Basic Karstology

The course introduces students to the knowledge of the three-dimensional karst landscape, of the Classical Karst and of karstology as unique and important parts of our natural and cultural heritage. The course objectives encompass the international importance of our karstology, the history of karstology, and the knowledge of the basic processes of karstification, with examples from Slovenia and the world. Students will obtain the knowledge of the characteristics of the karst and the importance of Slovene karstology in the world and ability to understand karst phenomena in a multidisciplinary way. Students will in the frame of course-specific competences deepen knowledge and understanding of the characteristics of the karst and the importance of Slovene karstology in the world as well as
develop ability to understand karst phenomena in a multidisciplinary way.

General knowledge of geography.

The course content encompasses the knowledge of the characteristics of karst, the Classical Karst, Slovene karstology and karst throughout the world from the geographical, geological, hydrological, ecological and biological aspects. Students will come to know the three-dimensional landscape from the aspect of the karst surface, the karst underground and karst waters. Almost half of the surface area of Slovenia is made up of rocks that karstify. Students will become more thoroughly acquainted with the formation and weathering of carbonates and with their general lithostratigraphic properties, structure and classification. Karst is a dynamic system, which is basically caused by physical and chemical processes. Students will come to know these processes, what they depend on and what their dynamics are like; they will also learn about the initial periods of cave evolution. They will become more thoroughly acquainted with the processes of the dissolution and release of calcium carbonate, the transport of substances in the karst aquifer and the basics of the dynamics of speleogenesis. They will learn about the basic concepts regarding the characteristics of karst aquifers and the characteristics of the discharge of water in the karst. They will become acquainted with the connection among individual components of subterranean habitats and the consequences of human activity. They will learn about the underground as a habitat for subterranean organisms and about the importance of biodiversity.

Knowledge and understanding:
Students will come to know the importance and development of karstology in Slovenia and in the world. They will come to know the karstification processes (the physical and chemical processes, the geological predispositions of karstification and the stages of karst evolution). They will learn about the karst aquifer and the karst ecosystem. They will acquire the knowledge of the applicability of the basic findings for planning life in the delicate karst landscape and for its protection.

• CULVER, D. C., PIPAN, T., 2009: The biology of caves and other subterranean habitats, (Biology of habitats). Oxford University Press, New York. Poglavji: 6, 7. Catalogue
• FORD, D. C., WILLIAMS, P. 2007: Karst Geomorphology and Hydrology. Uniwin Hyman, Boston, Sydney, Wellington. Poglavja: 1-3, 5, 7. Catalogue E-version
• GABROVŠEK, F. (ur.) 2002: Evolution of Karst: From Prekarst to Cessation. Založba ZRC, 448 str., Ljubljana. Str. 13-59. Catalogue
• GAMS, I., 2004: Kras v Sloveniji v prostoru in času. Založba ZRC, 515 str., Ljubljana. Poglavja: 1-6. Catalogue
• GUNN, J., (ur.) 2004: Encyclopedia of Caves and Karst Science. Fitzroy Dearborn, 902 str., New York, London. Str. 473-483. Catalogue E-version
• KLIMCHOUK, A. B., FORD, D. C., PALMER, A. N. and DREYBRODT, W. (ur.) 2000: Speleogenesis: Evolution of Karst Aquifers. National Speleological Society, 527 p., Huntsville AL. Catalogue E-version
• TIŠLJAR, J. 2001: Sedimentologija karbonata i evaporita. RGN Fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 375 str., Zagreb. Poglavja: 1, 3, 4.
• TUCKER, M. E. 2001: Sedimentary petrology, An Introduction to the Origin of Sedimentary Rocks (3rd edition).- Blackwell science, i-ix+262 str., Oxford. Poglavje: 4. Catalogue E-version
• WHITE, W. B., 1988: Geomorphology and Hydrology of Karst Terrains. Oxford University Press, 464 str., New York. Poglavje: 3-5, 14. E-version
• Other literature will be presented in lectures.

• Written exmination (100%)

Prof. Dr. Martin Knez is an Associate Professor of Karstology.

• KNEZ, M., SLABE, T. Stone forests and their rock relief. V: SHRODER, John F. (ur.). Treatise on geomorphology. 1st ed. San Diego: Academic Press: Elsevier, 2013, vol. 6, str. 139-156, ilustr. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-374739-6.00124-X, doi: 10.1016/978-0-12-374739-6.00124-X.
• KNEZ, M., KOGOVŠEK, J., LIU, H., MULEC, J., PETRIČ, M., RAVBAR, N., SLABE, T. Karstological study of the new Kunming airport building area (Yunnan, China). Environmental earth sciences, ISSN 1866-6280, 2012, vol. 67, iss. 1, str. 273-283, ilustr. http://www.springerlink.com/content/4642p108l3xv8351/, doi: 10.1007/s12665-011-1506-x.
• GABROVŠEK, F., KNEZ, M., KOGOVŠEK, J., MIHEVC, A., MULEC, J., PERNE, M., PETRIČ, M., PIPAN, T., PRELOVŠEK, M., SLABE, T., ŠEBELA, S., RAVBAR, N. Development challenges in karst regions : sustainable land use planning in the karst of Slovenia. Carbonates and evaporites, ISSN 0891-2556, 2011, vol. 26, nr. 4, str. 365-380, ilustr. http://www.metapress.com/content/184ur670026301h8/fulltext.pdf, doi: 10.1007/s13146-011-0072-3.
• KNEZ, M., SLABE, T. Lithological characteristics, shape and rock relief of the Lunan stone forest. V: GINÉS, Ángel (ur.), et al. Karst rock features : karren sculpturing, (Carsologica, 9). Ljubljana: Založba ZRC: = ZRC Publishing, 2009, str. 439-452, ilustr.
• KNEZ, M., SLABE, T. Caves and sinkholes in motorway construction, Slovenia : case study 3. V: WALTHAM, Tony, BELL, Fred, CULSHAW, Martin. Sinkholes and subsidence : karst and cavernous rocks in engineering and construction, (Springer-Praxis books in geophysical sciences). Berlin [etc.]: Springer: Praxis, cop. 2005, str. 283-288, ilustr.

Other lecturers:

Prof. Dr. Metka Petrič is an Assistant Professor in the field of karstology.
• JEMCOV, Igor, PETRIČ, Metka. Measured precipitation vs. effective infiltration and their influence on the assessment of karst systems based on results of the time series analysis. Journal of Hydrology, ISSN 0022-1694. [Print ed.], 2009, 3-4, vol. 379, str. 304-314, graf. prikazi. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.10.016, doi: doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.10.016. [COBISS.SI-ID 30775085].
• KOGOVŠEK, Janja, PETRIČ, Metka. Increase of vulnerability of karst aquifers due to leakage from landfills. V: THANH TRAN, Hai (ur.). Geokarst hazards : international symposium on geology, natural resources and hazards in karst regions (GEOKARST 2009), Hanoi, Vietnam, on November 12-15, 2009, (Environmental Earth Sciences, ISSN 1866-6280). Heidelberg: Springer, 2013, vol. 70, issue 2, str. 901-912, ilustr. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12665-012-2180-3/fulltext.html, doi: 10.1007/s12665-012-2180-3. [COBISS.SI-ID 35956269].
• PETRIČ, Metka. Characterization, exploitation, and protection of the Malenščica karst spring, Slovenia : case study. V: KREŠIĆ, Neven (ur.), STEVANOVIĆ, Zoran (ur.). Groundwater hydrology of springs : engineering, theory, management, and sustainability. Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, cop. 2010, str. 428-441, ilustr. [COBISS.SI-ID 31034157].
• RAVBAR, Nataša, BARBERÁ, Juan Antonio, PETRIČ, Metka, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, ANDREO NAVARRO, Bartolomé. The study of hydrodynamic behaviour of a complex karst system under low-flow conditions using natural and artificial tracers (the catchment of the Unica River, SW Slovenia). Environmental earth sciences, ISSN 1866-6280, 2012, vol. 65, no. 8, str. 2259-2272, ilustr. http://www.springerlink.com/content/1866-6280/65/8/, doi: 10.1007/s12665-012-1523-4. [COBISS.SI-ID 34045741].
• DOCTOR, Daniel H., ALEXANDER, E. C., PETRIČ, Metka, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, URBANC, Janko, LOJEN, Sonja, STICHLER, Wilibald (z enoto povezano ime). Quantification of Karst aquifer discharge components during storm events through end-member mixing analysis using natural chemistry and stable isotopesas tracers. Hydrogeology journal, ISSN 1431-2174, 2006, vol. 14, str. 1171-1191. [COBISS.SI-ID 20039207].

Dr. Tanja Pipan is an Assistant Professor of Biology.
• CULVER, D. C., PIPAN, T. Shallow subterranean habitats : ecology, evolution, and conservation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014. 258 str., ilustr. ISBN 978-0-19-964617-3.
• CULVER, D. C., PIPAN, T. Subterranean ecosystems. V: LEVIN, Simon Asher (ur.). Encyclopedia of biodiversity. 2nd ed. San Diego [etc.]: Academic Press, 2013, vol. 7, str. 49-62, ilustr.
• CULVER, D. C., PIPAN, T. The biology of caves and other subterranean habitats, (Biology of habitats). New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. XVI, 254 str., ilustr. ISBN 978-0-19-921992-6. ISBN 978-0-19-921993-3.
• PIPAN, T., CULVER, D. C. Regional species richness in an obligate subterranean dwelling fauna - epikarst copepods. Journal of biogeography, ISSN 0305-0270, 2007, 34, str. 854-861, ilustr.
• PIPAN, T. Epikarst - a promising habitat : copepod fauna, its diversity and ecology : a case study from Slovenia (Europe), (Carsologica, 5). Postojna: Inštitut za raziskovanje krasa ZRC SAZU: = Karst Research Institute at ZRC SAZU; Ljubljana: Založba ZRC: = ZRC Publishing, 2005. 101 str., ilustr., preglednice. ISBN 961-6500-90-2.

Prof. Dr. Tadej Slabe is a Full Professor of Karstology.
• KNEZ, M., SLABE, T. Stone forests and their rock relief. V: SHRODER, John F. (ur.). Treatise on geomorphology. 1st ed. San Diego: Academic Press: Elsevier, 2013, vol. 6, str. 139-156, ilustr. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-374739-6.00124-X, doi: 10.1016/978-0-12-374739-6.00124-X.
• KNEZ, M., KOGOVŠEK, J., LIU, H., MULEC, J., PETRIČ, M., RAVBAR, N., SLABE, T. Karstological study of the new Kunming airport building area (Yunnan, China). Environmental earth sciences, ISSN 1866-6280, 2012, vol. 67, iss. 1, str. 273-283, ilustr. http://www.springerlink.com/content/4642p108l3xv8351/, doi: 10.1007/s12665-011-1506-x.
• GABROVŠEK, F., KNEZ, M., KOGOVŠEK, J., MIHEVC, A., MULEC, J., PERNE, M., PETRIČ, M., PIPAN, T., PRELOVŠEK, M., SLABE, T., ŠEBELA, S., RAVBAR, N. Development challenges in karst regions : sustainable land use planning in the karst of Slovenia. Carbonates and evaporites, ISSN 0891-2556, 2011, vol. 26, nr. 4, str. 365-380, ilustr. http://www.metapress.com/content/184ur670026301h8/fulltext.pdf, doi: 10.1007/s13146-011-0072-3.
• KNEZ, M., SLABE, T. Lithological characteristics, shape and rock relief of the Lunan stone forest. V: GINÉS, Ángel (ur.), et al. Karst rock features : karren sculpturing, (Carsologica, 9). Ljubljana: Založba ZRC: = ZRC Publishing, 2009, str. 439-452, ilustr.
• KNEZ, M., SLABE, T. Caves and sinkholes in motorway construction, Slovenia : case study 3. V: WALTHAM, Tony, BELL, Fred, CULSHAW, Martin. Sinkholes and subsidence : karst and cavernous rocks in engineering and construction, (Springer-Praxis books in geophysical sciences). Berlin [etc.]: Springer: Praxis, cop. 2005, str. 283-288, ilustr.