet-Coulomb, Jérôme Labille, Vincent Marc, Angélique Poulain, and Philippe Dussouillez
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-239, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-239, 2024
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding the relationship between rivers and alluvial aquifers is crucial, yet challenging. Through a combined approach of tracing and modeling in a French Rhône River site, we reveal significant insights. We quantify the impact of pumping on water flow and identify the primary water sources. Our findings aid sustainable water management in regions facing similar challenges, offering practical guidance for policymakers on groundwater use.
Reyhaneh Hashemi, Pierre Javelle, Olivier Delestre, and Saman Razavi
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-282, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-282, 2023
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Short summary
Short summary
Here, we have tackled the challenge of estimating water flow in areas without direct measurements, a crucial task in hydrology. We have applied deep learning techniques to a large sample of French catchments with various hydrological regimes. We have also compared our approach with traditional methods. We found that incorporating more data improves the accuracy of our deep learning predictions. Notably, our method outperforms traditional approaches in certain regimes, though not universally.
Claudia Voigt, Anne Alexandre, Ilja M. Reiter, Jean-Philippe Orts, Christine Vallet-Coulomb, Clément Piel, Jean-Charles Mazur, Julie C. Aleman, Corinne Sonzogni, Helene Miche, and Jérôme Ogée
Biogeosciences, 20, 2161–2187, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2161-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2161-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Data on past relative humidity (RH) ARE needed to improve its representation in Earth system models. A novel isotope parameter (17O-excess) of plant silica has been developed to quantify past RH. Using comprehensive monitoring and novel methods, we show how environmental and plant physiological parameters influence the 17O-excess of plant silica and leaf water, i.e. its source water. The insights gained from this study will help to improve estimates of RH from fossil plant silica deposits.
Pierre Henry, M. Sinan Özeren, Nurettin Yakupoğlu, Ziyadin Çakir, Emmanuel de Saint-Léger, Olivier Desprez de Gésincourt, Anders Tengberg, Cristele Chevalier, Christos Papoutsellis, Nazmi Postacıoğlu, Uğur Dogan, Hayrullah Karabulut, Gülsen Uçarkuş, and M. Namık Çağatay
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 3939–3956, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-3939-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-3939-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Seafloor instruments at the bottom of the Sea of Marmara recorded disturbances caused by earthquakes, addressing the minimum magnitude that may be recorded in the sediment. A magnitude 4.7 earthquake caused turbidity but little current. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake caused a mudflow and strong currents that spread sediment on the seafloor over several kilometers. However, most known earthquake deposits in the Sea of Marmara spread over larger zones and should correspond to larger earthquakes.
Wout Krijgsman, Iuliana Vasiliev, Anouk Beniest, Timothy Lyons, Johanna Lofi, Gabor Tari, Caroline P. Slomp, Namik Cagatay, Maria Triantaphyllou, Rachel Flecker, Dan Palcu, Cecilia McHugh, Helge Arz, Pierre Henry, Karen Lloyd, Gunay Cifci, Özgür Sipahioglu, Dimitris Sakellariou, and the BlackGate workshop participants
Sci. Dril., 31, 93–110, https://doi.org/10.5194/sd-31-93-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/sd-31-93-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
BlackGate seeks to MSP drill a transect to study the impact of dramatic hydrologic change in Mediterranean–Black Sea connectivity by recovering the Messinian to Holocene (~ 7 Myr) sedimentary sequence in the North Aegean, Marmara, and Black seas. These archives will reveal hydrographic, biotic, and climatic transitions studied by a broad scientific community spanning the stratigraphic, tectonic, biogeochemical, and microbiological evolution of Earth’s most recent saline and anoxic giant.
Clément Outrequin, Anne Alexandre, Christine Vallet-Coulomb, Clément Piel, Sébastien Devidal, Amaelle Landais, Martine Couapel, Jean-Charles Mazur, Christophe Peugeot, Monique Pierre, Frédéric Prié, Jacques Roy, Corinne Sonzogni, and Claudia Voigt
Clim. Past, 17, 1881–1902, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-1881-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-1881-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Continental atmospheric humidity is a key climate parameter poorly captured by global climate models. Model–data comparison approaches that are applicable beyond the instrumental period are essential to progress on this issue but face a lack of quantitative relative humidity proxies. Here, we calibrate the triple oxygen isotope composition of phytoliths as a new quantitative proxy of continental relative humidity suitable for past climate reconstructions.
Cited articles
Andrew, J. T. and Sauquet, E.: Climate Change Impacts and Water Management Adaptation in Two Mediterranean-Climate Watersheds: Learning from the Durance and Sacramento Rivers, Water, 9, 126, https://doi.org/10.3390/w9020126, 2017.
Audra, P. and Palmer, A.: The Vertical Dimension of Karst: Controls of Vertical Cave Pattern, Treatise Geomorphol., 6, 186–206, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-374739-6.00098-1, 2013.
Barnett, T., Adam, J., and Lettenmaier, D.: Potential Impacts of a Warming Climate on Water Availability in Snow-Dominated Regions, Nature, 438, 303–309, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04141, 2005.
Baudement, C., Arfib, B., Mazzilli, N., Jouves, J., Lamarque, T., and Guglielmi, Y.: Groundwater management of a highly dynamic karst by assessing baseflow and quickflow with a rainfall-discharge model (Dardennes springs, SE France), Bull. Société Géologique Fr., 188, 40, https://doi.org/10.1051/bsgf/2017203, 2017.
Bayard, D., Stähli, M., Parriaux, A., and Flühler, H.: The influence of seasonally frozen soil on the snowmelt runoff at two Alpine sites in southern Switzerland, J. Hydrol., 309, 66–84, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.11.012, 2005.
Bergström, S.: Development and Application of a Conceptual Runoff Model for Scandinavian Catchments, SMHI Rep. RHO 7, SMHI Norrköping, https://www.smhi.se/publikationer-fran-smhi/sok-publikationer/1976-08-19-development-and-application-of-a-conceptual-runoff-model-for-scandinavian-catchments (last access: 11 July 2026), 1976.
Bergström, S.: The HBV model – its structure and applications, SMHI RH, 1–44, https://www.smhi.se/en/publications-from-smhi/publications/2015-01-13-the-hbv-model---its-structure-and-applications. (last access: 11 July 2026), 1992.
Bittner, D., Narany, T. S., Kohl, B., Disse, M., and Chiogna, G.: Modeling the hydrological impact of land use change in a dolomite-dominated karst system, J. Hydrol., 567, 267–279, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.10.017, 2018.
Bonhomme, J. L.: Étude hydrogéologique et hydrodynamique du karst des calcaires sénoniens. Massif du Dévoluy, Hautes-Alpes, Conservatoire national des Arts et Métiers CNAM, France, 312 pp., https://theses.hal.science/tel-01020716v1 (last access: 11 July 2026), 1972.
Branche, E.: The Durance-Verdon River Basin in France: The Role of Infrastructures and Governance for Adaptation to Climate Change, in: Increasing Resilience to Climate Variability and Change: The Roles of Infrastructure and Governance in the Context of Adaptation, edited by: Tortajada, C., Springer, Singapore, 129–155, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1914-2_7, 2016.
Çallı, S. S., Çallı, K. Ö., Tuğrul Yılmaz, M., and Çelik, M.: Contribution of the satellite-data driven snow routine to a karst hydrological model, J. Hydrol., 607, 127511, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.127511, 2022.
Çallı, S. S., Özdemir Çallı, K., Akdim, B., Arfib, B., Benderev, A., Beranger, S., Burg, A., Can, O., Charlier, J.-B., Çelik, M., Çetin, A. M., Chemseddine, F., Deliyska, M., Di Matteo, L., Dionigi, M., Eftimi, R., Eybl, J., Fronzi, D., Goldscheider, N., Gökkaya, E., Jodar, J., Jourde, H., Kaminsky, E., Katsanou, K., Kavousi, A., Kaya, M., Labat, D., Liesch, T., Malik, P., Massari, C., Mayaud, C., Mazzilli, N., Pracny, P., Ravbar, N., Rispal, N., Seelig, S., Sivelle, V., Steinmann, M., Valigi, D., Winkler, G., Yahşi, A. K., and A., Hartmann: High-Resolution Karst Spring Discharge Datasets of the Euro-Mediterranean Mountain Regions (Version V1.0), Zenodo [data set], https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19448791, 2026.
Calvin, K., Dasgupta, D., Krinner, G., Mukherji, A., Thorne, P. W., Trisos, C., Romero, J., Aldunce, P., Barrett, K., Blanco, G., Cheung, W. W. L., Connors, S., Denton, F., Diongue-Niang, A., Dodman, D., Garschagen, M., Geden, O., Hayward, B., Jones, C., Jotzo, F., Krug, T., Lasco, R., Lee, Y.-Y., Masson-Delmotte, V., Meinshausen, M., Mintenbeck, K., Mokssit, A., Otto, F. E. L., Pathak, M., Pirani, A., Poloczanska, E., Pörtner, H.-O., Revi, A., Roberts, D. C., Roy, J., Ruane, A. C., Skea, J., Shukla, P. R., Slade, R., Slangen, A., Sokona, Y., Sörensson, A. A., Tignor, M., Van Vuuren, D., Wei, Y.-M., Winkler, H., Zhai, P., Zommers, Z., Hourcade, J.-C., Johnson, F. X., Pachauri, S., Simpson, N. P., Singh, C., Thomas, A., Totin, E., Alegría, A., Armour, K., Bednar-Friedl, B., Blok, K., Cissé, G., Dentener, F., Eriksen, S., Fischer, E., Garner, G., Guivarch, C., Haasnoot, M., Hansen, G., Hauser, M., Hawkins, E., Hermans, T., Kopp, R., Leprince-Ringuet, N., Lewis, J., Ley, D., Ludden, C., Niamir, L., Nicholls, Z., Some, S., Szopa, S., Trewin, B., Van Der Wijst, K.-I., Winter, G., Witting, M., Birt, A., Ha, M., Arias, P., Bustamante, M., Elgizouli, I., Flato, G., Howden, M., Méndez-Vallejo, C., Pereira, J. J., Pichs-Madruga, R., Rose, S. K., Saheb, Y., Sánchez Rodríguez, R., Ürge-Vorsatz, D., Xiao, C., Yassaa, N., et al.: IPCC, 2023: Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, edited by: Core Writing Team, Lee, H., and Romero, J., IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, https://doi.org/10.59327/ipcc/ar6-9789291691647, 2023.
Chen, Z., Auler, A. S., Bakalowicz, M., Drew, D., Griger, F., Hartmann, J., Jiang, G., Moosdorf, N., Richts, A., Stevanovic, Z., Veni, G., and Goldscheider, N.: The World Karst Aquifer Mapping project: concept, mapping procedure and map of Europe, Hydrogeol. J., 25, 771–785, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1519-3, 2017.
Christensen, J. H., Carter, T. R., Rummukainen, M., and Amanatidis, G.: Evaluating the performance and utility of regional climate models: the PRUDENCE project, Climatic Change, 81, 1–6, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-006-9211-6, 2007.
Cinkus, G., Mazzilli, N., Jourde, H., Wunsch, A., Liesch, T., Ravbar, N., Chen, Z., and Goldscheider, N.: When best is the enemy of good – critical evaluation of performance criteria in hydrological models, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 27, 2397–2411, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-2397-2023, 2023.
De Waele, J. and Gutierrez, F.: Karst Hydrogeology, Geomorphology and Caves, John Wiley & Sons, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119605379, 2022.
Dettinger, M., Redmond, K., and Cayan, D.: Winter orographic precipitation ratios in the Sierra Nevada – Large-scale atmospheric circulations and hydrologic consequences, J. Hydrometeorol., 5, 1102–1116, https://doi.org/10.1175/JHM-390.1, 2004.
Doummar, J., Hassan Kassem, A., and Gurdak, J. J.: Impact of historic and future climate on spring recharge and discharge based on an integrated numerical modelling approach: Application on a snow-governed semi-arid karst catchment area, J. Hydrol., 565, 636–649, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.08.062, 2018.
Duethmann, D., Blöschl, G., and Parajka, J.: Why does a conceptual hydrological model fail to correctly predict discharge changes in response to climate change?, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3493–3511, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-3493-2020, 2020.
Eckert, N., Corona, C., Giacona, F., Gaume, J., Mayer, S., van Herwijnen, A., and Hagenmuller, P.: Climate change impacts on snow avalanche activity and related risks, Nat. Rev. Earth Environ., 5, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00540-2, 2024.
Eeckman, J., De Grenus, B., Miesen, F. M., Thornton, J., Brunner, P., and Peleg, N.: Multi-instrumental monitoring of snowmelt infiltration in Vallon de Nant, Swiss Alps, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 4093–4107, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4093-2025, 2025.
Evin, G., Somot, S., and Hingray, B.: Balanced estimate and uncertainty assessment of European climate change using the large EURO-CORDEX regional climate model ensemble, Earth Syst. Dynam., 12, 1543–1569, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-12-1543-2021, 2021.
Evin, G., Le Lay, M., Fouchier, C., Penot, D., Colleoni, F., Mas, A., Garambois, P.-A., and Laurantin, O.: Evaluation of hydrological models on small mountainous catchments: impact of the meteorological forcings, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 261–281, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-261-2024, 2024.
Fan, X., Goeppert, N., and Goldscheider, N.: Quantifying the historic and future response of karst spring discharge to climate variability and change at a snow-influenced temperate catchment in central Europe, Hydrogeol. J., 31, 2213–2229, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-023-02703-9, 2023.
Fayad, A., Gascoin, S., Faour, G., López-Moreno, J. I., Drapeau, L., Page, M. L., and Escadafal, R.: Snow hydrology in Mediterranean mountain regions: A review, J. Hydrol., 551, 374–396, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.05.063, 2017.
Ferry, S. and Grosheny, D.: Excursion dans le sud du bassin subalpin. Turbidites et brèches carbonatées (Jurassique et Crétacé du bassin subalpin), Excursion du Groupe Français du Crétacé., Groupe Français du Crétacé, France, https://hal.science/hal-00908177v1/file/2013_Turbidites_SE_ExcuGFC.pdf (last access: 11 July 2026), 2013.
Ford, D. and Williams, P. D.: Karst Hydrogeology and Geomorphology, John Wiley & Sons, 581 pp., https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118684986, 2007.
Frank, S., Goeppert, N., and Goldscheider, N.: Improved understanding of dynamic water and mass budgets of high-alpine karst systems obtained from studying a well-defined catchment area, Hydrol. Process., 35, e14033, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14033, 2021.
Franz, K. J., Hogue, T. S., and Sorooshian, S.: Operational snow modeling: Addressing the challenges of an energy balance model for National Weather Service forecasts, J. Hydrol., 360, 48–66, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.07.013, 2008.
Garavaglia, F., Le Lay, M., Gottardi, F., Garçon, R., Gailhard, J., Paquet, E., and Mathevet, T.: Impact of model structure on flow simulation and hydrological realism: from a lumped to a semi-distributed approach, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3937–3952, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3937-2017, 2017.
Garçon, R.: Prévision opérationnelle des apports de la Durance à Serre-Ponçon à l'aide du modèle MORDOR. Bilan de l'année 1994–1995, Houille Blanche, 71–76, https://doi.org/10.1051/lhb/1996056, 1996.
Gidon, M. and Pairis, J.-L.: Le rôle des mouvements tectoniques éocènes dans la genèse des structures de rextrémité NE du Dévoluy et dans celle du chevauchement de Digne, Géologie Alp., 73–83, 1976.
Goldscheider, N., Chen, Z., Auler, A. S., Bakalowicz, M., Broda, S., Drew, D., Hartmann, J., Jiang, G., Moosdorf, N., Stevanovic, Z., and Veni, G.: Global distribution of carbonate rocks and karst water resources, Hydrogeol. J., 28, 1661–1677, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02139-5, 2020.
Gottardi, F., Obled, C., Gailhard, J., and Paquet, E.: Statistical reanalysis of precipitation fields based on ground network data and weather patterns: Application over French mountains, J. Hydrol., 432–433, 154–167, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.02.014, 2012.
Grosjean, A., Pittet, B., Gardien, V., Leloup, P., Mahéo, G., and Barraza Garcia, J.: Tectonic heritage in drainage pattern and dynamics: the case of the French South Alpine Foreland Basin (ca. 45–20 Ma), Basin Res., 29, 26–50, https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12134, 2017.
Hartmann, A., Lange, J., Vivó Aguado, À., Mizyed, N., Smiatek, G., and Kunstmann, H.: A multi-model approach for improved simulations of future water availability at a large Eastern Mediterranean karst spring, J. Hydrol., 468–469, 130–138, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.08.024, 2012.
Hartmann, A., Goldscheider, N., Wagener, T., Lange, J., and Weiler, M.: Karst water resources in a changing world: Review of hydrological modeling approaches: KARST WATER RESOURCES PREDICTION, Rev. Geophys., 52, 218–242, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013RG000443, 2014.
Herrnegger, M., Nachtnebel, H.-P., and Haiden, T.: Evapotranspiration in high alpine catchments – an important part of the water balance!, Hydrol. Res., 43, 460–475, https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2012.132, 2012.
Huet, B., Lasseur, E., Briais, J., Bellahsen, N., Loget, N., Rubino, J.-L., and Suc, J.-P.: Palaeoenvironmental and drainage network evolution of the Oligocene Western Alpine Foreland Basin, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-7337, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-7337, 2023.
IGN (Institut national de l'information géographique et forestière): LiDAR HD, IGN, https://geoservices.ign.fr/lidarhd (last access: 11 July 2026), 2024.
Ismail, M. F., Bogacki, W., Disse, M., Schäfer, M., and Kirschbauer, L.: Estimating degree-day factors of snow based on energy flux components, The Cryosphere, 17, 211–231, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-211-2023, 2023.
Jagercikova, M., Mocochain, L., Lebatard, A.-E., Bourlès, D. L., Leanni, L., Sartégou, A., and Zappelli, A.: Découverte et étude de remplissages karstiques allochtones d'âge miocène dans l'Obiou (Dévoluy, Alpes françaises) Implications géomorphologiques et paléogéographiques, Karstologia, https://hal.science/hal-03328463v1/document (last access: 11 July 2026), 2021.
Jeannin, P.-Y., Artigue, G., Butscher, C., Chang, Y., Charlier, J.-B., Duran, L., Gill, L., Hartmann, A., Johannet, A., Jourde, H., Kavousi, A., Liesch, T., Liu, Y., Lüthi, M., Malard, A., Mazzilli, N., Pardo-Igúzquiza, E., Thiéry, D., Reimann, T., Schuler, P., Wöhling, T., and Wunsch, A.: Karst modelling challenge 1: Results of hydrological modelling, J. Hydrol., 600, 126508, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126508, 2021.
Jódar, J., González-Ramón, A., Martos-Rosillo, S., Heredia, J., Herrera, C., Urrutia, J., Caballero, Y., Zabaleta, A., Antigüedad, I., Custodio, E., and Lambán, L. J.: Snowmelt as a determinant factor in the hydrogeological behaviour of high mountain karst aquifers: The Garcés karst system, Central Pyrenees (Spain), Sci. Total Environ., 748, 141363, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141363, 2020.
Jourde, H., Massei, N., Mazzilli, N., Binet, S., Batiot-Guilhe, C., Labat, D., Steinmann, M., Bailly-Comte, V., Seidel, J. l., Arfib, B., Charlier, J. b., Guinot, V., Jardani, A., Fournier, M., Aliouache, M., Babic, M., Bertrand, C., Brunet, P., Boyer, J. f., Bricquet, J. p., Camboulive, T., Carrière, S. d., Celle-Jeanton, H., Chalikakis, K., Chen, N., Cholet, C., Clauzon, V., Soglio, L. D., Danquigny, C., Défargue, C., Denimal, S., Emblanch, C., Hernandez, F., Gillon, M., Gutierrez, A., Sanchez, L. H., Hery, M., Houillon, N., Johannet, A., Jouves, J., Jozja, N., Ladouche, B., Leonardi, V., Lorette, G., Loup, C., Marchand, P., de Montety, V., Muller, R., Ollivier, C., Sivelle, V., Lastennet, R., Lecoq, N., Maréchal, J. C., Perotin, L., Perrin, J., Petre, M. a., Peyraube, N., Pistre, S., Plagnes, V., Probst, A., Probst, J. l., Simler, R., Stefani, V., Valdes-Lao, D., Viseur, S., and Wang, X.: SNO KARST: A French Network of Observatories for the Multidisciplinary Study of Critical Zone Processes in Karst Watersheds and Aquifers, Vadose Zone J., 17, 180094, https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2018.04.0094, 2018.
Lafaysse, M., Cluzet, B., Dumont, M., Lejeune, Y., Vionnet, V., and Morin, S.: A multiphysical ensemble system of numerical snow modelling, The Cryosphere, 11, 1173–1198, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1173-2017, 2017.
Lemaitre-Basset, T., Oudin, L., and Thirel, G.: Evapotranspiration in hydrological models under rising CO2: a jump into the unknown, Climatic Change, 172, 36, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-022-03384-1, 2022a.
Lemaitre-Basset, T., Oudin, L., Thirel, G., and Collet, L.: Unraveling the contribution of potential evaporation formulation to uncertainty under climate change, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 2147–2159, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-2147-2022, 2022b.
Lemot, F., Valla, P. G., van der Beek, P., Jagercikova, M., Niedermann, S., Carcaillet, J., Sobel, E. R., Andò, S., Garzanti, E., Robert, X., Balvay, M., Bernet, M., Glodny, J., and Mocochain, L.: Miocene cave sediments record topographic, erosional and drainage development in the Western European Alps, Earth Planet. Sc. Lett., 621, 118344, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118344, 2023.
Luparini, V.: Étude hydrogéologique du massif du Dévoluy, Hautes-Alpes – Alpes françaises, Faculté des Sciences de l'Université de Grenoble, France, 142 pp., https://theses.hal.science/tel-00603954 (last access: 11 July 2026), 1975.
Magand, C., Ducharne, A., Le Moine, N., and Brigode, P.: Parameter transferability under changing climate: case study with a land surface model in the Durance watershed, France, Hydrolog. Sci. J., 60, 1408–1423, https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2014.993643, 2015.
Maire, R.: Hydrogéologie du plateau de Bure, Voconcies, 13, 9–16, https://cds05.fr/?page_id=252 (last access: 11 July 2026), 1980.
Marson, P., Corre, L., Soubeyroux, J.-M., Sauquet, E., Robin, Y., Vrac, M., and Dubois, C.: Explore2 – Rapport de synthèse sur les projections climatiques régionalisées, report, METEO FRANCE, INRAE, Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2026.112659, 2024.
Martinec, J. and Rango, A.: Parameter values for snowmelt runoff modelling, J. Hydrol., 84, 197–219, https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(86)90123-X, 1986.
Mazzilli, N., Guinot, V., and Jourde, H.: Sensitivity analysis of conceptual model calibration to initialisation bias. Application to karst spring discharge models, Adv. Water Resour., 42, 1–16, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2012.03.020, 2012.
Mazzilli, N., Guinot, V., Jourde, H., Lecoq, N., Labat, D., Arfib, B., Baudement, C., Danquigny, C., Dal Soglio, L., and Bertin, D.: KarstMod: A modelling platform for rainfall – discharge analysis and modelling dedicated to karst systems, Environ. Modell. Softw., 122, 103927, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.03.015, 2019.
Mazzilli, N., Sivelle, V., Cinkus, G., Jourde, H., and Bertin, D.: KarstMod User Guide – version 3.0, https://hal.science/hal-01832693v2/document (last access: 11 July 2026), 2023.
Meckel, L. D., Ford, M., and Bernoulli, D.: Tectonic and sedimentary evolution of the Dévoluy Basin, a remanent of the Tertiary western Alpine foreland basin, SE France, Géologie Fr., 2, 3–26, 1996.
Meeks, J. and Hunkeler, D.: Snowmelt infiltration and storage within a karstic environment, Vers Chez le Brandt, Switzerland, J. Hydrol., 529, 11–21, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.06.040, 2015.
Menzel, A. and Fabian, P.: Growing season extended in Europe, Nature, 397, 659–659, https://doi.org/10.1038/17709, 1999.
Météo-France: Données Publiques de Météo-France – Observations du réseau nivo-météorologique, https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/?fond=produit&id_produit=94&id_rubrique=32, last access: 16 October 2025.
Monjuvent, G.: Le Drac, morphologie, stratigraphie et chronologie quaternaires d'un bassin alpin, PhD thesis, Université Paris-Diderot – Paris VII, https://theses.hal.science/tel-00441486v1 (last access: 11 July 2026), 1979.
Oudin, L., Hervieu, F., Michel, C., Perrin, C., Andréassian, V., Anctil, F., and Loumagne, C.: Which potential evapotranspiration input for a lumped rainfall–runoff model?, J. Hydrol., 303, 290–306, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.08.026, 2005.
Parizot, O., Espurt, N., Viguier, B., Duclaux, G., Zappelli, A., Lahfid, A., Rispal, N., Mocochain, L., Henry, P., Jagercikova, M., Audra, P., Arfib, B., and Cadilhac, L.: 3D Structural Modelling and Restoration of a Deformed Alpine Karst Reservoir: Insights into the Groundwater Flows of the Dévoluy Massif (French Alpine Foreland), Basin Res., 37, e70065, https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.70065, 2025.
Perrin, C., Michel, C., and Andréassian, V.: Improvement of a parsimonious model for streamflow simulation, J. Hydrol., 279, 275–289, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(03)00225-7, 2003.
Pool, S., Vis, M., and Seibert, J.: Evaluating model performance: towards a non-parametric variant of the Kling-Gupta efficiency, Hydrolog. Sci. J., 63, https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2018.1552002, 2018.
Porthault, B.: Le Crétacé supérieur de la Fosse vocontienne et des régions limitrophes: (France sud-est), micropaléontologie, stratigraphie, paléogéographie, Université Claude Bernard – Lyon I, Lyon, 265 pp., https://theses.hal.science/tel-00802577 (last access: 11 July 2026), 1974.
Porthault, B.: Excursion dans la ”Fosse vocontienne”. Le Crétacé supérieur de la ”Fosse vocontienne” et des régions voisines. Excursion du Groupe Français du Crétacé, France, https://hal.science/hal-00908171/fr/ (last access: 11 July 2026), 1976.
Pulka, T., Herrnegger, M., Ehrendorfer, C., Lücking, S., Avanzi, F., Formayer, H., Schulz, K., and Koch, F.: Evaluating precipitation corrections to enhance high-alpine hydrological modeling, J. Hydrol., 645, 132202, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.132202, 2024.
Reisch, C. E. and Toran, L.: Characterizing snowmelt anomalies in hydrochemographs of a karst spring, Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania (USA): evidence for multiple recharge pathways, Environ. Earth Sci., 72, 47–58, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2935-5, 2014.
Ribes, A., Boé, J., Qasmi, S., Dubuisson, B., Douville, H., and Terray, L.: An updated assessment of past and future warming over France based on a regional observational constraint, Earth Syst. Dynam., 13, 1397–1415, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-1397-2022, 2022.
Richardson, A. D., Keenan, T. F., Migliavacca, M., Ryu, Y., Sonnentag, O., and Toomey, M.: Climate change, phenology, and phenological control of vegetation feedbacks to the climate system, Agr. Forest Meteorol., 169, 156–173, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2012.09.012, 2013.
Rispal, N., Audra, P., Mocochain, L., Jagercikova, M., Henry, P., and Demory, F.: Understanding the sedimentary dynamics of alpine caves: the example of the Dévoluy Massif (France), 19th International Congress of Speleology, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, vol. 2 (Session 7 “Karst Hydrogeology and Speleogenesis”), 309–314, https://uis-speleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/19ICS_Proceedings_Vol-II.pdf (last access: 11 July 2026), 2025.
Ruelland, D.: Development of the snow- and ice-accounting routine (SIAR), J. Hydrol., 624, 129867, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129867, 2023.
Ruelland, D.: Potential of snow data to improve the consistency and robustness of a semi-distributed hydrological model using the SAFRAN input dataset, J. Hydrol., 631, 130820, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.130820, 2024.
Seibert, J. and Vis, M. J. P.: Teaching hydrological modeling with a user-friendly catchment-runoff-model software package, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 3315–3325, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-3315-2012, 2012.
Sexstone, G. A., Clow, D. W., Fassnacht, S. R., Liston, G. E., Hiemstra, C. A., Knowles, J. F., and Penn, C. A.: Snow Sublimation in Mountain Environments and Its Sensitivity to Forest Disturbance and Climate Warming, Water Resour. Res., 54, 1191–1211, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017WR021172, 2018.
Sivelle, V., Cinkus, G., Mazzilli, N., Labat, D., Arfib, B., Massei, N., Cousquer, Y., Bertin, D., and Jourde, H.: Improvement of the KarstMod modelling platform for a better assessment of karst groundwater resources, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 1259–1276, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1259-2025, 2025.
Soubeyroux, J.-M., Dubuisson, B., Bernus, S., Samacoïts, R., Rousset, F., Schneider, M., Drouin, A., Madec, T., Tardy, M., and Corre, L.: A quel climat s'adapter en France selon la TRACC?, Meteo-France, https://hal.science/hal-04797481 (last access: 11 July 2026), 2024.
Taucare, M., Daniele, L., Viguier, B., Vallejos, A., and Arancibia, G.: Groundwater resources and recharge processes in the Western Andean Front of Central Chile, Sci. Total Environ., 722, 137824, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137824, 2020.
Valéry, A.: Modélisation précipitations débit sous influence nivale: Élaboration d'un module neige et évaluation sur 380 bassins versants, Institut des Sciences et Industries du Vivant et de l'Environnement, AgroParisTech, 418 pp., https://hal.inrae.fr/tel-02594605 (last access: 11 July 2026), 2010.
Valéry, A., Andréassian, V., and Perrin, C.: `As simple as possible but not simpler': What is useful in a temperature-based snow-accounting routine? Part 2 – Sensitivity analysis of the Cemaneige snow accounting routine on 380 catchments, J. Hydrol., 517, 1176–1187, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.04.058, 2014.
Vidal, J.-P., Martin, E., Franchistéguy, L., Baillon, M., and Soubeyroux, J.-M.: A 50-year high-resolution atmospheric reanalysis over France with the Safran system, Int. J. Climatol., 30, 1627–1644, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.2003, 2010.
Viviroli, D., Dürr, H. H., Messerli, B., Meybeck, M., and Weingartner, R.: Mountains of the world, water towers for humanity: Typology, mapping, and global significance, Water Resour. Res., 43, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006WR005653, 2007.
Zappelli, A., Belleville, A., and Jagercikova, M.: Hydrogeoly of Dévoluy karstic system: New insights with dye tracing and rainfall-discharge model, https://hal.science/hal-01984917/document (last access: 11 July 2026), 2018.
Zierl, B. and Bugmann, H.: Global Change Impacts on Hydrological Processes in Alpine Catchments, Water Resour. Res., 410, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004WR003447, 2005.
Short summary
In mountain karst regions, seasonal snow is a key component of groundwater recharge, making them highly vulnerable to climate change. Using a rainfall-snow-discharge model in the southern French Alps, we show that warming shifts high-flow periods and causes a strong summer flow decline. Rapid karst flow paths lead to quick spring responses, limiting storage above the base level and increasing sensitivity to future hydrological change.
In mountain karst regions, seasonal snow is a key component of groundwater recharge, making them...
