De Leon, Jessica

Dornak, Sherri

Mitchell, Katie

Stafford, Kevin W.

SFA ScholarWorks

Stephen F. Austin State UniversitySFA ScholarWorksFaculty Presentations Department of Geology2011Thermal characterization of the Ellenberger karstsprings, Colorado Bend State Park, Texas [Abstract]Sherri DornakKatie MitchellJessica De LeonKevin W. StaffordCollege of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Geology, Stephen F. Austin State University, staffordk@sfasu.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/geology_facultypresPart of the Geology CommonsTell us how this article helped you.This Abstract is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Geology at SFA ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion inFaculty Presentations by an authorized administrator of SFA ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact cdsscholarworks@sfasu.edu.Recommended CitationDornak, Sherri; Mitchell, Katie; De Leon, Jessica; and Stafford, Kevin W., "Thermal characterization of the Ellenberger karst springs,Colorado Bend State Park, Texas [Abstract]" (2011). Faculty Presentations. Paper 3.http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/geology_facultypres/3Thermal Characterization of the Ellenberger Karst Springs, Colorado Bend State Park, Texas [Abstract]  Perennial karst springs discharge from the Ellenberger carbonates proximal to the Colorado River in the vicinity of Colorado Bend State Park, San Saba and Lampasas Counties, Texas. Thermal monitoring using HOBO pendant data loggers was conducted at eight springs along a fifteen kilometer stretch of the Colorado River for eighteen months and was compared with surface temperature and precipitation. Spring response and recovery to individual storm events is highly variable amongst the springs in the study area, including at least four distinctly different behaviors based on thermal signature and heat transport modeling. Two springs appear to be fed directly by matrix and bedding plane flow in the near-vicinity of their discharge points. Three springs appear to incorporate fracture and conduit flow within the proximal environment to their discharge points. Two springs appear to be associated with fracture and conduit flow that has been distally recharged. One spring shows virtually no response to surficial precipitation events and exhibits a minor hydrothermal component, suggesting it is coupled with a deep-circulation flow path, which is further confirmed by the high concentration of total dissolved solids at this spring. Thermal characterization of springs has the potential to provide significant insight into characterization of karst systems, which coupled with the inexpensive nature of thermal data loggers, makes thermal monitoring an efficient method of study. Furthermore, thermal monitoring in conjunction with mathematical models can give insight into the characteristics of conduits from which the springs flow.    

Thermal characterization of the Ellenberger karst springs, Colorado Bend State Park, Texas [Abstract]

http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=geology_facultypres

Thermal characterization of the Ellenberger karst springs, Colorado Bend State Park, Texas [Abstract]

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