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Radiocarbon Concentration and Origin of Thermal Karst Waters in the Region of the Bükk Mountains, Northeastern Hungary

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Ede Hertelendi
Affiliation:
Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 51, H-4001 Debrecen, Hungary
Mihály Veres
Affiliation:
Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 51, H-4001 Debrecen, Hungary
István Futó
Affiliation:
Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 51, H-4001 Debrecen, Hungary
Éva Svingor
Affiliation:
Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 51, H-4001 Debrecen, Hungary
Lajos Mikó
Affiliation:
Hungarian Geological Survey, Regional Geological Service Debrecen, Csapó Street 78–80, H-4029 Debrecen, Hungary
László Lénárt
Affiliation:
Department of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, University of Miskolc, Egyetemváros, H-3515 Miskolc, Hungary
József Deák
Affiliation:
Research Institute for Water Resources, P.O. Box 27, H-1453 Budapest, Hungary
Miklós Süveges
Affiliation:
Research Institute for Water Resources, P.O. Box 27, H-1453 Budapest, Hungary
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Abstract

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Karst springs are abundant in Hungary, and many are thermal (temperatures >30°). As thermal springs are a significant part of Hungary's water resources, it is important to quantify their travel times in the karst systems. Thus, we chose to measure T and δ18O in the water and δ13C and 14C in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in water from 50 thermal and nonthermal springs and wells in the Bükk Mountains, northeastern Hungary. Environmental isotope data confirm the karst water-flow pattern implied by earlier studies. We found the water in warm springs and boreholes to be mixtures of cold young and old thermal water. We also determined short mean-residence times for some large cold springs. The 14C activities measured in these springs indicate that the recharge area of the karst aquifer is open to the atmosphere, and atmospheric CO2 contributes to the 14C activity of these groundwaters. We observed good correlation between 14C and 3H activities and we determined negative correlations between 14C concentration and δ13C values and temperature. From the δ18O values of the oldest thermal waters, we attribute their origin to precipitation during colder temperatures than at present.

Type
IV. 14C as a Tracer of the Dynamic Carbon Cycle in the Current Environment
Copyright
Copyright © the Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona 

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