RObust Conceptualisation of KArst Transport - ROCKAT

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Gabriele Chiogna; Professor Dr. Andreas Hartmann
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 447437757

Conceptual bucket models are widely used to predict spring discharge in karstic watersheds, while solute transport modeling still remains challenging. We hypothesize that a parallelized robust conceptualization of discharge and transport significantly improves the representation of hydrological processes in the different karst compartments, i.e. soil-epikarst, matrix and conduits systems. We will apply a multi-temporal scale calibration approach, i.e. waveletanalysis, to get a well-constrained discharge and solute Transport simulation and process representation. Using the experimental results of tailored event-based sampling campaigns, we will decompose time series of electrical conductivity with a high temporal resolution into themajor ions concentrations to determine relevant factors affecting transport processes in the different parts of karstic systems. Based on our findings, we will develop transport models of different complexities and validate those for multiple karst systems.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France
• Co-Investigators: Professor Dr.-Ing. Markus Disse; Professorin Dr. Barbara Wohlmuth
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. David Labat