Gravity monitoring of underground flash flood events to study their impact on groundwater recharge and the distribution of karst voids

in Water Resources Research (2020), 56(n/a), 2019026673

Abstract Flash flood events are expected to become increasingly common with the global increases in weather extremes. They are a significant natural hazard that affects karst landscapes, which host large ... [more ▼]

Abstract Flash flood events are expected to become increasingly common with the global increases in weather extremes. They are a significant natural hazard that affects karst landscapes, which host large resources of drinking water worldwide. The role played by underground flood events in the karst aquifer recharge is complex due to the heterogeneity of the basement which remains poorly understood. We present the analysis of 20 in-cave flash flood events affecting the Rochefort karst system (Belgium) using continuous gravity measurements at one single station, and water level sensors installed in caves. Underground flood events typically produce a peak in the gravity signal, due to an increase in the associated mass change. After the flood, the gravity values drop but remain slightly increased compared to before the flood event. Via forward gravity modeling, we demonstrate that this remaining anomaly can be reasonably explained by the infiltration of local rainfall within the karst system rather than by allogenic recharge of the aquifer. Flash floods are mainly restricted to connected voids. This allows us to utilize them as proxies to investigate the distribution of cavities in the karst system. Forward modeling of the gravitational attraction induced by the mapped caves being flooded yields a gravity signal much smaller than the observed one. We conclude that at least 50 more cavities than those previously mapped are required to match the measured anomalies. This presents opportunities for implementing similar approaches in other diverse porous media, using gravity monitoring of hydrological processes (e.g. infiltration fronts, hydrothermalism or tide effects in coastal aquifers) as proxies to characterize underground properties. [less ▲]

Groundwater Storage in a Karst Vadose Zone Evidenced Using Gravimetric and Surface-to-borehole ERT Monitoring Systems

Poster (2015, September 06)

Results of the European Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters in Walferdange (Luxembourg) of November 2007

in Gravity, Geoid and Earth Observation (2010)

The second international comparison of absolute gravimeters was held in Walferdange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, in November 2007, in which twenty absolute gravimeters took part. A short description of the ... [more ▼]

The second international comparison of absolute gravimeters was held in Walferdange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, in November 2007, in which twenty absolute gravimeters took part. A short description of the data processing and adjustments will be presented here and will be followed by the presentation of the results. Two different methods were applied to estimate the relative offsets between the gravimeters. We show that the results are equivalent as the uncertainties of both adjustments overlap. The absolute gravity meters agree with one another with a standard deviation of 2 μgal (1 gal = 1 cm/s2). [less ▲]

Hydrogeological investigations at the Membach station, Belgium and application to correct long periodic gravity variations

in Journal of Geophysical Research (2006), 111

A comprehensive hydrogeological investigation regarding the influence of variations in local and regional water mass on superconducting gravity measurements is presented for observations taken near the ... [more ▼]

A comprehensive hydrogeological investigation regarding the influence of variations in local and regional water mass on superconducting gravity measurements is presented for observations taken near the geodynamic station of Membach, Belgium. Applying a regional water storage model, the gravity contribution due to the elastic deformation of the Earth was derived. In addition, the Newtonian gravity effect induced by the local water mass variations was calculated, using soil moisture observations taken at the ground surface (about 48 m above the gravimeters). The computation of the gravimetric effect is based on a digital elevation model with spatially discretized rectangular prisms. The obtained results are compared with the observations of a superconducting gravimeter (SG). We find that the seasonal variations can be reasonably well predicted with the regional water storage model and the local Newtonian effects. Shorter-period effects depend on the local changes in hydrology. This result shows the sensitivity of SG observations to very local water storage changes. [less ▲]

Experiment to evaluate crustal motions across the Ardenne and the Roer Graben (north-western Europe) using absolute gravity measurements

in Metrologia (2002), 39(5), 503-508

Absolute gravity measurements using the FG5-202 gravimeter have been conducted twice a year since September 1999 along a 120 km long profile across the Belgian Ardenne and the Roer Graben. As in this ... [more ▼]

Absolute gravity measurements using the FG5-202 gravimeter have been conducted twice a year since September 1999 along a 120 km long profile across the Belgian Ardenne and the Roer Graben. As in this region there is a difference of an order of magnitude between the inferred vertical crustal movements deduced from the difference of levelling (about 1 mm/year) and geological information (0.1 mm/year), our goal is to better constrain the present-day deformation. The absolute gravity measurements are performed at Rochefort, Humain, Werpin, Manhay, Sprimont, Membach (Belgium) and Monschau, Julich and Bensberg (Germany). A complete description of the network is given, and specific difficulties at some stations are presented. The precision achieved, generally less than 2.0 Gal integrated over more than 24 h of observation, is quite satisfactory at all stations but Julich. The mining activities around Julich cause an increase in the noise up to 7 Gal integrated over more than 72 h. We also discuss possible causes of gravity variations in this region. At present, it is still not possible to detect any trend in the available data. However, after five years of observations, we should be able to detect or constrain any possible long-term trend with a limit of 2.5 mm/year, assuming that a height change of 1 mm causes a change in gravity of 0.2 Gal. To ensure that the absolute gravimeter is giving accurate results, it has been regularly compared with the superconducting gravimeter installed at the Membach reference station. [less ▲]