Author(s): T. Orehova
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Spring water temperature; Snowmelt impact; Model of mixing waters
Abstract: Spring water temperature plays role of natural tracer and may give valuable information about structure of karstic massif drained by the spring. The basic results from previous analysis of variability in water temperature for selected karstic springs from mountain areas were presented. All data originate from National Hydrogeological Network at the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. These are time series of spring discharge and water temperature. The joint analysis of spring discharge and water temperature confirms the known peculiarities: the lower temperatures occur during the periods with high discharges. In mountain areas the basic recharge is due to snowmelt. The aim of the paper is to study impact of snowmelt on spring water temperature using simulation. Simple model of mixing waters demonstrates the process of cooling for groundwater in mountainous areas. The model was applied to spring Kjoshka from mountain Pirin. The parameters of the model were obtained. The results obtained are realistic. This refers to spring flow, as well as to water temperature for the period when the cooling effect of melting water dominates. The diagnostic equation was obtained and applied to the case of simulated aquifer. Its use for real data was discussed. The restrictions of the model are outlined and discussed. The model assumes that the basic process for cooling of water is adding of melting water to the system and instantaneous mixing. The application of the model was useful to analyse the cooling process due to snowmelt. The study of variations in spring water temperature provides valuable information about the functioning and the structure of the system.
Year: 2003