The use of natural tracers in the study of the unsaturated zone of a karst aquifer

Abstract

The unsaturated zone of a karst aquifer was investigated in a catchment area of the Hubelj spring (SW Slovenia). The monitoring of flow and natural tracer transport was undertaken with the intention to study the recharge, storage and discharge processes of the karst aquifer, mixing processes, residence times and transport phenomena. The results point out the significance of effects of the fast preferential flow - epiflow. This flow is the main factor controlling contaminant transport towards the aquifer saturated zone.