Programme
of karst research
Basic
Research
Applied
projects
International projects
International co-operation
Culture 2000
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Conducting a
basic research of main topics
in karstology is key for understanding the nature of karst and its processes.
Our goal is to understand the complex phenomena of karst; the evolution of its
surface and subsurface, the evolution and function of karst aquifers and karst
ecosystems, the origins of karst terminology and the history of karst science.
Our research provides knowledge for efficient protection of vulnerable karst
environment and planning of human activities on karst.
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BASIC
RESEARCH
Origin
and development of the karst caves
The aim of the project is the
study of the factors controlling the development of karst caves. Research is
based on the survey of the chosen caves, geomorphological and geological mapping,
chemical analyses of water and analyses of cave sediments. Important genetic
factors are determined with the use of the morphogenetic analysis. Special
emphasis is on the study of climate changes which are reflected in cave
sediments. Conceptual models of speleogenesis and morphogenesis are analysed and
verified by numerical models based on basic physical and chemical processes in
karstifying rocks.
Development
and function of caves in different speleological settings
The project is aimed to establish
whether there are typical and recognisable speleological environments with
similar set of caves, features, phenomena and processes, and with similar
ecological properties. To define such basic speleological morphostructural units
in karst would allow to study and compare different types and would introduce a
new methodological approach. We study sedimentation geological structures and
their impact on formation of karst caves and channels in a vadose epikarstic
zone. We measure recent tectonic movements in caves and we try to evaluate the
importance of neotectonics in morphology of collapse cave features. We study
microfeatures on cave walls as an indication of recent speleological processes.
In caves and shafts of Alpine and High Dinaric karst we study the shape, genesis,
and hydrological function of deep vadose shafts and properties of thick
epikarstic zone. We observe the morphology of influent caves and compare them
with superficial features of contact karst. The characteristics of epikarstic
zone are studied by physico-chemical and biological analyses of percolation
water.
Protection
of karst water sources
The estimation of
karst water sources under pollution threat in the Postojna commune is
based on comparison between vulnerability and
pollution hazard in their recharge areas. Special emphasis is on
vulnerability mapping in the recharge area of the Korentan spring. It is based
on the method “European Approach”, which was developed within the European
project COST 620 “Vulnerability and risk mapping for protection of carbonate
(karst) aquifers”. In the project we shall analyse how much the incorporation
of specific components into the basic method is suitable. Results of numerous
previous researches, already done
in the test area, are used. Additionally, the Korentan spring was equipped for
measurements of discharge and physico-chemical parameters. Also a combined
tracing test is planned. The validation of prepared vulnerability maps will be
based on gathered data.
Algae
in Karst Caves of Slovenia (PhD student Janez Mulec)
In karst caves algae can be found
in the entrance parts where there is still enough light for their growth, and in
the inner parts where artificial illuminants are periodically switched on. Such
organisms from cave environments are not well studied. We are interested in the
composition of species of algae in different cave systems, and key ecological
factors which are important for their growth.
Nataša
Ravbar (PhD student) focused her
research to the karst aquifer and karst water sources vulnerability mapping.
Because karst covers 44 percent of Slovene territory and because nearly half of
the needs for drinking water is satisfied by pumping of karst water it is very
important to know more about karst aquifers and about waters that decant through
them. Deepened and fundamental research are basic conditions for protection of
karst water sources and for reasonable planning on karst, either at planning
drinking water supply either at spatial planning or carrying out other interventions in the
country. Therefore the young researcher is studying karst aquifer and karst
water sources sensitivity, pollution and vulnerability in selected karst areas
in Slovenia.
Because
of wider spreading of denser settlement on different karst areas in Slovenia and
in the world Nataša Ravbar will try to find out, what extent of burden can
certain karst aquifers bear and to what extent karst waters are already polluted.
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APPLIED
PROJECTS
Karst
Phenomena in Motorway under
Construction Klanec-Srmin
Several
different caves are discovered during the construction of the motorway. Their
form, rock relief, and samples of sediments
are studied. Caves are an important trace in the interpretation of the
development of this part of karst. The most important cave, discovered in a
tunnel, was protected. It can be accessed through an artificial tunnel, and
under the roadway channels are connected with concrete pipes.
Karst
Phenomena in Motorway under
Construction Razdrto-Vipava
The
initial stage of the formation of breccia from slope rubble and its
karstification (especially along vertical fissures) are studied. Also smaller
cave systems, discovered during the construction, are surveyed.
Karst Phenomena in
Motorway under Construction Bic-Korenitka
Epikarst
and caves in mostly covered and in valleys temporary flooded Low karst are
studied. Especially interesting are subterranean karst features, subterranean
limestone karren, stone forests and their rock relief.
Geological
(Stratigraphy, Lithology, Sedimentology) Control of Earth Construction Works on
Motorway Layout Karavanke-Obrežje; Sections Krška vas-Obrežje, and
Bic-Korenitka
In
the field geological mapping on the scale 1:1000 is carried out and geological
profiles for some shorter sections are prepared. Also photographs and sketches
of interesting geological details are gathered. Samples are taken and prepared
for further analyses. In this way important new data about geological evolution
of this part of Slovenia and new material for further analysis are collected.
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5th FP AQUADAPT –
Strategic tools to support adaptive, integrated water resource management under
changing conditions at catchment scale: A co-evolutionary approach
http://www.aquadapt.net
The overall aim of the AQUADAPT
project is to generate knowledge which supports the strategic planning and
management of water resources in semi-arid environments at catchment level under
changing supply / demand patterns. The intellectual framework which underpins
the project reflects recent thinking on the co-evolution of natural resource
availability with human societies. Hence, we explicitly seek to provide a basis
for the integration of water resource planning with structural, social, economic,
agricultural and regional development planning. Organised in seven work packages,
AQUADAPT involves thirteen academic and industrial partners from seven countries.
COST
620 –Vulnerability and risk mapping for the protection of carbonate (karst)
aquifers
http://www.ulg.ac.be/geomac/recherche/lgih/costwebsite/
The main goal of this Action is to propose an
objective approach of - intrinsic and specific - vulnerability mapping in
karstic environments taking into account potential risks. Another important goal
is to attempt to achieve some European level of consistency in the establishment
of vulnerability and risk mapping, taking into account specific regional
environmental variations as well as the different stages of economic development
and scientific investigation of karst. The anticipated outcome will provide very
important tools for water management in the future and guarantee that karstic
groundwater will remain a valuable resource.
COST
621 –Groundwater management of coastal karstic aquifers
http://www.igi.hr/cost621
The
main object of the Action is to increase the knowledge necessary to establish
criteria for improving groundwater resource utilisation in karstic coastal
aquifers and for recovering groundwater resource in aquifers over-exploited and
salinised due to sea water intrusion.
COST 625 - 3-D monitoring of active
tectonic structures
http://fir.seismology.hu/cost625/main.php
The
main goal of the Action is to study fault planes of tectonically active regions,
producing either seismic or aseismic movements, including the monitoring of long-term
micro-displacements of the ground.
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INTERNATIONAL
CO-OPERATION
Protection
of underground water sources and vulnerability study
in karst of Greece and Slovenia (Department
of Geology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece)
Project faces two serious
problems of the Environment in the field of the Environmental Geology: the
protection of water resources and the vulnerability of the karst aquifers.
Slovenia and Greece have the same geological environment and are intensively
karstified, so they face similar problems in the field of karst and its
vulnerability frame. Advantageous is therefore the comparison of hydrogeological
characteristics and the exchange of experiences in the use of different methods
of vulnerability mapping.
Karst,
global description and sustainable management with heritage-programme
PROTEUS (Université de Provence, Institut de Géographie, Aix-en-Provence,
France)
The
aim is the use of karst as a recorder of the state and global changes in the
environment (variations of erosional basis, degradation of soil and vegetation,
groundwater quality,…). Characteristics of water flow, importance of palaeo-drainages,
characteristics of transport of
thin-grained sediments from soil, and speleothems are studied. We compare the
experiences gathered in the process of planning and surveying of human
interventions in karst, its protection, water supply from karst aquifers, and
management of tourist objects on karst.
Speleothem
Geochronology and Paleoclimate in Slovenia (Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway)
The aim of the project is to use
Uranium-series dating techniques on speleothems from Slovenia to solve problems
in better understanding of the climatic change after the last glaciation by
mapping of growth intervals through time, combined with laminae analysis and
stable isotopes. This is a well-established technique for analysis of climatic
and environmental change for which the Slovenian karst is extremely well suited.
The caves are in different climatic and orographic positions southern of the
Alps in the transition zone between Mediterranean and Continental Europe, where
for the post glacial period climate history is poorly understood.
Hydroecological
researches of the composition of karst sinking streams and karst aquifers –
Border areas of Brkini (Slo) and Zrenj plateau (Cro)(Gradevinski fakultet
sveucilišta u
Splitu, Split, Croatia)
The project is focused on the
hydroecological analysis of the relations between the composition of sinking
streams, aquifer and springs in
karst. The first step is characterisation of the recharge zones of karst springs
and calculation of hydrological balance. Also a general trend of recession of
yearly discharges of streams is observed. Special emphasis is on sinking
streams as extremely vulnerable points for direct input of pollution into karst
aquifers. Expected results are important for the proper management of water
resources.
Morphology and
use of Dinaric karst – comparison between Slovene and
Bosnian-Herzegovinian Karst (Institut
za nauku zemlje, Oddelenje za krš i speleologiju, Sarajevo, BiH)
Our
work is focused on the geomorphological mapping of the selected areas on
Herzegovinian karst and on the comparison with similar researches on Slovene
karst. Special emphasis is on the study of changes in land-use through time.
Reconstruction
of speleogenesis and karst development by study of cave sediments, Slovenia (Academy
of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Geology, Praha, Czech Republic)
The
project is aimed on the problem of study karst/cave sediment within different
geographical zones of Slovenia. The dating of fills in caves now situated in
different altitudinal positions can bring information on karst evolution in the
geological past with an important output for analysis especially of geomorphic
evolution of respective territories, past global changes, biotic and climatic
changes and to comparison of Earth forming processes within different
geographical zones of Slovenia.
Research of
properties related to aquifer recharge and pollution transport in Dianchi lake
catchment area: A case of Haiyuansi spring (Yunnan
Institute of Geography, Yunnan University, Kunming, China)
Research is focused on
hydrogeological researches in the catchment of the Haiyuanshi spring, which
recharges the Dianchi lake. Due to different human activities both spring and
lake are heavily polluted. The aim of the project is to define the
characteristics of the groundwater flow and transport of pollutants in the
studied karst aquifer and to estimate its connections with the Dianchi lake.
Study
of caves and cave environment (Institute
of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Science, Guilin, Guangxi, China)
The aim of the project is the
comparison of Slovene and Chinese karst or karst in temperate and tropical or
subtropical zone. Lithological, morphological and hydrological characteristics
in some caves are studied and data about recent karst denudation are collected.
We also perform some speleological researches to discover possibilities of cave
tourism arrangement.
IGCP
UNESCO Project No. 448 –World Correlation of Karst Geology and Its Relevant
Ecosystem (World Correlation of Karst Ecosystem)
http://www.karst.edu.cn/igcp/index.htm
The aims of the project are to
compare the karst ecological systems in different karst types and their
mechanism of formation, to compare the microscopic karst ecological system as
affected by different geochemical background and phase of carbonate rocks, to
compare the subterranean ecological systems of karst on both geographical and
geological views, and to compare the mutual effects of karst ecological system
and human activities.
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