M. Larocque et al., CONTRIBUTION OF CORRELATION AND SPECTRAL ANALYSES TO THE REGIONAL STUDY OF A LARGE KARST AQUIFER (CHARENTE, FRANCE), Journal of hydrology, 205(3-4), 1998, pp. 217-231
The purpose of the study is to demonstrate that correlation and spectr
al analyses can contribute to the regional study of a large karst aqui
fer. An example is presented for the La Rochefoucauld karst aquifer (C
harente, France). Different types of spatially distributed time series
provide valuable spatio-temporal information for the karat aquifer. T
he available time series consist of the spring flow rates, the flow ra
tes at different locations in sinking streams, the piezometric levels,
the electrical conductivity and temperature of the water, the atmosph
eric pressure and the precipitation The analysis of the flow rates at
the springs shows that the aquifer empties very slowly and has a large
storage capacity. Hydrodynamic links were established between three o
f the four rivers flowing on the aquifer and the springs. The results
also demonstrate the important spatial heterogeneity of the aquifer an
d indicate that the most rapid flow occurs in the northern part of the
aquifer. Hourly piezometric and electrical conductivity time series i
ndicate that the transmissivity of the aquifer varies when some conduc
tive channels become desaturated during the low water period. The dela
ys between the distributed recharge and the piezometric level, between
the localized river input and the how rates at the springs and betwee
n the electrical conductivities in rivers and the main spring provide
information on the travel times in the aquifer, The observation of ear
th tides and barometric effects indicate that this apparently unconfin
ed aquifer has a confined behaviour. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. Al
l rights reserved.