Comparative study of specific groundwater vulnerability of a karst aquifer in central Florida

摘要: Abstract The Floridan aquifer system (FAS) is known to be one of the most productive systems in USA. With FAS being a karst aquifer, it presents unique challenges land use planners because inherent vulnerabilities contamination through direct connections between and surface. In this study new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) -based index, Karst Aquifer Vulnerability Index (KAVI), incorporates geologic layers used intrinsic groundwater vulnerability models (GVMs) plus an epikarst layer specific karst, with coverages create model. KAVI model was compared another model, Susceptibility (SI). Tabulation percentage areas classes reveals major differences two SI suggesting greater for area than KAVI. Validation these found that levels best reproduced spatially varying concentrations nitrate aquifer. Sensitivity analysis, application variation index measuring effective weights each parameter included confirmed importance closed depressions but also hydraulic conductivity. inclusion justified; however, weight analysis determined its assigned too high as initial calculation