Ecohydrological study of spatio-temporal dynamics in karst critical zones under different climate conditions
Principal Investigator at ZRC SAZU
Nataša Ravbar, PhD-
Original Title
Ekohidrološka študija prostorsko-časovne dinamike v kraških kritičnih conah v različnih podnebnih razmerah
Project Team
Janez Mulec, PhD, Metka Petrič, PhD, Tanja Pipan, PhD, Mitja Prelovšek, PhD, Tadej Slabe, PhD-
Project ID
NK-0002
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Duration
1 January 2021–31 December 2023 -
SICRIS
SICRIS -
Lead Partner
Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
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Project Leader
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Financial Source
Slovenian Research And Innovation Agency
Partners
Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin, Gua…, Institute of Geography, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
Aquifers with karst porosity supply around a quarter of the global demand for drinking water. Observed records and climate simulations are consistent in projecting changing precipitation and temperature patterns worldwide, which may have a great effect on karst hydrology or ecology signifying at least occasional water shortage and its poor quality. Current state-of-the-art lacks evaluation and quantification of transport mechanisms in karst under varying environmental conditions. Three cutting-edge academic and principal international karstological institutions from Slovenia and China will perform an interdisciplinary investigation aiming to study and compare spatio-temporal hydrodynamics of different karst systems. Special emphasis will be laid on infiltration processes through the vertical profile between atmosphere – epikarst – unsaturated – saturated zone – spring. The findings will have practical implications for environmental-change-related problems, restoration of degraded areas, and sustainable management of water resources.
WP 1: Project management and dissemination of results (0-36 M)
WP 2: Monitoring (4-27 M): continuous (precipitation, drip water and spring water discharge, temperature and electrical conductivity), and event-based (natural tracers, solute and solid contaminant transport during two flood pulses – e.g., NO3, heavy metals, microorganisms)
WP 3: Field experiments (7-21 M): artificial irrigation and tracer test experiment
WP 4: (Re)processing of data (10-33 M): time series and statistical analyses, water balance evaluation (event-based, seasonal, annual), comparison
WP 5: Numerical modelling (19-33 M): distributed and lumped-parameter modelling
WP 6: Management strategies (31-36 M): a synthesis of results in order to establish ecohydrological management guidelines for karst aquifers under changing environment
SIEGEL, Lena, GOLDSCHEIDER, Nico, PETITTA, Marco, XANKE, Julian, ANDREO NAVARRO, Bartolomé, BAKALOWICZ, Michel, BARBERÁ, Juan Antonio, BOUHLILA, Rachida, BURG, Avihu, DOUMMAR, Joanna, PIPAN, Tanja, RAVBAR, Nataša, et al. Distribution, threats and protection of selected karst groundwater : dependent ecosystems in the Mediterranean region. Hydrogeology journal. 2023, [19] str., ilustr., graf. prikazi, zvd. ISSN 1431-2174. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10040-023-02711-9, DOI: 10.1007/s10040-023-02711-9. [COBISS.SI-ID 167666691] .
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.] 1 63958, 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] .
MAYAUD, Cyril, KOGOVŠEK, Blaž, GABROVŠEK, Franci, BLATNIK, Matej, PETRIČ, Metka, RAVBAR, Nataša. Deciphering the water balance of poljes : example of Planinsko polje (Slovenia) = O vodni bilanci kraških polj : primer Planinskega polja (Slovenija). Acta carsologica. [Tiskana izd.]. 2022, [vol.] 51, [no.] 2, str. 155-177, graf. prikazi, tabele, zvd. ISSN 0583-6050. https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/11029/10845, http://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:doc-R75G5AC6, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v51i2.11029. [COBISS.SI-ID 142189571] .
Vilhar U, Kermavnar J, Kozamernik E, Petrič M, Ravbar N. The effects of large-scale forest disturbances on hydrology : an overview with special emphasis on karst aquifer systems. Earth-science reviews. 2022, vol. 235, str. 1-21, https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0012825222003270?token=5CD855C74413B35C1B9FE7F3412497393B55692B90D916F414B154C8A5B6AA8A536DA3FD2C9A8EA729A26849BFA8ECA1&originRegion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20221123180244 , DOI: https://doi.10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104243 .
Ćuk M, Petrič M, Jemcov I, Mulec J, Mazej Z, Mayaud C, Blatnik M, Kogovšek B, Ravbar N. 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, https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1029/2021WR031831 , DOI: https://doi.10.1029/2021WR031831 .