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Karst aquifers: hydrodynamics, mass transport, and impacts of environmental changes

 

The objective of the hydrological research is to deepen our understanding of the hydrodynamics in karst aquifers. We will study the impacts of conduits and highly permeable zones on the flow dynamics in the epiphreatic and vadose zone, on the flooding of karst poljes, and on the interaction between these parts of aquifers. We will develop a methodology that integrates the autonomous network of groundwater parameters monitoring and computer flow models into a comprehensive interpretation of flow dynamics. The results will improve our predictions of the impacts of extreme hydrological conditions and of the effects of environmental changes on water supplies. A general objective is to obtain new insights into the heat and mass transport through the aquifer, particularly regarding the infiltration and transport of pollutants. The basic findings will be implemented in planning the monitoring of water quality in karst and in improving the existing characterization methods; to preserve the quality and quantity of karst waters.

Sampling percolating water in the Planinska jama cave, photo Cyril Mayaud.

Water sampling from a borehole in Rovte, photo Blaž Kogovšek.

 

Results:

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.

MAYAUD, C., KOGOVŠEK, B., GABROVŠEK, F., BLATNIK, M., PETRIČ, M., RAVBAR, N., 2022. Deciphering the water balance of poljes: example of Planinsko Polje (Slovenia). Acta Carsologica 51/2, 43-65. DOI: 10.3986/ac.v51i2.11029.

RAVBAR, N., MAYAUD, C., BLATNIK, M., PETRIČ, M., 2021. Determination of inundation areas within karst poljes and intermittent lakes for the purposes of ephemeral flood mapping. Hydrogeology Journal 29 (1), 213-228. DOI: 10.1007/s10040-020-02268-x.

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://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0012825222003270?token=5CD855C74413B35C1B9FE7F3412497393B55692B90D916F414B154C8A5B6AA8A536DA3FD2C9A8EA729A26849BFA8ECA1&originRegion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20221123180244, DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104243.

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]

GABROVŠEK, Franci, BLATNIK, Matej, RAVBAR, Nataša, ČARGA, Jana, STAUT, Miha, PETRIČ, Metka. Unraveling the functioning of the vadose zone in alpine karst aquifers: new insights from a tracer test in the Migovec cave system (Julian alps, NW Slovenia) = Razkrivanje delovanja vadozne cone alpskih kraških vodonosnikov: nova spoznanja iz sledilnega poskusa v jamskem sistemu Migovec (Julijske alpe, SZ Slovenija). Acta carsologica. [Tiskana izd.]. 2023, [vol.] 52, [no.] 2/3, str. 229-244, ilustr., zvd., graf. prikazi. ISSN 0583-6050. https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/13348/11895, Digitalna knjižnica Slovenije - dLib.si, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v52i2-3.13348. [COBISS.SI-ID 178872835]

BLATNIK, Matej, GABROVŠEK, Franci, RAVBAR, Nataša, FRANTAR, Peter, GILL, Laurence. Assessment of climatic and anthropogenic effects on flood dynamics in the Cerkniško Polje (SW Slovenia) based on a 70-year observation dataset. Journal of hydrology. Regional studies. Feb. 2024, vol. 51, article no. 101609, str. 1-16, ilustr., zvd., graf. prikazi. ISSN 2214-5818. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581823002963, DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101609. [COBISS.SI-ID 177801475]