Tanja Roje-Bonacci

Sea water intrusion in coastal karst springs: example of the Blaz Spring (Croatia)

Abstract Brackish karst springs are common along every karstic sea shore consisting of limestone and dolomite. On the Croatian sea coast there are more than 300 permanent or temporary brackish karst springs. From the standpoint of water supply, the problem of karst spring water salinization is quite significant because large quantities of high quality fresh water are not available to be used either as drinking water or for industrial and agricultural purposes. The salinity of brackish karst springs situated along the Adriatic coast varies from 10 to more than 18 000 mg C1 1−1 with an unfavourable distribution during the year. In the wet winter period, when water quantities in the region are abundant, the salinity is exceedingly low. In the warm and dry summer period the chloride concentration is high. At that season, when a shortage of fresh water in the region occurs, especially due to tourism, karst spring water is so salty that it cannot be used at all. The mechanism of sea water intrusion is relativel...

Interpretation of groundwater level monitoring results in karst aquifers : examples from the Dinaric karst

The paper presents an attempt to determine the characteristics of karst aquifers using information on groundwater level (GWL) in natural holes and boreholes with different data quantity and time resolution of GWL measurements. In this paper the particulars of karst aquifers were analysed for four examples from the Dinaric karst. In all four study areas, aquifers are formed in bare, deep and well-developed Dinaric karst consisting of Cretaceous limestones. The first example represents a wide area of Imotsko polje in the karst. The aquifer was analysed on the basis of infrequent water level monitoring in natural karst water features (jamas, lakes, wells) and discharges of springs and rivers. The karst aquifer in this example is complex, non-homogenous and variable in space and time, which is frequent in the Dinaric karst. Regardless of the aforementioned it was possible to determine its elementary characteristics. The second example represents 10 wells used for the water supply for the city of Pula. The GWL and salinity were measured once a week in the period between 1981 and 1996. Even though these measurements were relatively infrequent in space and time, they served as bases for assessment of average and maximum aquifer conditions as well as boundaries of saltwater intrusion. In the third example only a portion of aquifer of the karst spring Blaz, which is in the contact with the Adriatic Seas, has been analyzed. It is a spring with an intrusion of salt water. For purposes of study of saltwater intrusion, 26 piezometers were drilled in its vicinity in which GWL, salinity and temperature were measured once a day during 168 days, a period comprising one complete cycle of seawater intrusion and retreat. These measurements proved the existence of dispersed discharge from the aquifer into the sea and its non-homogeneity in space. In the fourth example GWL was measured continuously in 10 deep (up to 300 m) piezometers in the hinterland of the Ombla Spring catchment. The measurement period lasted 2 years (January 1988 to December 1989). The analyses are made with hourly data. The results made it possible to determine numerous characteristics of the karst aquifer and a significant non-homogeneity of groundwater distribution in karst aquifers, depending more on the underground karst phenomena than the surface karst forms. Copyright

Ecologically acceptable flows definition for the Žrnovnica river (Croatia)

The paper defines an ecologically acceptable flow regime for the River Žrnovnica, Croatia. This is a small and relatively short karst river with high flows and high quality water, convenient for use for public water supply. Because the water from the river will be taken from the karst spring zone, the entire river channel could suffer negative ecological consequences. The main goal of setting minimum acceptable flows is to protect the Žrnovnica river food webs and to sustain the rare and endangered fish species Salmothymus obtusirostris. This paper presents results obtained from hydrological, morphological and biological investigations.

Overview of the numerical methods for the modelling of rock mechanics problems

The numerical methods have its origins in the early 1960s and even at that time it was noted that numerical methods can be successfully applied in various engineering and scientific fields, including the rock mechanics. Moreover, the rapid development of computers was a necessary background for solving computationally more demanding problems and development process of the methods in general. Thus, we have many different methods presently, which can be separated into two main branches: continuum and discontinuum-based numerical methods. Some problems require the strengths of the both main approaches which brought the hybrid continuum/discontinuum methods. The first goal of this paper is to present the state of the art numerical methods and approaches for solving the rock mechanics problems, as well as to give the brief explanation about the theoretical background of each method. The second goal is to emphasise the area of applicability of the methods in rock mechanics.

Changes in hydrological regime caused by human intervention in karst: the case of the Rumin Springs

ABSTRACT Any human intervention or action in karst terrains can unexpectedly, suddenly, strongly and, generally, dangerously change a local and/or a regional hydrological regime. A characteristic example of the Dinaric karst is given in this paper. The operation of two reservoirs in Livanjsko Polje at an altitude of about 702 m above sea level (m a.s.l.) and hydro-electric development of the Cetina River system started in 1973. This year marked a drastic and instantaneous change in the regional hydrological regime. A significant drop in the minimum, mean and maximum annual discharges of two neighbouring karst springs, Rumin Mali and Rumin Veliki, was caused by this anthropogenic construction. The exits of the two analysed karst springs, Rumin Mali and Veliki, are located at altitudes of about 326.8 m a.s.l. and 307.6 m a.s.l. respectively. The areal distance between them is 640 m. Their hydrological regimes have been altered in different ways. The drop in discharges is stronger for the Rumin Veliki than for the Rumin Mali. The analysis shows that the system development influenced the redistribution of the regional karst aquifer and, in this manner, contributed to the reduction of both karst springs’ recharge areas. Editor D. Koutsoyiannis Associate editor E. Rozos

Hydrological analysis of Skradinski Buk tufa waterfall (Krka River, Dinaric karst, Croatia)

The paper analyses complex hydrological behaviour of Skradinski Buk, the tufa waterfall, formed on the downstream part of the Krka River located in the coastal part of the Croatian Dinaric karst. This waterfall is the central point of the Krka National Park (KNP) proclaimed in 1985. Skradinski Buk is the seventh, final and the largest tufa barrier on the Krka River. Morphology of Skradinski Buk is composed of 17 unevenly distributed steps and dozens of small depressions. Natural waterfall morphology strongly influenced the complex waterfall hydrological regime. Additionally, hydrological regime is disturbed by the operation of the hydroelectric power plant (HEPP) Jaruga. This paper analyses characteristic (minimum, mean, maximum) annual water levels and discharges monitored at two hydrological stations (Skradinski Buk Gornji-SBG and Nacionalni Park-NP). SBG controls the inflow of water into the waterfall, while the NP is established in order to control the use of water from the HEPP Jaruga operation. It is concluded that the HEPP Jaruga does not comply with the agreement signed between the KNP and the HEPP Jaruga. The goal of the paper is to give detailed hydrological analysis of the Skradinski Buk, which should play the crucial role in the protection of this wonderful and very vulnerable phenomenon.