Karst systems are characterized by fast flow paths due to rock dissolution that forms caves and smaller conduits. How does water get transmitted from the recharge area to springs where it commonly discharges? This project investigates those questions through stormwater sampling and hysteresis plots.
CURRENT FUNDING: National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Coordination Network for Carbonate Critical Zone with Jon Martin and University of Florida, Matthew Covington at University of Arkansas and others
PAST FUNDING: National Science Foundation (NSF) Hydrologic sciences program grant in collaboration with Ellen Herman of Bucknell University.
 Arch spring |
 ISCO sampler |
 Hundred Springs |
 Tracer test |
 Tycoona cave entrance |
 Sensors in spring mouth |
PUBLICATIONS:
Covington, M.D., Martin, J.D., Toran, L., Macalady, J.L., Sekhon, N., Sullivan, P.L., Garcia Jr., A.A., Heffernan, J.B., and Graham, W.D. 2022. Carbonates in the Critical Zone. Earth’s Future DOI: 10.1029/2022EF002765 pdf
Berglund, J.L., Toran, L. and Herman, E.K., 2020. Can Karst Conduit Models be Calibrated? A Dual Approach Using Dye Tracing and Temperature. Groundwater. pdf
Berglund, J.L., Toran, L., and Herman, E.K. 2019. Deducing Flow Path Mixing by Storm-Induced Bulk Chemistry and REE Variations in Two Karst Springs: With Trends Like These Who Needs Anomalies? Journal of Hydrology, 571: 349-364. pdf
Berglund, J.L., Toran, L., and Herman, E.K. 2018. Using stable isotopes to distinguish sinkhole and diffuse storm infiltration in two adjacent springs. In Sasowsky, I.D., Byle, M. and Land, L. Eds. 15th Sinkhole Conference Proceedings. National Cave and Karst Research Institute. pdf
Toran, L., Herman, E.K., and Berglund, J.L. 2018. Advances in monitoring to understand flow paths in karst: comparison of historic and recent data from the Valley and Ridge of Pennsylvania. In: Younos, T., Schreiber, M., Kosic-Ficco, K. Eds. 2018. Karst Water Environment: Advances in Research, Management and Policy. Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Series V 68. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer International pdf
Reisch, C. E. and Toran, L., 2014. Characterizing snowmelt anomalies in hydrochemographs of a karst spring, Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania (USA): evidence for a changing recharge pathways. Environmental Earth Science 72(1): 47-58.
Toran, L., and Reisch, C. E., 2013. Using Stormwater Hysteresis to Characterize Karst Spring Discharge. Ground Water 51: 575-587.
Herman, E. K., Toran, L., and White, W. B., 2012. Clastic sediment transport and storage in fluviokarst aquifers: an essential component of karst hydrogeology. Carbonates and evaporites, 27(3-4), 211-241.
Herman, E.K., Toran, L., and White, W.B., 2009. Quantifying the place of karst aquifers in the groundwater to surface water continuum: a time series analysis study of storm response in Pennsylvania water resources. Journal of Hydrology, 376 (1-2), 307-317.
Toran, L., Gross, K., and Yang, Y. 2009. Effects of restricted recharge in an urban karst system. Environmental Geology, 58: 131-139.
Herman, E.K., Toran, L., and White, W.B. 2008. Threshold events in spring discharge: evidence from sediment and continuous water level measurement. Journal of Hydrology. 351 (1-2), 98-106.
Toran, L, Herman, E.K., and White, W.B., 2007. Comparison of Flow Paths to a Well and Spring in a Karst Aquifer. Ground Water. 45: 281-287.
Herman, EK Tancredi, JH, Toran, L and White, WB, 2007. Mineralogy of suspended sediment in karst springs in relation to spring water chemistry. Hydrogeology Journal. 15: 255-266
Toran, L., Tancredi, J., Herman, E.K., and White, W.B. 2006. Conductivity and sediment variation during storms as evidence for pathways in karst springs. Geological Society of America Special Paper 404 in honor of Derek Ford and William B. White, no 14: 169-176.
Toran, L., and Roman, E. 2006. CO2 outgassing in a combined fracture and conduit karst aquifer near Lititz Spring, PA. Geological Society of America Special Paper 404 in honor of Derek Ford and William B. White, no 23: 275-282.
Toran, L and White W B. 2005. Variation in nitrate and calcium as indicators of recharge pathways in Nolte Spring, PA. Environmental Geology. 48: 854-860.
Saunders, J.A. and Toran, L.E., 1994. Evidence of dedolomitization and mixing in Paleozoic carbonates near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Ground Water. 32: 207-214.
ABSTRACTS: (2000-2014, not updated)
Toran, L, Herman, EK, Vesper, D, Reisch, C, 2014. Using ion ratios and storm hysteresis to track karst flow paths. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Vancouver Oct 19-21. Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 46, No. 6, p.457
Reisch, C., and Toran, L. 2012. Comparing hydrogeologic impacts from urban and agricultural land use practices at karst springs, Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania. Annual Meeting of Geological Society of America (Charlotte, NC) Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 44, No. 7, p 356.
Toran, L, Herman, EK, and White, WB, 2010. Examining sediment in fluviokarst from the inlet to the discharge point. Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, (October 31-November 3, 2010, Denver, CO). Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 42, no 5, p 225. INVITED
Herman, EK, Toran, L, and White, WB, 2010. The role of clastic sediment in fluviokarst aquifer contamination: An overview. Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, (October 31-November 3, 2010, Denver, CO). Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 42, no 5, p 149.
Reisch, C. and Toran, L., 2010. Variations in storm hydrochemistry as an indicator of the mixing between deep and shallow karst waters in the Pennsylvania Valley and Ridge. Geological Society of America Northeast/Southeast Combined Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland.
Herman, Ellen K., Toran, Laura, and White, William B. 2007. Sediment discharge variations in multiple pennsylvania karst systems. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007, Denver). Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39.
Herman, Ellen K., Toran, Laura, and White, William B., 2006. Sediment fluxes in karst aquifers: storm pulses, thresholds, and fluid dynamics of mixing, storage and transport. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (22–25 October 2006, Philadelphia). Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 38, No. 7, p. 195.
Gross, Kathleen, Yang, Youa and Toran, Laura, 2006. Spring monitoring in an urban karst system. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (22–25 October 2006, Philadelphia). Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 38, No. 7, p. 287
Gross, Kathleen and Toran, Laura, 2006. Geochemistry and sediment of an urban karst system. Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Meeting, March 20-22, Harrisburg, PA.
Yang, Youa and Toran, Laura, 2006. Storm response in urban springs. Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Meeting, March 20-22, Harrisburg, PA.
Herman, E.K., Toran, L., and White, W.B., 2005. Quantifying the place of karst aquifers in the groundwater to surface water continuum: A time series analysis study of storm response in Pennsylvania water resources. Geological Society of American National Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct 16-19, 2005.
Toran, L., Herman, E.K., and White, W.B., 2005. Comparison of spring and well monitoring data in a carbonate aquifer. Geological Society of American National Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct 16-19, 2005.
Herman, E.K., Toran, L., and White, W.B., 2005. Hurricane precipitation events reveal threshold behavior in water level and sediment concentration at Arch Spring, PA, USA. Geological Society of American National Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct 16-19, 2005.
Herman, E. K., White, W. B., and Toran, L., 2004. Clastic sediment fluxes as an intrinsic part of the flow system in karstic aquifers. Geological Society of American National Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov 7-10.
Toran, L., Tancredi, J., Herman, E. K., and White, W. B., 2004. Comparison of storm behavior in three karst springs. Geological Society of American Northeast-Southeast Regional Meeting, Tysons Corner, VA, March 25-27.
Mezengia, T., Toran, L., and Tancredi, J., 2004. Seasonal variation of nitrates in a karst spring, Nolte, Pennsylvania. Geological Society of American Northeast-Southeast Regional Meeting, Tysons Corner, VA, March 25-27.
Scott, S., Toran, L., and Tancredi, J., 2004. Variation in suspended sediment transport in a karst spring after storms. Geological Society of American Northeast-Southeast Regional Meeting, Tysons Corner, VA, March 25-27.
Rillstone, B. and Toran, L., 2004. Variability of karst spring sediments within and between storm waters. Geological Society of American Northeast-Southeast Regional Meeting, Tysons Corner, VA, March 25-27.
Hayes, K. and Toran, L., 2004. Geochemistry and sediment comparisons between a karst spring and well. Geological Society of American Northeast-Southeast Regional Meeting, Tysons Corner, VA, March 25-27.
Mejias, C. and Toran, L., 2004. Conductivity and suspended sediments in karst and fractured springs in Pennsylvania. Geological Society of American Northeast-Southeast Regional Meeting, Tysons Corner, VA, March 25-27.
Toran, L. and Roman, E. 2003. Outgassing as a geochemical signature of recharge water in a karst aquifer. Geological Society of American National Meeting, Seattle, WA, Nov 1-5.
Herman, E.K., Toran, L., Tancredi, J., Target, D., White, W.B., 2003. Variations in the timing of karst spring response to storm flow in terms of suspended sediment and chemistry. Geological Society of American National Meeting, Seattle, WA, Nov 1-5.
Tancredi, J., Toran, L., Target, D., Herman, E.K., White, W.B. 2003. Influence of antecedent conditions on conductivity and suspended sediment discharge in a karst spring. Geological Society of American National Meeting, Seattle, WA, Nov 1-5.
Herman, E.K., Toran, L., Tancredi, J., White, W.B. 2003. Transport of Suspended Sediments in Karst Aquifers. International Conference on Karst Hydrogeology and Ecosystems, Bowling Green, KY, June 3-6.
Toran, L, and Prout, E. 2001. Seasonal and storm response of sediment transport in a karst system. Geological Society of America Fall Meeting, Boston, Nov 1-10.
Prout, E, Toran, L., Terry, D., Nyquist, J, and Roth, M. 2000. Variation in sediment and colloid distribution in a karstic aquifer, Easton, PA. American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, May 30-June 3, Washington, D.C.
Roman, E. and Toran, L. 2000. Hydrogeologic characterization of a karst groundwater system in Lititz, Lancaster County, PA. First Annual Pennsylvania Hydrology Symposium, Harrisburg, PA May 2000.