Contribution of Hydrogeological Time Series Statistical Analysis to the Study of Karst Unsaturated Zone (Rustrel, France)
Résumé
Characterising the hydrodynamic processes in the unsaturated zone is a prerequisite to efficiently protect and manage the karst water resource. In this study, we use rainfall-discharge cross-correlation analysis to improving the understanding of the hydrodynamic functioning of the karst unsaturated zone. This analysis is based on sparse discharge measurements from five flow points located within the artificial LSBB gallery. Our results are consistent with hydrochemical analyses, and they evidence the influence of inter-annual rainfall variability on the hydrological functioning of the unsaturated zone. They also show that cross-correlation may prove an efficient tool for sparse data analyses.