Framework for assessing lateral flows and fluxes during floods in a conduit-flow dominated karst system using an inverse diffusive model

Abstract. The aim of this study is to present a framework giving new keys to characterize the spatio-temporal variability of lateral exchanges for flows and fluxes in a karst conduit network during flood events. An inverse model using an analytical solution of the diffusive wave model is applied on data from two successive gauging stations to simulate exchange dynamics after recharge. The study site is the karst conduit network of the Fourbanne aquifer in the French Jura Mountains, which includes two reaches of 5–10 km characterizing the network from sinkhole to cave stream, and to the spring. The model is applied after separation of the base and the flood components on discharge and total …