Multidisciplinary hydrogeochemical and isotopic assessment of the Pordenone Plain (Northeastern Italy)
Autori
Di Renzo D, Marrocchino E, Telloi C, Vaccaro C
Anno 2024
Tipologia
Articolo Conferenza internazionale con referaggio
Abstract
This study aims to characterize the hydro-geochemical and isotopic features of the complex groundwater system in the Pordenone Plain (northeastern Italy). The area is an important industrial and agricultural area exposed to severe anthropogenic pressure and climate change, which put its water resources at risk in terms of quantity and quality, making it of high scientific and social interest. The hydrogeological setting of the Pordenone Plain has been previously simplified as an unconfined continuous aquifer in the High Plain that changes into a multilayered confined aquifers system towards the Low Plain. However, this study reveals significant lithological and structural heterogeneities in the High Plain that exert a strong influence on its subsurface hydrodynamics. All waters exhibit a Ca(Mg)-HCO3 composition with relatively high Na-K values in the aquifers of the Low Plain related to cation exchange processes. Water stable isotopes and tritium analysis provide evidence of two distinct recharge areas and different average residence times of waters within the aquifers . Three different groundwater flows have been identified and reported in a comprehensive hydrogeochemical conceptual model of the plain.In detail, the shallower flow is represented by the unconfined and semi-confined aquifers of the High Plain hosted in gravelly sediments and recharged by local precipitations. The intermediate flow, fed by the pedemontane recharge area, includes unconfined and semi-confined aquifers of the resurgence belt area and karst springs of the eastern pedemontane zone and is characterized by relatively low residence times. The deeper flow, fed by the Alpine recharge and characterized by prolonged residence times, is represented by the deep confined aquifers of the Low Plain. The chemical and isotopic variability of the studied waters represent valuable insights for the sustainable management of groundwater resources in the Pordenone Plain.
Referenza_Bibliografica
SOGEI Conference, Perugia (Italy), 01-04 luglio 2024 ISSN: 1590-2595