HIGHER-ORDER PARTIAL CROSS-CORRELATION FUNCTION AS A TOOL FOR INVESTIGATING HYDROLOGICAL RELATIONS IN KARST

• Published in: International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference : SGEM Vol. 17; pp. 187 - 194
• Main Authors: Denić-Jukić, Vesna, Kadić, Ana, Jukić, Damir
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Sofia Surveying Geology & Mining Ecology Management (SGEM) 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Air temperature; Aquifers; Basins; Catchment area; Correlation analysis; Discharge; Groundwater; Groundwater flow; Groundwater recharge; Humidity; Hydrology; Hypotheses; Ice; Karst; Karst springs; Rain; Rainfall; Relative humidity; Spring; Systems analysis; Temporal distribution; Time series; Water flow; Water springs; Weather stations; Austria; Croatia
• ISSN: 1314-2704
• DOI: 10.5593/sgem2017H/33

This paper demonstrates the practical applicability of higher-order partial cross-correlation function in hydrological system analysis. The study area is the karst hydrological system of two adjacent karst springs Jadro and Žrnovnica situated in the Dinaric karst of Croatia. The subject of interest is the hydrological relation between these two springs and three basins located in the central part of Jadro Spring catchment. The relation is investigated by the higher-order partial cross-correlation function between rainfall and spring discharge using various sets of control signals. The available hourly time series are the discharges from two springs as well as the rainfall rates, air temperature and relative humidity from the meteorological stations Dugopolje, Konjsko and Vučevica. Depending on analysis goals, the sets of control signals consist of one or several time series including the air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall rates and the discharge from adjacent spring. The results of practical application show that the effects of hydrological processes can be recognized in the higher-order partial cross-correlation function. The clear distinction can be made between the causal relationship and spurious correlations that always exist in hydrological time series. Consequently, the drawbacks of classical cross-correlation analysis can be overcome and the form of cross-correlation function can be completely explained. Generally, the higher-order partial cross-correlation function can give valuable information about spatial and temporal characteristics of groundwater flow through karst underground that cannot be obtained by the classical cross-correlation analysis. The inferences presented in this paper about the spatial and temporal distribution of water between the central part of Jadro Spring catchment and the Žrnovnica Spring are generally in accordance to the existing hypothesis about functioning of this karst hydrological system.