Abstract
Calcite precipitation rates on glass tablets located under three drip sites have been recorded monthly for around one year. Recorded rates range from 0.2 to 4.7 mg d−1. Results are compared with several potential predictors including external temperature, rainfall, drip rate and composition. Differences between sites have been found to be correlated mainly to drip flow rate while only within one site correlation with calcium concentration is significant. Theoretical predicted values overestimate experimental values on average by a factor two, and fail to predict the observed correlation with drip rate. It is therefore proposed to modify the standard theory by considering an effective drip rate lower than measured drip rate by a factor Φ 1. This factor accounts for drip water by-passing the glass tablet due to drop splashing. Best fit of experimental data is obtained when about 99.9 % of water is considered to be ejected during drop impingement. The order of magnitude is confirmed by additional laboratory experiment and comparison with literature data.
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Milanolo, S. (2016). Calcite Deposition. In: Sources and Transport of Inorganic Carbon in the Unsaturated Zone of Karst. Springer Theses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29308-0_9
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