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Hydrogeological Dynamics of the Dalköpinge River: Investigating the Dry Spell Anomaly in a Hydrogeological Context

Neumann, Daniel LU (2025) In Dissertations in Geology at Lund University GEOR02 20242
Department of Geology
Abstract
The Dalköpinge River, a non-perennial river with a 66 km² catchment area located in Söderslätt, southern Scania, Sweden, experiences a seasonal dry phase along a 3 km stretch of its 15.4 km length during summer. At the location where it runs dry a sinkhole was observed in 1976, believed to contribute to the dry spell. To investigate this phenomenon and gain insights into the hydrogeological system, a study was conducted involving the drilling and installation of 11 groundwater pipes and equipping them with transducers for automated temperature and groundwater level measurements. Additional transducers were deployed to record atmospheric data and, at two locations, river water levels. During the study, a sinkhole was observed at roughly the... (More)
The Dalköpinge River, a non-perennial river with a 66 km² catchment area located in Söderslätt, southern Scania, Sweden, experiences a seasonal dry phase along a 3 km stretch of its 15.4 km length during summer. At the location where it runs dry a sinkhole was observed in 1976, believed to contribute to the dry spell. To investigate this phenomenon and gain insights into the hydrogeological system, a study was conducted involving the drilling and installation of 11 groundwater pipes and equipping them with transducers for automated temperature and groundwater level measurements. Additional transducers were deployed to record atmospheric data and, at two locations, river water levels. During the study, a sinkhole was observed at roughly the same location as in 1976 with water flowing into it. The results reveal significant seasonal fluctuations in groundwater levels downstream of the sinkhole, with most pipes quickly running dry during spring and/or summer, while the pipe upstream of the sinkhole maintained a relatively stable water level throughout the season mid-April to mid-October. Temperature data indicate surface water influx in most pipes, but no evidence of an upwards flow of groundwater was observed, suggesting that the river is not fed by groundwater. Although this study highlights the sinkhole's potential role in the dry spell, a more comprehensive investigation, including data collection over the winter season, is recommended to provide clearer conclusions. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Dalköpingeån, en icke-perenn å med ett avrinningsområde på 66 km² beläget i Söderslätt, södra Skåne, upplever en säsongsbunden torka längs en 3 km lång sträcka av dess totala längd på 15,4 km under sommaren. På den plats där ån torkar ut observerades ett slukhål 1976, vilket tros bidra till torrperioden. För att undersöka detta fenomen och få insikter i det hydrogeologiska systemet genomfördes en studie som inkluderade borrning och installation av 11 grundvattenrör utrustade med givare för automatiska mätningar av temperatur och grundvattennivå. Ytterligare givare installerades för att registrera atmosfäriska data och, vid två platser i ån, vattennivåer. Under studien observerades ett slukhål på ungefär samma plats som 1976, där vatten... (More)
Dalköpingeån, en icke-perenn å med ett avrinningsområde på 66 km² beläget i Söderslätt, södra Skåne, upplever en säsongsbunden torka längs en 3 km lång sträcka av dess totala längd på 15,4 km under sommaren. På den plats där ån torkar ut observerades ett slukhål 1976, vilket tros bidra till torrperioden. För att undersöka detta fenomen och få insikter i det hydrogeologiska systemet genomfördes en studie som inkluderade borrning och installation av 11 grundvattenrör utrustade med givare för automatiska mätningar av temperatur och grundvattennivå. Ytterligare givare installerades för att registrera atmosfäriska data och, vid två platser i ån, vattennivåer. Under studien observerades ett slukhål på ungefär samma plats som 1976, där vatten flödade in. Resultaten visar betydande säsongsvariationer i grundvattennivåer nedströms slukhålet, där de flesta rören snabbt torkade ut, medan röret uppströms slukhålet bibehöll en relativt stabil vattennivå under säsongen mitten av april till mitten av oktober. Temperaturdata indikerar tillflöde av ytvatten till de flesta rören, men inget tecken på uppåtriktat flöde av grundvatten observerades, vilket antyder att ån inte matas av grundvatten. Även om studien belyser slukhålets potentiella roll i torrperioden skulle resultaten behöva kompletteras med datainsamling under vintersäsongen, för att ge en bättre förståelse för systemet och tydligare slutsatser. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Neumann, Daniel LU
supervisor
organization
course
GEOR02 20242
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
non-perennial river, groundwater, seasonal fluctuation, hydrograph, sinkhole
publication/series
Dissertations in Geology at Lund University
report number
699
language
English
id
9182358
date added to LUP
2025-01-22 10:47:22
date last changed
2025-01-22 10:47:22
@misc{9182358,
  abstract     = {{The Dalköpinge River, a non-perennial river with a 66 km² catchment area located in Söderslätt, southern Scania, Sweden, experiences a seasonal dry phase along a 3 km stretch of its 15.4 km length during summer. At the location where it runs dry a sinkhole was observed in 1976, believed to contribute to the dry spell. To investigate this phenomenon and gain insights into the hydrogeological system, a study was conducted involving the drilling and installation of 11 groundwater pipes and equipping them with transducers for automated temperature and groundwater level measurements. Additional transducers were deployed to record atmospheric data and, at two locations, river water levels. During the study, a sinkhole was observed at roughly the same location as in 1976 with water flowing into it. The results reveal significant seasonal fluctuations in groundwater levels downstream of the sinkhole, with most pipes quickly running dry during spring and/or summer, while the pipe upstream of the sinkhole maintained a relatively stable water level throughout the season mid-April to mid-October. Temperature data indicate surface water influx in most pipes, but no evidence of an upwards flow of groundwater was observed, suggesting that the river is not fed by groundwater. Although this study highlights the sinkhole's potential role in the dry spell, a more comprehensive investigation, including data collection over the winter season, is recommended to provide clearer conclusions.}},
  author       = {{Neumann, Daniel}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Dissertations in Geology at Lund University}},
  title        = {{Hydrogeological Dynamics of the Dalköpinge River: Investigating the Dry Spell Anomaly in a Hydrogeological Context}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}