Estimation method of recharge area based on hydrograph simulation of karst water

Abstract

The determination of the recharge area of karst water systems is difficult in karst hydrogeological investigations and research. Based on the principle of water balance and hydrological impulse function, this work introduces the calculation method to estimate the recharge area and discusses the physical meaning of the model parameters. Three typical karst water systems in South China were tested, namely, the Yaji experimental site in Guangxi, the Wulongdong underground river in Xingshan, Hubei, and the water inrush point of the Xiakou Tunnel near the Hu-Rong highways, which are well verified with the recharge area comprehensively determined by other methods. The estimation method of the recharge area based on karst hydrograph simulation proposed in this paper is a new supplement to the methods for calculating the recharge area of karst water systems and has a good application prospects in small and medium scale karst water systems in South China.

Keywords

• karst water
• hydrograph simulation
• recharge area
• estimation method