Modeling of karst and alluvial springs discharge in the central Alborz highlands and on the Caspian southern coasts

Authors

1 Azad University, Sciences and Research Branch of Tehran, Iran

2 Dept. of Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Mazandaran, Iran.

3 Dept. of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, P.O. Box 1144, Sowmehsara, Iran.

Abstract

Springs are the important water resources, which thier study is necessary in terms of their management and exploitation. In northern Iran, the karst springs locate in the central Alborz highlands and alluvial springs on the Caspian southern coasts.The Karst and alluvial springs discharge is variable because of different conditions in terms of aquifer, topography and precipitation .This study has been done to simulate the karst and alluvial springs discharge and to compare their hydrologic conditions. So, 80 karst springs and 82 alluvial springs were investigated in central Alborz and on the Caspian southern coasts. Two models were presented to simulate the karst and alluvial springs discharge using Multivariate Regression analysis (SPSS software).Then, their efficiency was considered. Finally, the models and the results of regression analyses were compared. The results showed that the most important factors of the karst springs discharge are aquifer formation (its porosity) and site elevation, but about the alluvial springs, the hydraulic conductivity of aquifer formation and aquifer depth are the most important factors.
 
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