Structural complexity and groundwater circulation in mountain karst systems: an integrated approach combining hydrodynamic data and environmental tracers

facies derived from carbonate dissolution, with negligible saline influence from Triassic evaporites. Stable isotopes confirm exclusively meteoric recharge following a distinct altitude gradient, identifying a regional mixing zone that integrates convergent flows from both mountain domains. Crucially, a significant positive correlation between nitrate concentrations and tritium activity demonstrates that aquifer vulnerability is intrinsically linked to the rapid transmission of modern recharge. These findings underscore the necessity for differentiated management strategies that incorporate the specific hydrodynamic memory and transit times of these critical karst systems to ensure regional water security.