Characterising a karst system with a submarine spring: the example of La Mortola (Italy)

The karst system of La Mortola (France-Italy) discharges at the submarine freshwater spring of La Mortola. It was studied through in situ measurements made over 10 months in the submarine spring. The data, coupled with an investigation of the recharge area, allow us to interpret the functioning of the system. A reservoir model was then developed in order to simulate discharge time series from rainfall over a period of 12 years, with a view to proposing a plan for exploiting this freshwater resource.Original Abstract: Le systeme karstique de La Mortola (France-Italie), draine par la source d'eau douce sous-marine de La Mortola, a ete etudie a partir de mesures in situ realisees a l'aide d'un captage sur la source sous-marine. Ces informations, couplees a l'etude du bassin d'alimentation, ont permis de caracteriser le fonctionnement de ce systeme. Un modele a reservoirs a ensuite ete developpe pour simuler les debits sur une periode de 12 ans, afin de definir les conditions d'une eventuelle exploitation de la ressource en eau.