Abstract

Verification of a groundwater flow model by radiocarbon (14C) data are presented taking into consideration the paleo-hydrogeological changes. Northeastern area of the Great Hungarian Plain was a deep-lying flat area, and its central part (Nyirseg) has been uplifted in the last 15,000 years. These geological events have drastically changed the hydrogeological conditions of Nyirseg. The groundwater flow system is composed of the Quaternary-Pliocene-Upper Pannonian clastic sediments. Groundwater flow modeling has been performed to define the main lateral and vertical flow directions and velocities controlling the propagation of the environmental radioactive tracer 14C. Solute-transport modeling was used to calculate the 14C activity. The recent steady-state groundwater flow velocity was reduced to a reasonable value characterizing the average flow velocity over the 15 ka simulation period using “trial and error” method. The best fit between the simulated and measured 14C data was achieved by assuming 0.4 flow velocity reduction factor. Results indicate that the present steady-state flow model with this flow velocity reduction factor is capable of reproducing the observed 14C data taking into account the effect of the significant uplift of the part of the land surface in the last 15 ka in NE Hungary.

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