Hydrology and hydrochemistry of the Caves Branch karst, Belize

Abstract

A large conduit spring issuing from Cretaceous limestones in Belize, Central America, displays a positive relation of discharge to solute concentration. Beneath a maturely-dissected cockpit karst, the hydrologic system combines allogenic surface water from an invasion polje with authigenic karst water. Dynamic mixing produces three climatically-induced discharge phases: baseflow, normal, and high-stage flow. Each has an associated hydrochemical regime, predominantly diffuse-flow karst water. An areal solute concentration of ∼80 mg l −1 Ca 2+ is estimated, with a “denudation rate” of 100 mm per 1000 yr.