Extent and spatial distribution of karst in Slovenia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/AGS.11679

Keywords:

geomorphology, karst, GIS technology, lithology, classification of karst

Abstract

This study investigates the spatial distribution of karst in Slovenia using advanced GIS technologies and accurate lithology, hydrology, and digital relief data. Previous approaches led to an incomplete understanding of karst distribution, as they focused on carbonate lithologies and surface features. Our integrated two-step identification method, involving GIS layer overlays and manual review of lithology data, resulted in a comprehensive digital spatial database. We found that karst covers 49.7% of Slovenia's total area, with a diverse range of associated lithologies. This research has important implications for managing and protecting karst aquifers, forest planning, agricultural subsidies, and glacial geomorphology studies, and enables further processing and enhancement by the karst research community.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Asanidze, L., Lezhava, Z., Tsikarishvili, K., Gaprindashvili, G., Chikhradze, N., Polk, J. 2019: Karst map of Georgia (Caucasus region) scale: 1:1,500,000. Carbonates and Evaporites 34-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-019-00525-z

Bögli, A. 1980: Karst hydrology and physical speleology. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.

Božič, M. 2021: Sedimentologija in geomorfologija eocenske Planinske breče v Vipavski dolini. Bachelor's thesis. University of Ljubljana. Ljubljana.

Buser, S. 2010a: Geološka karta Slovenije 1 : 250.000. Geološki zavod Slovenije. Ljubljana.

Buser, S. 2010b: Geološka karta Slovenije 1 : 250.000 (povzeto po OGK 1 : 100.000 in posodobljeno). Geološki zavod Slovenije. Ljubljana.

Chen, Z., Auler, A. S., Bakalowicz, M., Drew, D., Griger, F., Hartmann, J., Jiang, G., et al. 2017: The World Karst Aquifer Mapping project: Concept, mapping procedure and map of Europe. Hydrogeology Journal 25-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1519-3

Ciglič, R., Čonč, Š., Breg Valjavec, M. 2022: The impact of digital elevation model preprocessing and detection methods on karst depression mapping in densely forested Dinaric mountains. Remote Sensing 14-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14102416

Cvijić, J. 1893: Das Karstphänomen: Versuch einer Morphologischen Monographie. Wien.

Cvijić, J. 1924: Types morphologiques de terrains calcaires. Glasnik Geografskog društva 10-1.

Čeru, T., Šegina, E., Gosar, A. 2017: Geomorphological dating of Pleistocene conglomerates in central Slovenia based on spatial analyses of dolines using LiDAR and ground penetrating radar. Remote Sensing 9-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs9121213

De Waele, J., Gutiérrez, F. 2022: Karst hydrogeology, geomorphology and caves. Hoboken. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119605379

Ford, D., Williams, P. D. 2007: Karst hydrogeology and geomorphology. Chichester.

Fridl, J., Kladnik, D., Orožen Adamič, M., Perko, D., Pogačnik, A., Belec, B., Drozg, V. (eds.) 1998: Geografski atlas Slovenije. Ljubljana.

Gabrovec, M. 1994: Relief in raba tal na dolomitnih območjih Slovenije. Ph.D. thesis. University of Ljubljana. Ljubljana.

Gabrovec, M. 1995: Dolomite areas in Slovenia with particular consideration of relief and land use. Geografski zbornik 35-1.

Gabrovec, M., Hrvatin, M. 1998: Površje. Geografski atlas Slovenije. Ljubljana

Gabrovec, M., Hrvatin, M. 2016: Reliefni tipi. Geološki atlas Slovenije. Ljubljana.

Gabrovšek, F. 2005: Caves in conglomerate: Case of Udin Boršt, Slovenia. Acta Carsologica 34-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v34i2.274

Gams, I. 1965: Speleological characteristics of the Slovene karst. Naše jame 7-1.

Gams, I. 1972: Geografsko raziskovanje krasa v Sloveniji. Geografski vestnik 44-1.

Gams, I. 1974: Kras: zgodovinski, naravoslovni in geografski oris. Ljubljana.

Gams, I. 1995: Types of the contact karst. Studia carsologica 6-1.

Gams, I. 2001: Notion and forms of contact karst. Acta Carsologica 30-2.

Gams, I. 2003: Kras v Sloveniji v prostoru in času. Ljubljana.

Gams, I., Otoničar, B., Slabe, T. 2011: Development of slope and related subsoil karst: A case study from Bela Krajina, SE Slovenia. Acta Carsologica 40-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v40i2.17

Gao, Y., Alexander, E. C., Tipping, R. G. 2005: Karst database development in Minnesota: Design and data assembly. Environmental Geology 47-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-1240-3

Goldscheider, N., Chen, Z., Auler, A. S., Bakalowicz, M., Broda, S., Drew, D., Hartmann, J., et al. 2020: Global distribution of carbonate rocks and karst water resources. Hydrogeology Journal 28-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02139-5

Gostinčar, P. 2016: Geomorphological characteristics of karst on contact between limestone and dolomite in Slovenia. Ph.D. thesis, University of Nova Gorica. Nova Gorica.

Grlj, A. 2021: Omejevanje kraških kotanj z analizo polrezov. Dela 53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4312/dela.53.5-22

Gunn, J. 2004: Fluviokarst. Encyclopedia of caves and karst science. New York.

Habič, P. 1969: Hidrografska rajonizacija krasa v Sloveniji. Krš Jugoslavije 6-1.

Habič, P. 1982: Pregledna speleološka karta Slovenije. Acta Carsologica 10-1.

Hartmann, J., Moosdorf, N. 2012: The new global lithological map database GLiM: A representation of rock properties at the Earth surface. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 13-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GC004370

Hrvatin, M. 2016: Morfometrične značilnosti površja na različnih kamninah v Sloveniji. Ph.D. thesis, Univerza na Primorskem. Koper.

Knez, M., Mihevc, A., Slabe, T. 2007: Kras v breči Rebrnic v Vipavski dolini. Kraški pojavi, razkriti med gradnjo slovenskih avtocest. Ljubljana.

Knez, M., Slabe, T. (eds.) 2007: Kraški pojavi, razkriti med gradnjo slovenskih avtocest. Ljubljana. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/9789612540302

Knez, M., Slabe, T. 2011: Young karst processes in breccia and flysch (Mount Nanos, Slovenia). Congreso de Terrenos Kársticos de Guatemala. Cobán.

Kokalj, Ž., Hesse, R. 2017: Airborne laser scanning raster data visualization: A guide to good practice. Ljubljana. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/9789612549848

Komac, B. 2003: Dolomite relief in the Žibrše Hills. Acta geographica Slovenica 43-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/ags43201

Komac, B. 2004: Dolomitni kras ali fluviokras? Geografski vestnik 76-1.

Komac, B. 2006: Dolec kot značilna oblika dolomitnega površja. Ljubljana.

Komac, M., Urbanc, J. 2013a: Map of the spatial distribution and karstification intensity of surficial karst areas in Slovenia 1:250,000. Geološki zavod Slovenije. Ljubljana.

Komac, M., Urbanc, J. 2013b: Model stopnje zakraselosti za območje Slovenije. Ujma 27-1.

Komac, M., Urbanc, J. 2016: Površinska razširjenost in stopnja zakraselosti. Geološki atlas Slovenije. Ljubljana.

Komac, M., Urbanc, J. 2017: Karta površinske razširjenosti in stopnje zakraselosti kraških območij v Sloveniji 1 : 250.000. Tolmač. Ljubljana.

Kranjc, A. 1998: Kraške vode. Geografski atlas Slovenije. Ljubljana.

Kranjc, A. 2005: Konglomeratni kras v Sloveniji: zgodovina raziskovanja in poznavanja jam v Udin borštu na Gorenjskem. Acta Carsologica 34-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v34i2.275

Lipar, M., Ferk, M. 2011: Eogenetic caves in conglomerate: an example from Udin Boršt, Slovenia. International Journal of Speleology 40-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.40.1.7

Lipar, M., Ferk, M. 2022: Fluviokarst on Quaternary eogenetic conglomerates; an example from Slovenia. Proceedings of the 18th International Congress of Speleology. Bourget-du-Lac.

Litostratigrafska karta Slovenije. Geološki zavod Slovenije, naročnik ARSO, revizija 2011. Ljubljana.

Melik, A. 1935: Slovenija: geografski opis. Ljubljana.

Melik, A. 1963: Slovenija: geografski opis. Ljubljana.

Mihevc, A. 1992: Gypsum in Tajna jama and in the cave Kubik. Acta Carsologica 21-1.

Mihevc, A. 1994: Morfološke značilnosti Matarskega podolja. Annales: anali za istrske in mediteranske študije. Series historia naturalis 4-4.

Mihevc, A. 1998: Kraško površje. Geografski atlas Slovenije. Ljubljana.

Mihevc, A., Mihevc, R. 2021: Morphological characteristics and distribution of dolines in Slovenia, a study of a lidar-based doline map of Slovenia. Acta Carsologica 50-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v50i1.9462

Novak, D. 1993: Hydrogeological research of the Slovenian karst. Naše jame 35-1.

Perko, D., Hrvatin, M., Ciglič, R. 2015: A methodology for natural landscape typification of Slovenia. Acta geographica Slovenica 55-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/AGS.1938

Petrič, M., Ravbar, N., Gostinčar, P., Krsnik, P., Gacin, M. 2020a: Establishment of a freely accessible GIS database containing the results of groundwater tracing and possibilities of its use. Geologija 63-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5474/geologija.2020.017

Petrič, M., Ravbar, N., Gostinčar, P., Krsnik, P., Gacin, M. 2020b: GIS database of groundwater flow characteristics in carbonate aquifers: Tracer test inventory from Slovenian karst. Applied Geography 118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2020.102191

Placer, L., Košir, A., Popit, T., Šmuc, A., Juvan, G. 2004: The Buzet Thrust Fault in Istria and overturned carbonate megabeds in the Eocene flysch of the Dragonja Valley (Slovenia). Geologija 47-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5474/geologija.2004.015

Roglić, J. 1958: Odnos riječne erozije i krškog procesa. V. kongres geografa FNR Jugoslavije. Cetinje.

Sauro, U. 2012: Closed depressions in karst areas. Encyclopedia of Caves. Amsterdam. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-383832-2.00133-X

Smart, P. L. 1986: Origin and development of glacio-karst closed depressions in the Picos de Europa, Spain. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie 30-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1127/zfg/30/1987/423

Staut, M. 2003: Poskus razlage razvoja jame Kubik kot primera jame v flišu. Bilten: glasilo Jamarskega kluba Železničar 23-1.

Stepišnik, U. 2017: Dinarski kras: plitvi kras Zgornje Pivke. Ljubljana.

Stepišnik, U. 2020: Fizična geografija krasa. Ljubljana.

Stepišnik, U. 2021: Kraška polja v Sloveniji. Dela 53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4312/dela.53.23-43

Sun, W, Song, J., Yang, W., Zheng, Y., Li, C., Kuang, D. 2020: Distribution of carbonate rocks and variation analysis of karst water resources in China. Carbonates and Evaporites 35-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-020-00657-7

Sweeting, M. M. 1973: Karst Landforms. New York.

Šarc, F., Otoničar, B., Gabrovšek, F., Martín-Pérez, A., Covington, M., Rohovec, J., Lupša, A. 2022: Cave in the Mežica mine. Speleology: 29th International Karstological School Classical Karst, Abstracts & Guide Book. Postojna.

Šerko, A. 1947: Kraški pojavi v Jugoslaviji. Geografski vestnik 19-1.

Šušteršič, F. 1991: Kras. Enciklopedija Slovenije. Ljubljana.

Temovski, M. 2012: Map of karst rock outcrops in Macedonia. Karst forms and processes: Guide book & abstracts, 20th International Karstological School Classical Karst. Postojna. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.2170.3040

Triglav Čekada, M., Bric, V. 2015: Končan je projekt laserskega skeniranja Slovenije. Geodetski vestnik 59-3.

White, W. B. 1988: Geomorphology and hydrology of karst terrains. Oxford.

White, W. B. 2002: Karst hydrology: recent developments and open questions. Engineering Geology 65-2,3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(01)00116-8

Zemljevid tipov kamnin. Geografski inštitut Antona Melika ZRC SAZU, različica 2012. Ljubljana.

Žebre, M., Stepišnik, U. 2015a: Glaciokarst landforms and processes of the Southern Dinaric Alps. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 40-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3731

Žebre, M., Stepišnik, U. 2015b: Glaciokarst geomorphology of the Northern Dinaric Alps: Snežnik (Slovenia) and Gorski Kotar (Croatia). Journal of Maps 12-5. DOI: 10.1080/17445647.2015.1095133

Žlebnik, L. 1978: Kras na konglomeratnih terasah ob Zgornji Savi in njenih pritokih. Geologija 21-1.

Downloads

Additional Files

Published

20-10-2023

How to Cite

Gostinčar, P., & Stepišnik, U. (2023). Extent and spatial distribution of karst in Slovenia. Acta Geographica Slovenica, 63(1), 111–129. https://doi.org/10.3986/AGS.11679

Issue

Section

Articles