Hydrogeological investigation of karst aquifers using an integrated geomorphological, geochemical, GIS, and remote sensing techniques (Southern Mediterranean Basin—Tunisia)

Younes Hamed (), Riheb Hadji (), Riadh Ahmadi (), Yosra Ayadi (), Khan Shuhab () and Antonio Pulido-Bosch ()
Additional contact information
Younes Hamed: University of Gafsa
Riheb Hadji: International Association of Water Resources in the Southern Mediterranean Basin
Riadh Ahmadi: International Association of Water Resources in the Southern Mediterranean Basin
Yosra Ayadi: International Association of Water Resources in the Southern Mediterranean Basin
Khan Shuhab: University of Houston
Antonio Pulido-Bosch: University of Granada

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2024, vol. 26, issue 3, No 56, 6943-6975

Abstract: Abstract Carbonate aquifers constitute a water reserve of essential importance for human supply. This study identified areas of extensive karstification, and groundwater resource potential in carbonate rocks in Tunisia, North Africa. Three karst systems of Jurassic, Upper Cretaceous, and Eocene ages are studied. A GIS-based predictive model is built using slope gradient, slope aspect, elevation, distance from the stream, fault kernel density, lithologic facies, and precipitation. Our model helps distinguish specific autogenic and allogenic recharge mechanisms and characterizes the respective contribution of the saturated and unsaturated zones. Geochemical monitoring was performed at the karst (springs) and in the unsaturated zone (caves and epikarstic springs). The dominant groundwater type in this area is calcium-bicarbonate-magnesium and sulfate. Total dissolved solids (TDS) of these waters vary from the minima observed in the springs located in the northwest of the study area (480 mg/l) to the peak TDS observed in the southern part of Tunisia (600–3000 mg/l). pH values are typically in the 6.1–8.3 range. The environment is locally rich in CO2; consequently, Ca2+, Mg2+, $${\text{HCO}}_{3}^{ - }$$ HCO 3 - and $${\text{SO}}_{4}^{2 - }$$ SO 4 2 - content in water increases along the water flow. Temperature is variable depending on the season, the region, and the age of the karst aquifer. In winter, it increases slightly with depth from 18 to 55 °C, and in summer, the maximum values (22–57 °C) are found just below the water level. The isotopic composition of δ18O and δ2H of all groundwaters of the study area ranged from −8.29 to −6.33‰ VSMOW and from −55.8 to −35.30‰ VSMOW, respectively. The 14C activities vary between 28.6 and 63%. The rechargeability period of these carbonate aquifers could be related to a paleoclimatic effect under colder climatic conditions than at present (Pleistocene and Holocene periods: Early Würm, Middle Würm and Late Würm humid periods).

Keywords: Karst massif; Climate; Isotopic composition; Recharge; Spring discharge; Tunisia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-02994-8 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:endesu:v:26:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10668-023-02994-8

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/10668

DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-02994-8

Access Statistics for this article

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development is currently edited by Luc Hens

More articles in Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().