Project Title: Quantitative analysis of faults and fracture systems and their impact on groundwater flow in the bedrocks of Ireland
Researcher: John Paul Moore
The purpose of the research is to provide quantitative constraints on the geological controls on groundwater flow in Irish bedrocks so that practitioners in groundwater flow are in a better position to undertake assessments (e.g. groundwater resource and contaminant transport assessments). Since faults, fractures and associated karst are the most important conductors and stores of groundwater flow in Irish bedrocks this study involves structural analysis and flow assessments providing important constraints on groundwater flow and associated flow parameters.
The principal aims of the project are:
(i) analysis of post-Devonian faults, fracture and associated karst systems and their impact on groundwater flow in Irish bedrock aquifers;
(ii) assessment of the impact of lithological sequence on fracture-controlled groundwater flow in Irish bedrocks;
(iii) provision of better constraints on the spatial variations in groundwater flow potential within the fractured and karstified bedrocks of Ireland, including its depth dependency and other spatial controls such as regional variations deformation style and intensity and
(iv) improve understanding of groundwater flow in the fractured and karstified bedrocks of Ireland that will result in its more representative parameterisation in hydrogeological investigations.