Jean-Christophe Maréchal

Hydrogeologist - Fractured and karst aquifers

Volcanic and geothermal aquifers


My research on volcanic aquifers has focused on several French overseas territories, including Martinique, Guadeloupe (Bouillante geothermal field) and Réunion Island (Salazie).

These studies have addressed complementary aspects of groundwater systems in volcanic environments: groundwater recharge and resource assessment, the hydrogeological functioning of deep geothermal reservoirs, and groundwater flow and drainage in fractured volcanic formations.

Combining hydrogeological investigations, hydrochemical approaches, time-series analysis and analytical modelling, this work has contributed to a better understanding of the highly heterogeneous structure and hydraulic behaviour of volcanic aquifers, from shallow groundwater resources to deep geothermal systems.

Related publications

Analytical Solution for Modeling Discharge into a Tunnel Drilled in a Heterogeneous Unconfined Aquifer


Jean-Christophe Maréchal, Sandra Lanini, Bertrand Aunay, Pierre Perrochet

Groundwater, vol. 52, 2014, pp. 597-605


Évaluation des ressources en eau de la Martinique : calcul spatialisé de la pluie efficace et validation à l’échelle du bassin versant


Benoit Vittecoq, Patrick Lachassagne, Sandra Lanini, Jean Christophe Maréchal

Revue des sciences de l'eau, vol. 23, 2010, p. 361


Hydrogeological model of a high-energy geothermal field (Bouillante area, Guadeloupe, French West Indies)


Patrick Lachassagne, Jean-Christophe Maréchal, Bernard Sanjuan

Hydrogeology Journal, vol. 17, 2009, pp. 1589--1606