Hydrogeological characterization and modeling at two test sites of the Apulian karst (southern Italy)

Differently from the classical hydrogeological methods applied for porous or fractured aquifers, karst groundwater needs specific adaptation in the investigating techniques. Monitoring and surveying actions, performed both at the surface and within the subsoil, have to consider the optimal way in order to properly characterize karst environment. In this sense, the caves offer an unvaluable opportunity for scientists. Taking advantage from the possibility to explore two cave systems of Apulia (Southern Italy) and to reach the water table by means of speleological techniques, geological and hydrogeological surveys have been performed at the surface and within the cave systems. All available data have been used for the first attempt to implement numerical and computational models, to predict groundwater flow and solute transport in the Apulian karst. Numerical modeling is a powerful tool to understand the hydrodynamics of karst systems. The final aim of this research, still ongoing, is to integrate and use surface and subsurface geological data in order to obtain more realistic model outputs.