SPECYFIKA SIECI MONITORUJĄCYCH WODY PODZIEMNE NA OBSZARZE KARPAT

Abstract

THE SPECIFICITY OF THE GROUNDWATER MONITORING NETWORK IN THE CARPATHIANS

Abstract. Observation and research network of groundwater in the Carpathian area is carried out by the Carpathian Branch of the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute since 1989. The subjects of the monitoring are dynamics and chemical status of groundwater. The Polish Hydrogeological Survey presently (2013) keeps observations in 86 studied points. Among them 48 are drilled wells, 34 springs, and 4 dug wells. High density of spring occurrence is a characteristic feature of mountain areas, particularly for the Carpathians, where even more than 10 springs per km² are noted. They constitute 39% of all observation points of the groundwater observation and research network. The spring discharge is very variable and depends on the morphological position of the spring, aquifer lithology, and tectonics of the orogen. In the Carpathian region in many observation points long-term (ca. 20 years) cyclic changes in spring discharges and fluctuations of the groundwater table are clearly visible.