Time-lag characteristics of the response of karst springs to precipitation in the northern China

Atmospheric precipitation is the main source of replenishment for large karst springs in the northern China. The extensive spring area and the high heterogeneity and anisotropy of the karst aquifer can cause a significant lag in the response of spring water level to precipitation. To explore the response characteristics of different flows of groundwater to precipitation, this study took the Jinan spring area as an example and used time series analysis to investigate the response characteristics of spring to rainfall. This study showed that atmospheric precipitation remains the single most important factor affecting spring discharge at present. According to the characteristics of spring discharge recession, the groundwater flows in the Jinan spring area can be divided into conduit-major fissure flow and diffuse-minor fissure flow. This study examined the response characteristics of different groundwater flows to precipitation through correlation and spectral analyses. The response time of conduit-major fissure flow to precipitation ranged 7–16 days and the duration ranged 12–24 days. The response time of diffuse-minor fissure flow to precipitation ranged 36–56 days, and the duration ranged 1–3 hydrological years. Compared with the karst water system in the southern China, the karst water system in the northern China has a stronger regulating effect. On this basis, this study proposed a correlation and spectral analyses and evaluation method suitable for understanding the dynamics of large karst springs in the northern China.