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Karst research for sustainable use of Škocjan Caves as World heritage

Description

The research aims to determine the actual state of the karst in the Škocjan Caves and surface, perform system measurements (meteorology and hydrology), identify the current tourism impact, and determine the best methodology and measures for sustainable use of the tourist cave. Interdisciplinary methods should be karst-based studies since this is a complex system involving both past geological and current events, e.g. flowstone growth, flowstone deposition in rimstone pools, active flooding. The innovative interdisciplinary approach for solving the karst problem should impact the solving of similar cases worldwide.


Results

Activities:

  • 9 June 2017 – meeting of project participants in Park Škocjanske jame (photos: 1, 2);

  • 28 June 2017 – field work in Škocjanske jame (sampling and measurements of physico-chemical properties of dripwater and Reka River);

  • 23 August 2017 – field work in Mala dolina (Park Škocjanske jame; geological mapping; photos: 1, 2);

  • December 2017 – in the frame of the project first meteorological station was placed in Škocjan Caves (at the entrance tunnel) with measurements in real-time (photo: 1);
  • 8 March 2018 – scientific article in Journal of Hydrology (Elsevier), 560, 56-74. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.03.019. Authors: Gabrovšek F., Peric B., Kaufmann G., title: Hydraulics of epiphreatic flow of a karst aquifer;
  • 7.-9. October 2019 – international conference, Škocjan caves, Sustainable management of show caves https://izrk-sci-mtg.zrc-sazu.si/
The nature of epiphreatic flow remains an important research challenge in karst hydrology. This study focuses on the flood propagation along the epiphreatic system of Reka–Timavo system (Kras/Carso Plateau, Slovenia/Italy). It is based on long-term monitoring of basic physical parameters (pressure/level, temperature, specific electric conductivity) of ground water in six active caves belonging to the flow system. The system vigorously responds to flood events, with stage rising more than 100 m in some of the caves. Besides presenting the response of the system to flood events of different scales, the work focuses on the interpretation of recorded hydrographs in view of the known distribution and size of conduits and basic hydraulic relations. Furthermore, the hydrographs were used to infer the unknown geometry between the observation points. This way, the main flow restrictors, overflow passages and large epiphreatic storages were identified. The assumptions were tested with a hydraulic model, where the inversion procedure was used for an additional parameter optimisation. Time series of temperature and specific electric conductivity were used to assess the apparent velocities of flow between consecutive points.
  • 8 March 2018 – First report of scientific project for the period 1 May 2017 to 15 February 2018 (for ARRS);
  • 24 May 2018 – Research, monitoring and sustainable tourism at Škocjan Caves (conference organized by ZRC SAZU Inštitut za raziskovanje krasa, Meis d.o.o. , Univerza na Primorskem, Fakulteta za humanistične študije and Javni zavod Park Škocjanske jame; programme; photo);
  • 31 May 2018 – setting up of data transfer at meteorological station before Velika Dvorana (Škocjanske jame) done by ZRC SAZU Inštitut za raziskovanje krasa and Meis d.o.o. (photo);
  • December 2018 – Periodical report for 2018 about work on the project;
  • 31 January 2019 – Published scientific contribution at the SZGG conference;
  • 3 February 2019 – Floods in Škocjanske jame (high water in Škocjan Caves carried away parts of scientific research instruments; daily news at 24ur and Facebook).
  • December 2019 – Periodic report for 2019 about work accomplished in the project [COBISS.SI-ID 45656365]
  • Prolongation of the project to 30 April 2021 according to ARRS decision
  • Participation in telecast »Ugriznimo znanost« 14 May 2020, IMPACT OF TOURISM ON KARST CAVES https://4d.rtvslo.si/arhiv/ugriznimo-znanost/174692916 
  • January 2021 – final report of the project results [COBISS.SI-ID 50522627]
  • 19 April 2023 – Lecture of S. Šebela at Notranjska Museum Postojna
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgmSjJMhwkA&ab_channel=NotranjskimuzejPostojna

 

 

Publications:

  • MIHEVC, Andrej, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, ŠEBELA, Stanka, GABROVŠEK, Franci. Whole-day field trip (C) : Škocjanske Jame, from the cave to the landscape morphology : Thursday, 22.6.2017, 8.30-19.30. V: GOSTINČAR, Petra (ur.). Milestones and challenges in karstology = Mejniki in izzivi v krasoslovju : abstracts & guide book = povzetki & vodnik, 25th International Karstological School "Classical Karst "= 25. mednarodna krasoslovna šola "Klasični kras", Postojna, 2017. 1. izd. Ljubljana: Založba ZRC. 2017, str. 78-96, ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 41764653];
  • MULEC, Janez, OARGA-MULEC, Andreea, ŠTURM, Samo, TOMAZIN, Rok, MATOS, Tadeja. Spacio-temporal distribution and tourist impact on airborne bacteria in a cave (Škocjan Caves, Slovenia). Diversity, ISSN 1424-2818, 2017, vol. 9, iss. 3, str. 1-14, ilustr., doi: 10.3390/d9030028. [COBISS.SI-ID 41852973];
  • ŠEBELA, Stanka. Geološke značilnosti kraških oken na primeru Škocjanskih jam. V: KUHAR, Miran (ur.), et al. Raziskave s področja geodezije in geofizike 2017: zbornik del. 23. srečanje Slovenskega združenja za geodezijo in geofiziko, Ljubljana, 25. januar 2018. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za gradbeništvo in geodezijo. 2018, str. 7-12, ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 42567981];
  • MLAKAR, Primož, BOŽNAR, Marija, GRAŠIČ, Boštjan, GABROVŠEK, Franci. Avtomatske meritve vetra. V: KUHAR, Miran (ur.), et al. Raziskave s področja geodezije in geofizike 2017: zbornik del. 23. srečanje Slovenskega združenja za geodezijo in geofiziko, Ljubljana, 25. januar 2018. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za gradbeništvo in geodezijo. 2018, str. 45-53. [COBISS.SI-ID 31172391];
  • GABROVŠEK, F., PERIC, B., KAUFMANN, G., 2018. Hydraulics of epiphreatic flow of a karst aquifer. Journal of Hydrology, 560, 56-74. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.03.019;
  • GABROVŠEK, Franci. Značilnosti podzemeljskega toka Reke: vabljeno predavanje v okviru Konference "Raziskave, monitoring in trajnostni turizem v Škocjanskih jamah", 24. maj 2018, Promocijsko-kongresni centru Pr Nanetovh, Matavun. [COBISS.SI-ID 43068717];
  • MULEC, Janez. Mikrobiološke raziskave v Parku Škocjanske jame: vabljeno predavanje v okviru Konference "Raziskave, monitoring in trajnostni turizem v Škocjanskih jamah", 24. maj 2018, Promocijsko-kongresni centru Pr Nanetovh, Matavun. [COBISS.SI-ID 43068461];
  • PRELOVŠEK, Mitja. Fizikalno-kemijski procesi v Škocjanskih jamah: vabljeno predavanje v okviru Konference "Raziskave, monitoring in trajnostni turizem v Škocjanskih jamah", 24. maj 2018, Promocijsko-kongresni centru Pr Nanetovh, Matavun. [COBISS.SI-ID 43068973];
  • ŠEBELA, Stanka. O izvajanju projekta Krasoslovne raziskave za trajnostno rabo Škocjanskih jam kot svetovne dediščine: vabljeno predavanje v okviru Konference "Raziskave, monitoring in trajnostni turizem v Škocjanskih jamah", 24. maj 2018, Promocijsko-kongresni centru Pr Nanetovh, Matavun. [COBISS.SI-ID 43069229];
  • MLAKAR, Primož, GRAŠIČ, Boštjan, BOŽNAR, Marija, POPOVIĆ, Darko, GABROVŠEK, Franci, ŠEBELA, Stanka. Automatic measurements in Škocjan caves for sustainable use and protection of natural heritage = Avtomatske meritve v Škocjanskih jamah za trajnostno rabo in zaščito naravne dediščine. V: PRELOVŠEK, Mitja (ur.). Show caves and science : abstracts & guide book = Turistične jame in znanost : povzetki & vodnik. 1st ed. Ljubljana: Založba ZRC. 2018, str. 82. [COBISS.SI-ID 31557927];
  • PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, MULEC, Janez. Afternoon field trip (B) : M and [micro] show caves : Wednesday, 20th June 2018, 14:00-19:15 = Popoldansko terensko delo (B) : M in [mikro] turistične jame : Sreda, 20. junij 2018, 14.00-19.15. V: PRELOVŠEK, Mitja (ur.). Show caves and science : abstracts & guide book = Turistične jame in znanost : povzetki & vodnik. 1st ed. Ljubljana: Založba ZRC. 2018, str. 22-28, ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 43364397];
  • BLATNIK, Matej, GABROVŠEK, Franci, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, ŠEBELA, Stanka, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, ŠEBELA, Stanka (urednik). Fazno poročilo za leto 2018 o delu na projektu Krasoslovne raziskave za trajnostno rabo Škocjanskih jam kot svetovne dediščine (ARRS L7-8268). Postojna: ZRC SAZU, Inštitut za raziskovanje krasa, 2018. 49 str., ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 44044589];
  • MILER, Miloš, ŠEBELA, Stanka, ZUPANČIČ, Nina, JARC, Simona. Meritve delcev v zraku turističnih jam. V: KUHAR, Miran (ur.), et al. Raziskave s področja geodezije in geofizike 2018 : zbornik del, 24. srečanje Slovenskega združenja za geodezijo in geofiziko, Ljubljana, 31. januar 2019. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za gradbeništvo in geodezijo. 2019, str. 25-30, ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 44240941].

  • ALJANČIČ, Magdalena, PIPAN, Tanja, ŠEBELA, Stanka. Research infrastructures and karst science = Raziskovalne infrastrukture in krasoslovje. V: BLATNIK, Matej (ur.), et al. Karst hydrogeology - research trends and applications : abstracts & guide book = Kraška hidrogeologija - raziskovalni trendi in uporaba izsledkov : povzetki & vodnik. 1st ed. Ljubljana: Založba ZRC. 2019, str. 118-119. [COBISS.SI-ID 44887341]

  • ALJANČIČ, Magdalena, BLATNIK, Matej, ŠEBELA, Stanka. Importance of the speleological digital inventory of karst features at Škocjan Caves. V: PRELOVŠEK, Mitja (ur.). Sustainable management of show caves, Škocjan caves, 7-9 October 2019 : abstracts & guide book. 1st ed. Ljubljana: ZRC SAZU, Založba ZRC. 2019, str. 22. [COBISS.SI-ID 45214253]

  • ŠEBELA, Stanka. Karst research as basis for sustainable management of Škocjan Caves. V: PRELOVŠEK, Mitja (ur.). Sustainable management of show caves, Škocjan caves, 7-9 October 2019 : abstracts & guide book. 1st ed. Ljubljana: ZRC SAZU, Založba ZRC. 2019, str. 25. [COBISS.SI-ID 45214509]

  • ŠEBELA, Stanka, BLATNIK, Matej, GABROVŠEK, Franci, KOZEL, Peter, MULEC, Janez, ALJANČIČ, Magdalena, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, ŠEBELA, Stanka (urednik). Fazno poročilo za leto 2019 o delu na projektu Krasoslovne raziskave za trajnostno rabo Škocjanskih jam kot svetovne dediščine (ARRS L7-8268). Postojna: ZRC SAZU, Inštitut za raziskovanje krasa, 2019. 74 str., ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 45656365]

  • DACINGER, Renata (oseba, ki intervjuva), ČUČEK, Anja (oseba, ki intervjuva, scenarist), ŠEBELA, Stanka (intervjuvanec), PERIC, Borut (intervjuvanec), PRELOVŠEK, Mitja (intervjuvanec), MULEC, Janez (intervjuvanec), ŠČUKA, Stojan (intervjuvanec). Vpliv turizma na kraške jame, (Ugriznimo znanost). Ljubljana: Radiotelevizija Slovenija javni zavod, 2020. https://4d.rtvslo.si/arhiv/ugriznimo-znanost/174692916. [COBISS.SI-ID 15612163]

  • WALTERS, Richard, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja. 3D lasersko skeniranje naravnih jam: primer Škocjanskih jam = 3D laser scanning of the natural caves: example of Škocjanske Jame. Geodetski vestnik: glasilo Zveze geodetov Slovenije, ISSN 0351-0271. mar. 2020, letn. 64, št. 1, str. 89-103, http://www.geodetski-vestnik.com/64/1/gv64-1_walters.pdf, doi: 10.15292/geodetski-vestnik.2020.01.89-103. [COBISS.SI-ID 46137901] 

  • 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, (Advances in karst science). Cham: Springer, cop. 2020. XII, 222 str., ilustr., zvd., graf. prikazi. ISBN 978-3-030-26826-8, doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-26827-5. [COBISS.SI-ID 17912067]

  • MULEC, Janez, OARGA-MULEC, Andreea, SKOK, Sara, ŠEBELA, Stanka, CERKVENIK, Rosana, ZORMAN, Tomaž, HOLKO, Ladislav, ELERŠEK, Tina, PAŠIĆ, Lejla. Emerging ecotone and microbial community of a sulfidic spring in the reka River near Škocjanske jame, Slovenia. Diversity. 2021, vol. 13, iss. 12, str. 1-20, ilustr. ISSN 1424-2818. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/12/655, DOI: 10.3390/d13120655. [COBISS.SI-ID 88885251]

  • ŠEBELA, Stanka. Natural and anthropogenic impacts on cave climates : Postojna and Predjama show caves (Slovenia), (Earth and planetary sciences). 1st ed. [S. l.]: Elsevier, 2022. 274 str. ISBN 978-0-12-822954-5. https://www.elsevier.com/books/natural-and-anthropogenic-impacts-on-cave-climates/sebela/978-0-12-822954-5, doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-822954-5.00001-9. [COBISS.SI-ID 64999683]

  • ŠEBELA, Stanka, TURK, Janez. Comparison of historical and current temperatures in show caves (Slovenia). SN Applied Sciences. 2022, iss. 1, art. no. 1, 12 str., ilustr. ISSN 2523-3971. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs42452-021-04881-1, DOI: 10.1007/s42452-021-04881-1. [COBISS.SI-ID 88061699]

  • ŠEBELA, S., NOVAK, U. (2023). Geological structure of karst stratigraphical windows at Škocjan Caves, Slovenia. SN Appl. Sci. 5, 104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-023-05330-x [COBISS.SI-ID 146031875]


Research Project

Keywords
trajnostna raba jame
umetne nevronske mreže
numerične vremenske napovedi
merilni sistemi
mikroklima
Interdisciplinarne raziskave krasa

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