This work presents a preliminary quantitative study of carbonate structure of Monte Cucco (North-Eastern Umbria, Italy). The main aquifer of the Monte Cucco structure is delimited by the Marne a Fucoidi formation outcrop, which is the most important aquiclude of the area; the main springs surrounding Monte Cucco rise at the contact between this aquiclude and the highly permeable calcareous formation of Maiolica. The area examined covers approximately 43 km2, at elevations between 500 m and 1560 a.s.l. The structure’s water budget was evaluated by means of some continuous discharge data series and three sets of field measurements which allowed to estimate the annual discharge of all the springs fed by the main aquifers. The natural discharge of the various springs was deduced by adding the flow taken from each for water supply purposes, to the flow released into the streams. Six temperature stations and ten rainfall stations located near the structure were analyzed in order to evaluate the average temperature and rainfall of the area. The analysis of temperature an rainfall data made it possible to evaluate the effective infiltration in the 2004-2005 hydrological year, during which the discharge measurements were made. The effective infiltration values were evaluated separately for high permeability formations (Calcare Massiccio) and for medium–high permeability formations (Corniola, Formazione del Bugarone, Maiolica). The effective infiltration calculated was compared with the water volume released by the spring. This comparison showed that the main aquifers of Monte Cucco can be considered virtually isolated. The study has shown how most of the infiltrated water drains toward the Tyrrhenian slope, with most of it flowing toward the Scirca spring, which releases a mean annual discharge of 180 l/s. This is due to the structural pattern of the Monte Cucco anticline and to the presence of preferential drainage contours of over tectonic discontinuities and along a well developed karst net.
Hydrogeological study of Mt. Cucco (North-East Umbria, Italy)
CAMBI, Costanza;VALIGI, Daniela
2005
Abstract
This work presents a preliminary quantitative study of carbonate structure of Monte Cucco (North-Eastern Umbria, Italy). The main aquifer of the Monte Cucco structure is delimited by the Marne a Fucoidi formation outcrop, which is the most important aquiclude of the area; the main springs surrounding Monte Cucco rise at the contact between this aquiclude and the highly permeable calcareous formation of Maiolica. The area examined covers approximately 43 km2, at elevations between 500 m and 1560 a.s.l. The structure’s water budget was evaluated by means of some continuous discharge data series and three sets of field measurements which allowed to estimate the annual discharge of all the springs fed by the main aquifers. The natural discharge of the various springs was deduced by adding the flow taken from each for water supply purposes, to the flow released into the streams. Six temperature stations and ten rainfall stations located near the structure were analyzed in order to evaluate the average temperature and rainfall of the area. The analysis of temperature an rainfall data made it possible to evaluate the effective infiltration in the 2004-2005 hydrological year, during which the discharge measurements were made. The effective infiltration values were evaluated separately for high permeability formations (Calcare Massiccio) and for medium–high permeability formations (Corniola, Formazione del Bugarone, Maiolica). The effective infiltration calculated was compared with the water volume released by the spring. This comparison showed that the main aquifers of Monte Cucco can be considered virtually isolated. The study has shown how most of the infiltrated water drains toward the Tyrrhenian slope, with most of it flowing toward the Scirca spring, which releases a mean annual discharge of 180 l/s. This is due to the structural pattern of the Monte Cucco anticline and to the presence of preferential drainage contours of over tectonic discontinuities and along a well developed karst net.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
