Results of a reference-date measurement of 153 springs and creeks within the Tuxbach catchment area, Tyrol, Austria

The Tuxertal (Tux Valley) is located in the Eastern Alps in Tyrol, Austria and is drained by the Tuxbach (Tux Creek). The catchment area comprises 135 km², with the Olperer (3,476 m) as the highest elevation point and the confluence of the Tuxbach into the Zemmbach at Gstan (645 m) as lowest point. Geologically, the Tuxertal belongs to the north-western edge of the Tauern Window and therefore exhibits a complex petrographic and tectonic structure. In the Tuxertal, small cooperatives or private owners organise the drinking water supply and operate nearby springs. These springs are mostly fed by small catchment areas. Due to the complex geology groundwater quality can differ on a small scale. The crystalline rocks can cause an exceedance of critical values defined in Austria’s drinking water ordinance (BMSG 2001), especially with respect to heavy metal concentrations. Another challenge for drinking water supply is to find springs with sufficient discharge rates, resilient to modifications induced by climate change. A regional overview of the groundwater quality and quantity is crucial to identify the most suitable springs and to replace springs with elevated metal concentrations or insufficient discharge. A reference-date measurement, covering the whole Tuxertal, served to compile hydrochemical data and to provide decision-makers with adequate information to ensure a reliable drinking water supply. During 21 and 31 August 2018 a total number of 147 springs and 6 creeks were sampled. With this publication we provide the results of the reference-date measurement as .xlsx and .csv file.V1.

Recurrent dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 through the Uruguayan–Brazilian border

Uruguay is one of the few countries in the Americas that successfully contained the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) epidemic during the first half of 2020. Nevertheless, the intensive human mobility across the dry border with Brazil is a major challenge for public health authorities. We aimed to investigate the origin of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains detected in Uruguayan localities bordering Brazil as well as to measure the viral flux across this ∼1,100 km uninterrupted dry frontier. Using complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes from the Uruguayan–Brazilian bordering region and phylogeographic analyses, we inferred the virus dissemination frequency between Brazil and Uruguay and characterized local outbreak dynamics during the first months (May–July) of the pandemic. Phylogenetic analyses revealed multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 Brazilian lineages B.1.1.28 and B.1.1.33 into Uruguayan localities at the bordering region. The most probable sources of viral strains introduced to Uruguay were the Southeast Brazilian region and the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Some of the viral strains introduced in Uruguayan border localities between early May and mid-July were able to locally spread and originated the first outbreaks detected outside the metropolitan region. The viral lineages responsible for Uruguayan urban outbreaks were defined by a set of between four and 11 mutations (synonymous and non-synonymous) with respect to the ancestral B.1.1.28 and B.1.1.33 viruses that arose in Brazil, supporting the notion of a rapid genetic differentiation between SARS-CoV-2 subpopulations spreading in South America. Although Uruguayan borders have remained essentially closed to non-Uruguayan citizens, the inevitable flow of people across the dry border with Brazil allowed the repeated entry of the virus into Uruguay and the subsequent emergence of local outbreaks in Uruguayan border localities. Implementation of coordinated bi-national surveillance systems is crucial to achieve an efficient control of the SARS-CoV-2 spread across this kind of highly permeable borderland regions around the world

Variation in neurosurgical management of traumatic brain injury

Background: Neurosurgical management of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is challenging, with only low-quality evidence. We aimed to explore differences in neurosurgical strategies for TBI across Europe. Methods: A survey was sent to 68 centers participating in the Collaborative European Neurotrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study. The questionnaire contained 21 questions, including the decision when to operate (or not) on traumatic acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) and intracerebral hematoma (ICH), and when to perform a decompressive craniectomy (DC) in raised intracranial pressure (ICP). Results: The survey was completed by 68 centers (100%). On average, 10 neurosurgeons work in each trauma center. In all centers, a neurosurgeon was available within 30 min. Forty percent of responders reported a thickness or volume threshold for evacuation of an ASDH. Most responders (78%) decide on a primary DC in evacuating an ASDH during the operation, when swelling is present. For ICH, 3% would perform an evacuation directly to prevent secondary deterioration and 66% only in case of clinical deterioration. Most respondents (91%) reported to consider a DC for refractory high ICP. The reported cut-off ICP for DC in refractory high ICP, however, differed: 60% uses 25 mmHg, 18% 30 mmHg, and 17% 20 mmHg. Treatment strategies varied substantially between regions, specifically for the threshold for ASDH surgery and DC for refractory raised ICP. Also within center variation was present: 31% reported variation within the hospital for inserting an ICP monitor and 43% for evacuating mass lesions. Conclusion: Despite a homogeneous organization, considerable practice variation exists of neurosurgical strategies for TBI in Europe. These results provide an incentive for comparative effectiveness research to determine elements of effective neurosurgical care

Water supply in times of climate change — Tracer tests to identify the catchment area of an Alpine karst spring, Tyrol, Austria

Climate change and glacial retreat are changing the runoff behavior of Alpine springs and streams. For example, in the extremely dry and hot summer of 2018, many springs used for drinking water supply lost up to 50 percent of their average discharge; a few springs have even run dry. In order to ensure drinking water supply in the future, springs featuring large and constantly sufficient discharge rates will have to be identified and tapped. A case study was undertaken at the Tuxbachquelle because catchment area and temporal variation of physicochemical and hydrochemical properties were previously unknown. Tracer tests with uranine proved a hydraulic connection between this karst spring and a stream a few kilometers uphill. At low runoff, uranine needed about 4½ hours from the sink to the spring, whereas at high runoff more than four days was required. It became evident that discharge, electrical conductivity, temperature, and turbidity of the Tuxbachquelle respond within a few hours to precipitation events. The water quality and an examination of the water balance resulted in a significantly larger catchment area. It is assumed that widely karstified calcite marble subterraneously drains a considerable part of the Tuxertal (Tux Valley), including some active rock glaciers

Hydrogeological genesis and geothermal potential of the thermal springs of Hintertux, Austria

Europas höchste Thermalquellen in Hintertux, Tirol, sind bis zu 22,5 °C warm und werden zu etwa 30 % genutzt. Bisher lag kein detailliertes konzeptionelles Modell vor, das alle Besonderheiten der Anomalie gemeinsam erklärt hätte. Nur mit einem hydrogeologischen Modell ist eine Erweiterung der Nutzung nachhaltig planbar. Es wurden klassische hydrogeologische und hydrochemische Methoden eingesetzt, unter anderem natürliche Tracer, geochemische Indikatoren und stabile Isotopen (δ18O, δD, δ34S), um die Entstehung der Thermalwässer und darin involvierte Grundwasserleiter zu identifizieren. Die Untersuchungen wurden 2011–2018 an Wässern aus 14 weiteren Quellen und zwei Tunneln durchgeführt. Die Studie zeigt, dass das Grierkar zum meteorischen Einzugsgebiet der Thermalquellen gehört, wobei der Abfluss über die Schwinden an der Grieralm in den Hochstegenmarmor gelangt. Die Temperaturerhöhung erfolgt ursächlich aus dem weiteren Zufluss (20–40 %) von tieferen Zentralgneiswässern im Nordhang des Schmittenberges, wobei diese hydraulische Verbindung wahrscheinlich im Zusammenhang mit den Tuxer Scherzonen steht.Technische Universität Darmstadt (3139

Hydrogeologische Herkunft und geothermisches Potenzial der Thermalquellen von Hintertux, Österreich

Europas höchste Thermalquellen in Hintertux, Tirol, sind bis zu 22,5 °C warm und werden zu etwa 30 % genutzt. Bisher lag kein detailliertes konzeptionelles Modell vor, das alle Besonderheiten der Anomalie gemeinsam erklärt hätte. Nur mit einem hydrogeologischen Modell ist eine Erweiterung der Nutzung nachhaltig planbar. Es wurden klassische hydrogeologische und hydrochemische Methoden eingesetzt, unter anderem natürliche Tracer, geochemische Indikatoren und stabile Isotopen (δ¹⁸O, δD, δ³⁴S), um die Entstehung der Thermalwässer und darin involvierte Grundwasserleiter zu identifizieren. Die Untersuchungen wurden 2011–2018 an Wässern aus 14 weiteren Quellen und zwei Tunneln durchgeführt. Die Studie zeigt, dass das Grierkar zum meteorischen Einzugsgebiet der Thermalquellen gehört, wobei der Abfluss über die Schwinden an der Grieralm in den Hochstegenmarmor gelangt. Die Temperaturerhöhung erfolgt ursächlich aus dem weiteren Zufluss (20–40 %) von tieferen Zentralgneiswässern im Nordhang des Schmittenberges, wobei diese hydraulische Verbindung wahrscheinlich im Zusammenhang mit den Tuxer Scherzonen steht

Hydrochemistry of the Tuxertal, NW Tauern Window, Austria: water use and drinking water supply in an alpine environment

In the Tuxertal (Tux Valley, Austria), like in other Alpine regions, drinking water supply is predominantly organised privately or in cooperatives from nearby springs. Currently used springs may become unsuitable in future due to increasingly strict legal limits and changes in the water balance caused by climate change. In this study, the Tuxbach catchment area (135 km²) is examined by a reference-date measurement. Within 11 days, 153 springs and creeks were sampled to evaluate their appropriateness. All results of critical parameters for the drinking water supply are summarized and displayed in a hydrochemical map. Locally the groundwater composition differs due to various changes of petrographic units. Analysis results are statistically evaluated and characteristic values derived from six rock types. It becomes evident that apart from ammonium and arsenic, legal limits are mostly met. Low discharge rates present the major challenge for drinking water supply in future

Mineral, thermal and deep groundwater of Hesse, Germany

The composition of mineral, thermal or deep groundwaters is of interest for several geotechnical applications, such as drinking-water supply, spas or geothermal energy. Verified and reliable knowledge of temperature, pH, hydrochemical composition and other parameters is crucial to extract fluids with as few technical problems as possible and exploit groundwater reservoirs economically and environmentally sustainably. However, at sites where empirical data are lacking, the correct prediction of fluid properties is often difficult, resulting in considerable economic risks. Here we present the first comprehensive and publicly available database of mineral, thermal and deep groundwaters of Hesse compiled from published and our own data. Presently, it contains 1035 datasets from 560 different springs or wells sampled since 1810. A dataset consists of metadata like location; altitude; depth; rock type or stratigraphic unit; information on the water type; references; physical–chemical parameters; concentrations of major, minor and trace elements; and content of dissolved and free gases as well as isotope data. The dataset allows the evaluation of time series and distribution of groundwater properties both laterally and vertically. We show a simple statistical evaluation based on the five major hydrogeological regions of Hesse. Our database can be used to re-evaluate genesis and circulation of deep groundwaters, to estimate reservoir temperatures with a solution geothermometer, or to assess groundwater ages by means of isotope data. It can also be useful for a first conception of deep geothermal utilization. In the future, an update and extension of the database is intended. The database of mineral, thermal and deep groundwaters of Hesse has been made available by Schäffer et al. (2020) in xlsx and csv file format at TUdatalib, https://doi.org/10.25534/tudatalib-340. The second updated version of the database can be accessed directly at https://tudatalib.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/handle/tudatalib/2508.2 (last access: 20 October 2021).</p