Hydrogeochemical Characterization of a Warm Spring System in a Carbonate Mountain Range of the Eastern Julian Alps, Slovenia
The Alps represent an area where many deep groundwater circulations occur as thermal springs. In the Bled case study, the thermal water temperature, at it is discharged to the surface, is between 19–23 °C. In order to determine the extent (e.g., geometry) and the origin of the pronounced deep circul...
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/5/1427 |
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| author | Luka Serianz Nina Rman Mihael Brenčič |
| author_facet | Luka Serianz Nina Rman Mihael Brenčič |
| author_sort | Luka Serianz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Alps represent an area where many deep groundwater circulations occur as thermal springs. In the Bled case study, the thermal water temperature, at it is discharged to the surface, is between 19–23 °C. In order to determine the extent (e.g., geometry) and the origin of the pronounced deep circulation system in the Bled area, chemical and isotopic measurements of waters from different hydrogeological systems were performed (e.g., surface water, thermal water, fresh groundwater). Hydrogeochemical methods were used to tie together the above-mentioned parameters. The results have shown that thermal outflow in Bled is determined by the presence of a deep-water circulation system, where the dissolution of carbonates minerals is the main hydrogeochemical process affecting chemical components of natural water flow. The correlation of the major ions suggests that the recharge area is represented by both limestone and dolomite rocks. Moreover, the results of <i>δ</i><sup>18</sup>O and <i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H of all samples indicate that the recharge is mainly meteoric precipitation. The recharge altitude was estimated for two sampled fresh groundwater springs. The isotopic compositions of those two springs suggest the range from <i>δ</i><sup>18</sup>O = −8.68‰, <i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H = −57.4‰ at an elevation of 629 m to <i>δ</i><sup>18</sup>O = −9.30‰, <i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H = −60.1‰ at an elevation of 1216 m. The isotopic analysis has confirmed that the thermal water recharges from altitudes of 1282–1620 m a.s.l. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:46:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-825f6b51413e4235a6310f9d87899559 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:46:45Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-825f6b51413e4235a6310f9d878995592023-11-20T00:45:58ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-05-01125142710.3390/w12051427Hydrogeochemical Characterization of a Warm Spring System in a Carbonate Mountain Range of the Eastern Julian Alps, SloveniaLuka Serianz0Nina Rman1Mihael Brenčič2Geological Survey of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaGeological Survey of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaThe Alps represent an area where many deep groundwater circulations occur as thermal springs. In the Bled case study, the thermal water temperature, at it is discharged to the surface, is between 19–23 °C. In order to determine the extent (e.g., geometry) and the origin of the pronounced deep circulation system in the Bled area, chemical and isotopic measurements of waters from different hydrogeological systems were performed (e.g., surface water, thermal water, fresh groundwater). Hydrogeochemical methods were used to tie together the above-mentioned parameters. The results have shown that thermal outflow in Bled is determined by the presence of a deep-water circulation system, where the dissolution of carbonates minerals is the main hydrogeochemical process affecting chemical components of natural water flow. The correlation of the major ions suggests that the recharge area is represented by both limestone and dolomite rocks. Moreover, the results of <i>δ</i><sup>18</sup>O and <i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H of all samples indicate that the recharge is mainly meteoric precipitation. The recharge altitude was estimated for two sampled fresh groundwater springs. The isotopic compositions of those two springs suggest the range from <i>δ</i><sup>18</sup>O = −8.68‰, <i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H = −57.4‰ at an elevation of 629 m to <i>δ</i><sup>18</sup>O = −9.30‰, <i>δ</i><sup>2</sup>H = −60.1‰ at an elevation of 1216 m. The isotopic analysis has confirmed that the thermal water recharges from altitudes of 1282–1620 m a.s.l.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/5/1427thermal springgroundwaterhydrogeochemical characteristicsstable isotopesJulian Alps |
| spellingShingle | Luka Serianz Nina Rman Mihael Brenčič Hydrogeochemical Characterization of a Warm Spring System in a Carbonate Mountain Range of the Eastern Julian Alps, Slovenia Water thermal spring groundwater hydrogeochemical characteristics stable isotopes Julian Alps |
| title | Hydrogeochemical Characterization of a Warm Spring System in a Carbonate Mountain Range of the Eastern Julian Alps, Slovenia |
| title_full | Hydrogeochemical Characterization of a Warm Spring System in a Carbonate Mountain Range of the Eastern Julian Alps, Slovenia |
| title_fullStr | Hydrogeochemical Characterization of a Warm Spring System in a Carbonate Mountain Range of the Eastern Julian Alps, Slovenia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrogeochemical Characterization of a Warm Spring System in a Carbonate Mountain Range of the Eastern Julian Alps, Slovenia |
| title_short | Hydrogeochemical Characterization of a Warm Spring System in a Carbonate Mountain Range of the Eastern Julian Alps, Slovenia |
| title_sort | hydrogeochemical characterization of a warm spring system in a carbonate mountain range of the eastern julian alps slovenia |
| topic | thermal spring groundwater hydrogeochemical characteristics stable isotopes Julian Alps |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/5/1427 |
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