<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Karst springs play a central role in Austria’s water supply. This paper aims to provide an overview of the karst springs of Lower Austria, analysing statistical correlations of spatial distribution, discharge, electrical conductivity (EC), and temperature. As part of a project with the provincial government of Lower Austria, older data from numerous studies have been combined with the self-generated data in a GIS database. This database contains data on 2056 karst springs. Most of the recorded springs are located in the Northern Calcareous Alps, although karst springs also occur in the Central Alpine Permomesozoic, the Waschberg zone and the Bohemian Massif, some of which are also of regional importance for drinking water supply. Chemical analyses show that limestone, dolomite and mixed springs are widespread in Lower Austria and occur with similar frequency. Gypsum springs, which are characterised by a significantly higher total mineral-isation, are also of regional importance. The statistical analysis shows that spring water temperatures correlate well with the mean annual air temperature at the mean catchment elevation. The temperature decrease with increasing elevation corresponds to the air temperature gradient in the Eastern Alps (0.47 °C/100 m). In addition, the springs show a negative correlation of the EC with the mean catchment elevation, which can be explained by a decrease in soil cover and thus reduced CO2 uptake of the water, as well as dilution by rainwater. This leads to less carbonate dissolution, which is also reflected in less HCO3− contents. Corrected for the elevation effect, the investigated dolomite springs, have on average a 2.7% higher EC than limestone springs. A difference was also found between the Hauptdolomit and the Wettersteindolomit rock types, which are widespread in Lower Austria, with the latter displaying higher values on average by 2.2%. This indicates longer residence times of the spring water due to less karstification of the Wettersteindolomit.
</abstract>

Karst springs play a central role in Austria’s water supply. This paper aims to provide an overview of the karst springs of Lower Austria, analysing statistical correlations of spatial distribution, discharge, electrical conductivity (EC), and temperature. As part of a project with the provincial government of Lower Austria, older data from numerous studies have been combined with the self-generated data in a GIS database. This database contains data on 2056 karst springs. Most of the recorded springs are located in the Northern Calcareous Alps, although karst springs also occur in the Central Alpine Permomesozoic, the Waschberg zone and the Bohemian Massif, some of which are also of regional importance for drinking water supply. Chemical analyses show that limestone, dolomite and mixed springs are widespread in Lower Austria and occur with similar frequency. Gypsum springs, which are characterised by a significantly higher total mineral-isation, are also of regional importance. The statistical analysis shows that spring water temperatures correlate well with the mean annual air temperature at the mean catchment elevation. The temperature decrease with increasing elevation corresponds to the air temperature gradient in the Eastern Alps (0.47 °C/100 m). In addition, the springs show a negative correlation of the EC with the mean catchment elevation, which can be explained by a decrease in soil cover and thus reduced CO2 uptake of the water, as well as dilution by rainwater. This leads to less carbonate dissolution, which is also reflected in less HCO3− contents. Corrected for the elevation effect, the investigated dolomite springs, have on average a 2.7% higher EC than limestone springs. A difference was also found between the Hauptdolomit and the Wettersteindolomit rock types, which are widespread in Lower Austria, with the latter displaying higher values on average by 2.2%. This indicates longer residence times of the spring water due to less karstification of the Wettersteindolomit.

Statistical analysis of karst springs in Lower Austria

Department for Geodynamics and Sedimentology

Austrian Journal of Earth Sciences

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Statistical analysis of karst springs in Lower Austria"}

Karst springs play a central role in Austria’s water supply. This paper aims to provide an overview of the karst springs of Lower Austria, analysing...

Statistical analysis of karst springs in Lower Austria

Published Online: Sep 30, 2023

Page range: 135 - 145

Received: Jan 13, 2023

Accepted: Sep 04, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17738/ajes.2023.0007

Keywords
karst hydrogeology, springs, geostatistics, Eastern Alps, Lower Austria

© 2023 Clemens Schmalfuss et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Statistical analysis of karst springs in Lower Austria

Published Online: Sep 30, 2023

Page range: 135 - 145

Received: Jan 13, 2023

Accepted: Sep 04, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17738/ajes.2023.0007

Keywordskarst hydrogeology, springs, geostatistics, Eastern Alps, Lower Austria

© 2023 Clemens Schmalfuss et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
karst hydrogeology, springs, geostatistics, Eastern Alps, Lower Austria