Identifying methods of karst aquifer system structure in South China

Karst aquifer system is difficult to delineate owing to its high heterogeneity and anisotropy within the aquifer media. An effort was made to characterize a typical karst trough valley area in Western Hubei Province based on a 1∶50,000 scale hydrogeological survey. In this paper we discuss the boundary, main flow channel, medium types and the spatial characteristic of karst aquifer system using multiple traditional methods and new techniques, such as field survey, fissure measurement, cave detection, groundwater tracer test, groundwater dynamic monitoring, and etc. Finally, we developed a conceptual model of the karst aquifer system. This work was aimed to provide new ideas and techniques for 1∶50,000 scale hydrogeology survey in karst area which would contribute to improving the precision and quality of hydrogeological survey results nationwide.