The hydrogeology of Ogof Draenen: New insights into a complex multi-catchment karst system from tracer testing
A current understanding of the hydrology of Ogof Draenen, Wales, one of the longest and most complex cave systems in Europe, is presented. Previous tracer tests are reviewed and results of two new tracer tests presented. Numerous dolines occur on the Marros Group (formerly 'Millstone Grit'...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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2011
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| _version_ | 1797051401256304640 |
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| author | Maurice, L Guilford, T |
| author_facet | Maurice, L Guilford, T |
| author_sort | Maurice, L |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | A current understanding of the hydrology of Ogof Draenen, Wales, one of the longest and most complex cave systems in Europe, is presented. Previous tracer tests are reviewed and results of two new tracer tests presented. Numerous dolines occur on the Marros Group (formerly 'Millstone Grit') sandstones and the Pembroke Limestone Group (both of Carboniferous age) that crop out around the edges of the mountains overlying Ogof Draenen, with hydrologically active sinking streams common along the boundary of these strata. Surface pollution of a doline caused diesel pollution in the cave beneath demonstrating the vulnerability of groundwater. There are a few recently formed hydrologically active passages but groundwater flow is also influenced by many kilometres of relict passages formed during multiple phases of speleogenesis. This results in vertical and horizontal underfit streams that cross or flow through large relict passages. In the southeast of the cave, tracer testing revealed an underground watershed demonstrating the complexity of groundwater flowpaths. In the north a cave stream flows to springs which drain north to the Clydach Gorge. Small amounts of drainage in the cave may also reach springs in the Tumble Valley to the northeast, although these springs may be unconnected to the cave and fed entirely by stream sinks on the Blorenge mountainside. Multi-tracer injections within the cave revealed that the major underground streams flow south to feed large springs at Snatchwood and Pontnewynydd in the Afon Lwyd valley, in a different topographical catchment some 8km beyond the known cave, with rapid groundwater velocities of up to 4km/day. Nine other springs in the Afon Lwyd valley appear unconnected to the Ogof Draenen streams, being fed independently by sinking streams on the local mountainside. In addition, we show that Specific Electrical Conductance varies greatly both between and within springs, is negatively related to background fluorescence, and can be used to aid interpretation of dye tracer data. © British Cave Research Association 2011. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T18:19:01Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:05a169c5-cf85-46f5-85b0-77a5bd3a3649 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T18:19:01Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:05a169c5-cf85-46f5-85b0-77a5bd3a36492022-03-26T08:58:11ZThe hydrogeology of Ogof Draenen: New insights into a complex multi-catchment karst system from tracer testingJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:05a169c5-cf85-46f5-85b0-77a5bd3a3649EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2011Maurice, LGuilford, TA current understanding of the hydrology of Ogof Draenen, Wales, one of the longest and most complex cave systems in Europe, is presented. Previous tracer tests are reviewed and results of two new tracer tests presented. Numerous dolines occur on the Marros Group (formerly 'Millstone Grit') sandstones and the Pembroke Limestone Group (both of Carboniferous age) that crop out around the edges of the mountains overlying Ogof Draenen, with hydrologically active sinking streams common along the boundary of these strata. Surface pollution of a doline caused diesel pollution in the cave beneath demonstrating the vulnerability of groundwater. There are a few recently formed hydrologically active passages but groundwater flow is also influenced by many kilometres of relict passages formed during multiple phases of speleogenesis. This results in vertical and horizontal underfit streams that cross or flow through large relict passages. In the southeast of the cave, tracer testing revealed an underground watershed demonstrating the complexity of groundwater flowpaths. In the north a cave stream flows to springs which drain north to the Clydach Gorge. Small amounts of drainage in the cave may also reach springs in the Tumble Valley to the northeast, although these springs may be unconnected to the cave and fed entirely by stream sinks on the Blorenge mountainside. Multi-tracer injections within the cave revealed that the major underground streams flow south to feed large springs at Snatchwood and Pontnewynydd in the Afon Lwyd valley, in a different topographical catchment some 8km beyond the known cave, with rapid groundwater velocities of up to 4km/day. Nine other springs in the Afon Lwyd valley appear unconnected to the Ogof Draenen streams, being fed independently by sinking streams on the local mountainside. In addition, we show that Specific Electrical Conductance varies greatly both between and within springs, is negatively related to background fluorescence, and can be used to aid interpretation of dye tracer data. © British Cave Research Association 2011. |
| spellingShingle | Maurice, L Guilford, T The hydrogeology of Ogof Draenen: New insights into a complex multi-catchment karst system from tracer testing |
| title | The hydrogeology of Ogof Draenen: New insights into a complex multi-catchment karst system from tracer testing |
| title_full | The hydrogeology of Ogof Draenen: New insights into a complex multi-catchment karst system from tracer testing |
| title_fullStr | The hydrogeology of Ogof Draenen: New insights into a complex multi-catchment karst system from tracer testing |
| title_full_unstemmed | The hydrogeology of Ogof Draenen: New insights into a complex multi-catchment karst system from tracer testing |
| title_short | The hydrogeology of Ogof Draenen: New insights into a complex multi-catchment karst system from tracer testing |
| title_sort | hydrogeology of ogof draenen new insights into a complex multi catchment karst system from tracer testing |
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