Using discharge-electrical conductivity relationship in a mediterranean catchment: The t. ciciriello in the cilento, vallo diano and alburni european geopark (southern italy)

Abstract

The paper describes the results obtained from the monitoring activities carried out during the 2012—2013 water year in the T. Ciciriello catchment, located in the terrigenous, hilly, forested area of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park-European and Global Geopark. Using rainfall, discharge and electrical conductivity data collected in the catchment stations at daily and 10 min time intervals, hydro-chemical time series analysis were performed in the perspective of hydro-geomorphological regionalization of the headwaters and mountainous catchments. Analysis of the data collected during this first monitoring year allowed us to compute reliable rating curves at selected stream flow stations, perform a good fit of the stream flow discharge-electrical conductivity relationship, apply an useful mixing model for hydrograph separation. This last was based on the water end-members referred to the specific runoff sources and flow paths, previously defined and mapped by hydro-geomorphological surveys and finally detected by the monitoring activity.