Natural hydrogeological laboratories: a new concept in regional hydrogeology studies. A case history from central Italy

Abstract.

The hydrogeological and hydrochemical features related to the geological-structural setting were studied in two important karst hydrogeological units of the Central Apennine belt. The studied areas are strategically important groundwater springs that discharge (up to 9 m³/s), and are relevant for the interactions between the stratigraphic-structural setting and groundwater circulation. In this paper, the importance of identifying these so-called "natural hydrogeological laboratories" is highlighted; whereas these conditions may be applied to specific areas or hydrostructures, both new investigating techniques might be tested and constrained mathematical models might be examined.