Senior Hydrogeologist


Groundwater · Fractured and Karst Aquifers · Coastal Karst


I am a senior hydrogeologist working on the observation and modelling of groundwater systems, with a particular focus on fractured and karst aquifers.

My research combines field observations, hydrological monitoring, tracer techniques, data analysis and modelling to investigate groundwater flow, recharge, storage and interactions with surface environments.

A particular focus of my recent work is the functioning of coastal karst aquifers and submarine springs, including the Vise submarine spring in the Thau Lagoon, southern France.

Research

  • Fractured aquifers
    Groundwater flow and storage in fractured crystalline-rock aquifers, including field investigation, pumping tests and modelling.
  • Karst aquifers
    Groundwater dynamics in karst systems, including recharge, rapid flow, storage, tracer investigations and hydrological responses.
  • Coastal karst aquifers
    Groundwater flow in coastal karst systems, including submarine springs, saltwater intrusion and flow reversals.

Explore my Research

Vise & Thau

A natural laboratory for coastal karst hydrogeology

The Vise is a submarine karst spring located in the Thau Lagoon, southern France

Its highly dynamic behaviour provides an exceptional opportunity to investigate groundwater flow in coastal karst systems, including flow reversal, saltwater intrusion and groundwater–seawater interactions.

My research on the Vise combines long-term monitoring, field observations and modelling.

Explore Vise & Thau research

Selected publications



Climate-change-induced seismicity: The recent onset of seasonal microseismicity at the Grandes Jorasses, Mont Blanc Massif, France/Italy


Verena Simon, Toni Kraft, Jean-Christophe Maréchal, Agnès Helmstetter, Tobias Diehl

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 666, 2025 Sep, p. 119372




Hysteresis of submarine karst springs reveals tipping points in flow reversal and saline intrusion phenomena


Jean-Christophe Maréchal, Bernard Ladouche, Claudine Lamotte, Benoit Dewandel, Vivien Hakoun, Pierre Perrochet

Communications Earth \& Environment, vol. 6, 2025 Aug, p. 697



A drop does not fall in a straight line: a rationale for the width of stalagmites


Justine Parmentier, S. Lejeune, Maxime Maréchal, François Bourges, Dominique Genty, V. Terrapon, Jean-Christophe Maréchal, Tristan Gilet

Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, vol. 475, 2019 Nov, p. 20190556



Interpretation of pumping tests in a mixed flow karst system


J C Marechal, B Ladouche, N Dorfliger, P Lachassagne

Water Resources Research, vol. 44, 2008

Read my Publications

Science communication 🇫🇷

I contribute to The Conversation France, where I explain groundwater, karst hydrogeology and water-related environmental issues to a wider audience.

The Thau inversac
Groundwater and climate change
Groundwater and river ecosystems

Read Science communication FR

About

I am a senior hydrogeologist working on groundwater systems, with a scientific background in fractured and karst aquifers.

My work ranges from field-based investigation and monitoring to hydrogeological modelling, with particular interest in complex groundwater systems and their interactions with the environment.

More About me

Contact


Maréchal Jean-Christophe
Senior Hydrogeologist


G-EAU

BRGM

1039 rue de Pinville
34000 Montpellier
FRANCE


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