Infiltration and Short-Time Recharge in Deep Karst Aquifer of the Salento Peninsula (Southern Italy): An Observational Study

Marco Delle Rose,Paolo Martano

doi:10.3390/w10030260

Abstract

Time series of micrometeorological data from the CNR ISAC-Lecce base have been used to estimate the seasonal/yearly surface infiltration in the period 2003–2016 in the Salento peninsula (Southern Italy). The estimated values of infiltration were compared with piezometric levels measured in the regional karst aquifer during the overlapping period 2009–2011. The results, besides the complex groundwater circulation, suggest the possibility of a quite short-time component in the deep aquifer response to the recharge input. This quick response, together with the growing hydroclimatic intensity, outlined in literature studies and observed in the last decade, could increasingly affect the seasonal aquifer dynamics in the near future. Some possible consequences on the water management in karst regions under Mediterranean climate are discussed.

Highlights

The modern management of water resources requires constant update to surface–subsurface hydrological interactions
Are linear regressions, the dashed lines represent x = y. These results suggested a further analysis of the correlation between the infiltration I and the. These results suggested a further analysis of the correlation between the infiltration I and the piezometric level variations W in the wells
Estimations of the Seasonal/Yearly Net Infiltration. The analysis of both the micrometeorogical data from the ISAC-Lecce database and some data series from selected wells from “progetto Tiziano” in the period 2009–2011 allowed assessing an evaluation of the infiltration and a comparison with the variations in the piezometric levels

Summary

Introduction

The modern management of water resources requires constant update to surface–subsurface hydrological interactions. Due to the uncertain effects of the climate change, it is essential to scrutinize the relation between precipitation, evapotranspiration, infiltration and runoff. Such an issue is pressing, especially in semi-arid and arid regions [1,2,3]. Concerning the renewable groundwater resources, the calculation of the net infiltration is crucial [4,5]. Among the various types of groundwater reservoirs, the karst aquifers receive special attention because they may be affected by enhanced qualitative and quantitative decline in short terms [6,7]. Reduction in precipitation coupled with increasing evapotranspiration could produce dramatic deficit in the water balance of karst areas [8,9]. Not surprisingly, artificial systems of aquifer recharge have been implemented in several karst basins [10,11,12,13]

Methods

Results

Conclusion