Application Deadline: 05 April 2026
Details
Quantifying water movement through karstic limestone catchments is challenging given their typically marked variability in water flow in space and time (Bodin et al., 2022). This variability is affected strongly by the extent of karstification – dissolution-enhanced conduit development – and the resulting highly heterogeneous nature of the karstified rock-mass at human spatial scales. Typically, such systems exhibit marked non-stationary and non-linear hydrological behaviour (Banusch et al., 2002; Gunn & Bradley, 2023; 2024). Further complexity is present where limestone weathering results in ‘ghost-rock’ groundwater systems (Dubois et al., 2014).
In such systems, there are established methods to quantify recharge and discharge rates, and tracer testing is often used to determine links between discrete recharge and discharge locations. However, one important common uncertainty is the actual pathway between the discrete input and output points, and, in particular, how deep groundwater flow occurs, a subject of much discussion in the research literature (e.g. Kaufmann et al., 2014), but, compared with other issues, relatively little integrated study. From a practical standpoint, determining the distribution of flow is of vital concern for both environmental protection work and deep engineering projects.
Thus, the aim of this PhD project is to develop means of determining flow distributions in three dimensions in a karstic limestone catchment, and how these distributions vary in time. This aim is ambitious, but the reward for success would be considerable.
The approach will involve both field and numerical modelling experimentation on a research catchment in the Carboniferous Limestone of the English Peak District. The project has been made possible by access to a large, deep limestone quarry: though mines can affect flow systems significantly (e.g. Green et al., 2003; Hobbs & Gunn, 1998; Hobbs, 2014; Lolcama et al., 2002), they also offer very significant opportunities for investigation. The quarry in the research catchment has unusually extensive datasets, collected over decades, including on water levels, flow rates, and tracer tests. In addition, deep boreholes have been drilled recently to explore flow systems below the base of the quarry. Access will be provided to ground-probing radar, hydrogeological field chemical and hydraulic testing equipment, drones, photogrammetry software, and specialist groundwater flow software (e.g. Baggett et al., 2019; Borghi et al., 2016; Jeannin et al., 2021). The researcher will be supported by a purposely large supervisory team that has a range of expertise to match the various aspects of this multidisciplinary project.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, hard-working researcher with a capacity for original thinking and a background in at least one of a wide range of areas, including geosciences, engineering, ‘pure’ sciences, and mathematics. The researcher would be expected to engage in fieldwork and analysis, including numerical modelling. Training will be provided by one or more of the supervisors, depending on the researcher’s background: additionally, there will be access to the University’s MSc Course in Hydrogeology.
The project will be supervised by John Gunn, Simiao Sun, Christopher Bradley, Robert Yates (Cemex) and John Tellam.
Funding Notes
Subject to contract finalising, this PhD project will be fully funded by CEMEX UK Operations Limited, and is available for 3.5 years. The University registration fees for UK students are covered, but students from outside the UK would be required to obtain additional funds to cover the difference between the UK and overseas student registration fees. The stipend provides an additional £5k/y over the usual amount for a UKRI-funded studentship (https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/studentships-and-doctoral-training/get-a-studentship-to-fund-your-doctorate/). Financial support is also provided for fieldwork, travel and subsistence, and international conference attendance.
References
Baggett, J, A Abbasi, J Monsalve, R Bishop, N Ripepi, & J Hole. 2019. Ground-penetrating radar for karst detection in underground stone mines. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-019-00144-1
Banusch, S, M Somogyvari, M Sauter, P Renard, & I Engelhardt. 2002 I. Stochastic modeling approach to identify uncertainties of karst conduit networks in carbonate aquifers. Water Resources Research. 58, e2021WR031710.
Bodin, J, G Porel, B Nauleau, & D Paquet. 2022. Delineation of discrete conduit networks in karst aquifers via combined analysis of tracer tests and geophysical data. Hydrology & Earth System Science. 26, 1713–1726.
Borghi, A, P Renard, & F Cornaton. 2016. Can one identify karst conduit networks geometry and properties from hydraulic and tracer test data? Advances in Water Resources 90, 99–115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2016.02.009
Dubois, C., Quinif, Y., Baele, J.-M., Barriquand, L., Bini, A., Bruxelles, L., Dandurand, G., Havron, C., Kaufmann, O., Lans, B., Maire, R., Martin, J., Rodet, J., Rowberry, M.D., Tognini, P. & Vergari, A., 2014. The process of ghost-rock karstification and its role in the formation of cave systems. Earth-Science Reviews, 131, 116–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2014.01.006
Green, J., Pavlish, J., Leete, J., and Alexander, Jr., E. 2003. Quarrying Impacts on Groundwater Flow Paths.): Proceedings of the Ninth Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst, 216-222.
Gunn, J & C Bradley. 2023. Characterising rhythmic and episodic pulsing behaviour in the Castleton Karst, Derbyshire (UK) using high resolution in-cave monitoring. Water, 15, doi: 10.3390/w15122301
Gunn, J & C Bradley. 2024. From recharge to cave to spring: transmission of a flood pulse through a complex karst conduit network, Castleton, Derbyshire (UK). Water, 16, 1306, doi: 10.3390/w16091306
Hobbs, SL, & J Gunn. 1998. The hydrogeological effect of quarrying karstified limestone: options for prediction and mitigation. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, 31: 147-157
Hobbs, S. 2014. Deepening of Torr Quarry: Assessing the hydrogeological impacts. p. 100-107 in Hunger, E., Brown, T. J. and Lucas, G. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 17th Extractive Industry Geology Conference, EIG Conferences Ltd. 202pp.
Jeannin, P.-Y, G Artigue, C Butscher, Y Chang, J-B Charlier, L Duran, L Gill, A Hartmann, A Johannet, H Jourde, et al 2021. Karst modelling challenge 1: Results of hydrological modelling. Journal of Hydrology, 600, 126508.
Kaufmann, G, F Gabrovsek, & D Romanov. 2014. Deep conduit flow in karst aquifers revisited. Water Resour. Res., 50, 4821–4836, doi:10.1002/2014WR015314.
Lolcama J L, Cohen H A, Tonkin M J. 2002. Deep karst conduits, flooding, and sinkholes: lessons for the aggregates industry. Engineering Geology 65 (2002) 151–157.
