Quantitative drip water measurements in the Buda Castle Cave with classical and modern measurement methods

Fanni Gazda; Dávid Farkas; Géza Hajnal; Dénes Szieberth

doi:10.59258/hk.19313

Fanni Gazda Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1817-3392
Dávid Farkas Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7840-6498
Géza Hajnal Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8758-017X
Dénes Szieberth National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7213-0435

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59258/hk.19313

Keywords: Buda Castle Cave, drip water, monitoring, precipitation, correlation analyses

Abstract

The study of cave waters is important for the preservation of the Castle Cave, which lies underneath the Buda Castle Hill. The objectives of this research were to carry out quantitative measurements of drip water and to identify the changes from previous observations. This study also aimed to investigate the relationship between drip water locations and drip water and precipitation data. The present study employed self-made tipping bucket gauges and ad hoc drip water measurements. Correlation analysis was carried out on the values measured at the two drip locations and on the drip water and precipitation time series. Annual drip water volumes were calculated, and the results were compared with past measurements. The results indicate that there is a strong correlation between the two drip locations, and both have a weak connection to precipitation. The annual drip water volume has possibly increased compared with past data, based on the study period. Further research with longer measured data and water chemistry tests is needed to determine the origin of the cave waters.

Author Biographies

Fanni Gazda, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering

Fanni Gazda is a civil engineering student at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. She started her studies as a BSc student in 2021 and currently studies at the Specialization in Hydraulic Engineering. She has participated in the Scientific Student Competion (TDK) three times and received the Palatin Joseph Prize of the university in 2024. She was granted the University Research Scholarship in 2024/2025. Additionally, she is working as a research assistant at the National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security.

Dávid Farkas, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering

DÁVID FARKAS graduated from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics as a civil engineer in 2015. He was a PhD (2015-2018) student at the Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering, from 2018 he was a research assistant, since 2022 he is an assistant professor. He has been a member of the Hungarian Hydrological Society since 2009. Member of the Hungarian Chamber of Engineers since 2020.

Géza Hajnal , Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering

Géza HAJNAL graduated from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) as a civil engineer in 1993, and he received a degree as a certified engineering teacher in 1994. In 2002, he obtained a PhD degree. Since 2008, he is an associate professor at the Department of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering, and between 2017 and 2020, he held the position of the head of department. His main research interests are hydrogeology and water balance calculation. He has been awarded the Bolyai János Research Fellowship twice (2004-2006, 2008-2010) for his research in hydrogeology. In 2020, he defended his dissertation in Literature at the University of Pécs.

Dénes Szieberth, National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry

DÉNES SZIEBERTH obtained his degree in chemical engineering in 1997 and his PhD in 2000. Since completing his studies, he has been working at the Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, where he has been an associate professor since 2011. His original field of expertise is the modeling of chemical reaction mechanisms. He has conducted research as a scholarship holder at several universities (Kaiserslautern, Leuven, Antwerp, Edinburgh, Sendai, Turin). Since 2014, his interest has turned to karst waters. In addition to water analysis, his main research interests include measurements and sampling in underwater caves and the design of unique instruments.

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