Isotopic investigations of the Ljubljansko barje water resources

Abstract

Results of the study show that a combination of isotopic and hydrochemichal methods can be used to obtain new hydrogeological data about the properties of waters in individual aquifers of the Ljubljansko barje. An unambiguous distinction was made between waters flowing into the aquifer from the Krim mountains and waters originating in the Gradaščica. It was also possible to identify waters deriving from the karst basin of the Ljubljanica river. The mean altitude of individual waters’ recharge areas was estimated on the basis of isotopic analyses. The combination with Chemical analyses was used to assess the approximate share of carbonate rocks in the aquifer’s recharge area and determine its lithological composition. On the basis of annual changes in the amplitude of the isotope signal, also the recharge dynamics of aquifers and the age of observed ground and surface waters were estimated.