OZCAR-RI SNO_KARST Environmental Research Observatory Site of fontaine de Vaucluse - LSBB - France

Basic Information
Site Name
OZCAR-RI SNO_KARST Environmental Research Observatory Site of fontaine de Vaucluse - LSBB
Short name
SNO_KARST fontaine de Vaucluse basin
Country
France
Web Address
KARST Observatories Network (SNO KARST)
Parent Site Name
LTSER Zone Atelier Bassin du Rhône - France
Subsite Name(s)
OZCAR-RI H+ LSBB (Low Noise Underground Laboratory) - France
Site Manager
Dr. Mazzilli Naomi
Dr. Christophe Emblanch
Operating Organisation
Avignon Université
Funding Agency
Avignon Université
UMR1114 EMMAH (INRAE-AU)
Keywords
groundwater recharge
hydrodynamics
hydrogeochemistry
hydrogeology
hydrogeophysics
hydrological modeling
karst
limestone rock
Mediterranean climate
Modelling
speleogenesis
sustainable management
unsaturated zone
vulnerability
water quality
Site Description
The Environmental Research Observatory Site of Fontaine de Vaucluse – LSBB is an observation and experimental site located in south-eastern France. Observation and experimentations are performed by UMR EMMAH at two different scales: at catchment scale since 1981 within the SNO KARST network and at micro-site scale since 2002 within the SNO H+ network at the Low Noise Underground Laboratory (LSBB). Fontaine de Vaucluse is both outstanding and typical of the mediterranean context. This spring is one of the largest springs in Europe with an average discharge over 20 m3/s. It is the main outlet of a large limestone catchment (~ 1160 km2), that extends mainly over natural land, with thick unsaturated zone (800 m in average).
Last modified
2020-09-15 10:09:23

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General Characteristics, Purpose, History
Site Status
Operational
Year Established
1981
Purpose
Due to its characteristics, this site is particularly well suited to study flow processes within the unsaturated zone and the effect of heterogeneity of carbonates on hydrodynamic properties. Research topics also include analysis of the drivers of speleogenesis, development of methodologies for recharge assessment using hydrochemistry and modelling of hydrodynamics.
Research Topics
isotopic chemistry
water chemistry
geology
geomorphology
hydrology
Parameters
atmospheric parameter
atmospheric parameter » precipitation intensity
water parameter
water parameter » conductivity
water parameter » perched water table
water parameter » stage height
water parameter » water level
water parameter » water quality
water parameter » water table
water parameter » water temperature
Photos
Main outlet of the karst system is the fontaine de Vaucluse spring

Main outlet of the karst system is the fontaine de Vaucluse spring

Highest summit of fontaine de Vaucluse recharge area is mount Ventoux (1909 m ASL)

Highest summit of fontaine de Vaucluse recharge area is mount Ventoux (1909 m ASL)

Geographic
Size
111600.00ha
Elevation (average)
870.00msl
Elevation (min)
84.00msl
Elevation (max)
1911.00msl
Affiliation and Network Specific Information
Affiliation
ILTER✔This site is a verified "ILTER" member.
LTER Europe✔This site is a verified "LTER Europe" member.
LTER France✔ (CZO_EU_FR_183)This site is a verified "LTER France" member.
Projects
Critical Zones
CZEN
RBV-CZO
SO KARST
eLTER catalogue
IR OZCAR
Download

Site information [.json]

Centroid coordinates [.shp] [.kml]
Bounding Box [.shp] [.kml]
Boundaries [.shp] [.kml]
GEO-BON Biome
Terrestrial
Biome
Chaparral
Ecosystem and Land Use
Agricultural
Forest
Chaparral
Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
Biogeographical Region
Mediterranean Bio-geographical Region
Air Temperature: Average Annual
10.00°C
Precipitation Annual
880.00mm
Precipitation Maximum Monthly
101.00mm
Precipitation Minimum Monthly
29.00mm
Geology
Mainly carbonate rocks (cretaceous limestones) .
Karst landscape and features.
Deep karstification (below the sea-level)
Vegetation
mainly forest and bush
Soils
mostly thin soils in carbonate environment.
Hydrology
Few temporary streams.
High river - groundwater exchanges.
Mature karst system.
EUNIS habitat
Inland unvegetated or sparsely vegetated habitats (H)
Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural and domestic habitats (I)
Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural and domestic habitats (I) » Arable land and market gardens (I1)
Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural and domestic habitats (I) » Arable land and market gardens (I1) » Arable land with unmixed crops grown by low-intensity agricultural methods (I1.3)
Protection Programme
biosphere reserve
Protection Programme Cover
0 - 25%
Protection Programme Notes
Mont Ventoux (1,909 meters above sea level) is located in-between the Alpine massif to the north and the Mediterranean massifs to the south and comprises a diverse relief with a mosaic of microclimates and habitats.

The mountain hosts an exceptional floristic and faunistic richness thanks to its intermediate position between the Mediterranean and the Alps and the orientation of its slopes. The Ventoux summit is exceptionally rich in flora, with some sixty rare species. In the surrounding area, a great variety of trees can be found, notably the beech and juniper.

see http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america/france/mont-ventoux
Protection Programme
regional park
Protection Programme Cover
25 - 50%
Protection Programme Notes
Regional Natural Parks of Luberon and mount Ventoux
https://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.fr/en
https://www.parcduluberon.fr/
Management of Resources
Yes
Management of Resources - Percentage
0 - 25%
Site Type (Spatial Design)
Complex Site
Design of Experimentation
partly experimentation
Scale of Experimentation
micro sites
Design of Observation
mainly observation
Scale of Observation
entire catchment
Infrastructure
Supporting infrastructure » Lodging at site
Energy and data infrastructure » Data transmission » Data Transmission Type (from Site) » No data transmission from site
Observation device » Measurement tower » No tower on site
Supporting infrastructure » Transportation » Vehicle 2WD
Energy and data infrastructure » Data transmission » Data Transmission Type (within site) » GMS/UMTS
Accessible All Year
Yes
All parts of Site Accessible
Yes
Access Type
regular car
Permanent Power Supply
No
Permanent Operation
Yes
Site Visit Interval
15
Maintenance Interval
30
General Data Policy
Formal acknowledgement of the dataset providers
The opportunity to collaborate on the project using the dataset
Data Storage Location
Central
Data Services
Data portal
LTER Site Classification
Regular
There is EURO-CORDEX climate scenario data available for this site:
Projected Near Surface Specific Humidity ChangeRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Precipitation ChangeRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Sea Level Pressure ChangeRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Surface Downwelling Shortwave RadiationRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Near-Surface Wind SpeedRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Near-Surface Air TemperatureRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Daily Maximum Near-Surface Air TemperatureRCP26RCP45RCP85
Projected Daily Minimum Near-Surface Air TemperatureRCP26RCP45RCP85

You can also download the entire climate scenario dataset for this site from the EUDAT B2SHARE data store.