Advances in Karst Research: Theory, Fieldwork and Applications
CONTAINS OPEN ACCESS

Karst landscapes and karst aquifers are composed of a variety of soluble rocks, such as salt, gypsum, anhydrite, limestone, dolomite and quartzite. They are fascinating areas of exploration, study and research. As karst rocks are abundant on the Earth’s surface, the fast evolution of karst landscapes and the rapid flow of water through karst aquifers present many challenges from a number of different perspectives. This collection of 25 papers deals with different aspects of these challenges, including karst geology, geomorphology and speleogenesis, karst hydrogeology, karst modelling, and karst hazards and management. Together these papers provide a state-of-the-art review of the current challenges and solutions we face in describing karst from a scientific perspective, while at the same time providing useful data and information for managing karst territories to land planners, developers, and managers of show caves, natural parks and reserves in karst terrains.
Climatological trends and anticipated karst spring quantity and quality: case study of the Slovene Istria Available to Purchase
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Published:January 01, 2018
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CiteCitation
Nataša Ravbar, Gregor Kovačič, Metka Petrič, Janja Kogovšek, Clarissa Brun, Alenka Koželj, 2018. "Climatological trends and anticipated karst spring quantity and quality: case study of the Slovene Istria", Advances in Karst Research: Theory, Fieldwork and Applications, M. Parise, F. Gabrovsek, G. Kaufmann, N. Ravbar
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Abstract
The behaviour of aquifers with karst porosity is dependent on hydrological conditions. This is due to the peculiar characteristics of the groundwater flow and dynamics of hydrological processes in karst. As a result, karst aquifers are especially vulnerable to the effects of environmental change. We assessed the long-term climatological and hydrological trends and the short-term effects of increasingly frequent extreme hydrological events (droughts) for the Mediterranean karst spring Rižana in SW Slovenia. The findings predict higher mean annual air temperatures of 0.34°C decade−1, lower annual precipitation of c. 60 mm decade−1 and higher annual actual evapotranspiration (especially during spring and summer) of 32–49 mm decade−1. As a consequence, we can expect a decrease in the mean annual discharge of the spring of c. 480 l s−1 decade−1 with prolonged dry summer periods. Detailed monitoring of the physical, chemical and microbiological parameters showed that the flood pulses caused by precipitation events after a long dry period cause a significant deterioration in water quality. In such situations, contaminants stored in the unsaturated zone are flushed out and counts of coliform bacteria can reach >1400 cfu (100 ml)−1, with total Al and Fe concentrations up to 206 and 474 μg l−1, respectively. These results suggest that there should be urgent adherence to water quality standards to protect karst water sources in view of the anticipated climatological stresses. Management strategies should promote monitoring and the rational use of karst water supplies.
- aquifers
- atmospheric precipitation
- case studies
- climate
- coliform bacteria
- Europe
- geochemistry
- ground water
- hydrochemistry
- Istria
- karst
- karst hydrology
- Mediterranean region
- monitoring
- pollution
- porosity
- Slovenia
- Southern Europe
- springs
- unsaturated zone
- water pollution
- water quality
- Rizana Spring
- Bacteria