Karst hydrogeology

Student becomes familiar with some basic terms and phenomena connected with the occurrence of water in karst, and with the structure of karst water systems. It is very important that student understands their specific structure and functioning and that she/he is able to apply obtained knowledge in their study. Through different examples the characteristics of karst waters in Slovenia and abroad are described. Special emphasis is on the importance and vulnerability of karst aquifers. They are important natural heritage. As important quantities of groundwater are stored in karst aquifers, they have a great economic significance as well. Due to their structure and characteristics of functioning karst aquifers are very vulnerable to different human impacts, and in order to protect them properly it is important to understand and consider these specific characteristics. Student becomes familiar with different research methods used in the study of karst waters.

Student can accede to an examination after reaching 50% presence at the seminar and exercises, and preparing a short written work (5 to 10 pages) treating specific topic of karst hydrology or some publication in connection with her/his seminar or doctoral work.

• Basic concepts and definitions of karst hydrology
• Conceptual model of karst system
• Recharge of karst aquifer
• Flow in saturated zone
• Discharge of karst aquifers
• Karst hydrological objects
• Research methods in karst hydrology
• Use and protection of karst water resources

• student knows basic concepts of karst hydrology
• student understands specific characteristics of the structure and functioning of karst water systems
• student becomes familiar with basic research methods of karst hydrology
• student understands the importance of karst water sources and knows the principles of their proper protection
• student is capable of autonomous review and assessment of literature and sources

• Ford, D.C., P.W. Williams, 2007: Karst Geomorphology and Hydrology. Unwin Hyman, 601 pp, London. Catalogue E-version
• Stevanović, Z., 2015: Karst Aquifers – Characterization and Engineering. Springer, Cham, 692 pp. Catalogue
• Bakalowicz, M., 2005: Karst groundwater: a challenge for new resource. Hydrogeology Journal, 13: 148-160. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10040-004-0402-9 E-version
• Petrič, M., 2006: Foundations of karstology, Foundations of karst hydrology = Osnove hidrologije krasa. V: Učno gradivo. Postojna: Znanstveno raziskovalni center SAZU, Inštitut za raziskovanje krasa; V Novi Gorici: Fakulteta za podiplomski študij, Podipl. program Krasoslovje, 22 p.

Oral exam 80%. A short written work is assessed 20%.

Adjunct Professor of Karstology

Bibliography:

https://bib.cobiss.net/bibliographies/si/webBiblio/bib201_20211120_230457_a3714659.htmln

RAVBAR, Nataša, MULEC, Janez, MAYAUD, Cyril, BLATNIK, Matej, KOGOVŠEK, Blaž, PETRIČ, Metka. A comprehensive early warning system for contamination risk assessment of karst water sources, case study of the Unica springs, SW Slovenia. Science of the total environment. Aug. 2023, vol. 885, [article no.] 163958, 13 str., ilustr., graf. prikazi, zvd. ISSN 0048-9697. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723025792, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163958. [COBISS.SI-ID 151149315]
VILHAR, Urša, KERMAVNAR, Janez, KOZAMERNIK, Erika, PETRIČ, Metka, RAVBAR, Nataša. The effects of large-scale forest disturbances on hydrology : an overview with special emphasis on karst aquifer systems. Earth-science reviews. [Print ed.]. 2022, vol. 235, str. 1-21, ilustr., graf. prikazi, zvd. ISSN 0012-8252. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012825222003270?via%3Dihub, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104243, https://dirros.openscience.si/IzpisGradiva.php?id=16544, https://dirros.openscience.si/IzpisGradiva.php?id=16544, DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104243. [COBISS.SI-ID 130697987]
ĆUK, Marina, PETRIČ, Metka, JEMCOV, Igor, MULEC, Janez, MAZEJ, Zdenka, MAYAUD, Cyril, BLATNIK, Matej, KOGOVŠEK, Blaž, RAVBAR, Nataša. Multivariate statistical analysis of hydrochemical and microbiological natural tracers as a tool for understanding karst hydrodynamics (the Unica springs, SW Slovenia). Water resources research. November 2022, vol. 58, issue 11, e2021wr031831, str. 1-20, ilustr., graf. prikazi, zvd. ISSN 0043-1397. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1029/2021WR031831, DOI: 10.1029/2021WR031831. [COBISS.SI-ID 130909443]
PETRIČ, Metka, RAVBAR, Nataša, GOSTINČAR, Petra, KRSNIK, Petra, GACIN, Marina. GIS database of groundwater flow characteristics in carbonate aquifers : tracer test inventory from Slovenian karst. Applied geography. [Print ed.]. May 2020, vol. 118, 8 str., ilustr. ISSN 0143-6228. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622820301582?via%3Dihub, DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2020.102191. [COBISS.SI-ID 46123309]
BLATNIK, Matej, CULVER, David C., GABROVŠEK, Franci, KNEZ, Martin, KOGOVŠEK, Blaž, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, LIU, Hong, MAYAUD, Cyril, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, ALJANČIČ, Magdalena, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PETRIČ, Metka, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, RAVBAR, Nataša, SHAW, Trevor R., SLABE, Tadej, ŠEBELA, Stanka, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, KNEZ, Martin (urednik), OTONIČAR, Bojan (urednik), PETRIČ, Metka (urednik), PIPAN, Tanja (urednik), SLABE, Tadej (urednik). Karstology in the classical karst. Cham: Springer, cop. 2020. XII, 222 str., ilustr., zvd., graf. prikazi. Advances in karst science. ISBN 978-3-030-26826-8. ISSN 2511-2066. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-26827-5. [COBISS.SI-ID 17912067]