Caves and Karst

Bogdan P. Onac; Philip van Beynen; Philip Van Beynen

doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12437-6

Caves and Karst

Bogdan P. Onac, Philip van Beynen, Philip Van Beynen

University of South Florida

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

<p> <p id="x-x-sp0070"> The term <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/karst" title="Learn more about Karst from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages"> Karst </a> relates to landscapes that have been shaped by the dissolution of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/carbonate-rock" title="Learn more about Carbonate Rock from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages"> carbonate rocks </a> such as limestone and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/dolomite" title="Learn more about Dolomite from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages"> dolomite </a> . Features that are commonly thought to characterize this distinct landscape include caves, springs, and sinkholes. However, such a description greatly oversimplifies this broad scientific discipline. Even before scientists started researching the limestone environments of the Dinaric Plateau of southern Europe, humans and Neanderthals understood the importance of karst using its resources for over 200,000 years. Caves were used for shelter and cultural proposes, limestone for building materials and springs for water supplies. Since its infancy in the late 1800s, karst research has blossomed into distinct scientific fields such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/speleology" title="Learn more about Speleology from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages"> speleology </a> (study of caves), <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/geomorphology" title="Learn more about Geomorphology from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages"> geomorphology </a> (surface features), <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/hydrology" title="Learn more about Hydrology from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages"> hydrology </a> (aquifers and springs), geoengineering (mapping subsurface features), <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/anthropology" title="Learn more about Anthropology from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages"> anthropology </a> (cultural use of karst) and biospeleology (life in karst). In this article we introduce readers to the main concepts of these various fields. We will also highlight the economic importance of karst but also how its exploitation can have dire consequences for what is a fragile environment. Its fragility arises from the very nature of what makes karst unique. Rural and urban development can contaminate aquifers, destroy caves and surface karst features, and also threaten highly adapted species that live in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/subterranean-environment" title="Learn more about Subterranean Environment from ScienceDirect's AI-generated Topic Pages"> subterranean environment </a> . Only through careful management can humans continue to thrive on karst landscapes. </p></p>

Original language	American English
Title of host publication	Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12437-6
State	Published - Jan 1 2020

Keywords

Aquifer
Biospeleology
Cave/karst tourism
Caves
Dolines
Endokarst
Exokarst
Human-karst disturbance
Hydrograph analysis
Karren
Karst
Speleogenesis
Springs
Water tracing

Disciplines

Earth Sciences

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10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12437-6License: CC BY

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12437-6

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title = "Caves and Karst",

abstract = " The term Karst relates to landscapes that have been shaped by the dissolution of carbonate rocks such as limestone and dolomite . Features that are commonly thought to characterize this distinct landscape include caves, springs, and sinkholes. However, such a description greatly oversimplifies this broad scientific discipline. Even before scientists started researching the limestone environments of the Dinaric Plateau of southern Europe, humans and Neanderthals understood the importance of karst using its resources for over 200,000 years. Caves were used for shelter and cultural proposes, limestone for building materials and springs for water supplies. Since its infancy in the late 1800s, karst research has blossomed into distinct scientific fields such as speleology (study of caves), geomorphology (surface features), hydrology (aquifers and springs), geoengineering (mapping subsurface features), anthropology (cultural use of karst) and biospeleology (life in karst). In this article we introduce readers to the main concepts of these various fields. We will also highlight the economic importance of karst but also how its exploitation can have dire consequences for what is a fragile environment. Its fragility arises from the very nature of what makes karst unique. Rural and urban development can contaminate aquifers, destroy caves and surface karst features, and also threaten highly adapted species that live in the subterranean environment . Only through careful management can humans continue to thrive on karst landscapes. ",

keywords = "Aquifer, Biospeleology, Cave/karst tourism, Caves, Dolines, Endokarst, Exokarst, Human-karst disturbance, Hydrograph analysis, Karren, Karst, Speleogenesis, Springs, Water tracing",

author = "Onac, {Bogdan P.} and {van Beynen}, Philip and {Van Beynen}, Philip",

year = "2020",

month = jan,

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doi = "10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12437-6",

language = "American English",

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T1 - Caves and Karst

AU - Onac, Bogdan P.

AU - van Beynen, Philip

AU - Van Beynen, Philip

PY - 2020/1/1

Y1 - 2020/1/1

N2 - The term Karst relates to landscapes that have been shaped by the dissolution of carbonate rocks such as limestone and dolomite . Features that are commonly thought to characterize this distinct landscape include caves, springs, and sinkholes. However, such a description greatly oversimplifies this broad scientific discipline. Even before scientists started researching the limestone environments of the Dinaric Plateau of southern Europe, humans and Neanderthals understood the importance of karst using its resources for over 200,000 years. Caves were used for shelter and cultural proposes, limestone for building materials and springs for water supplies. Since its infancy in the late 1800s, karst research has blossomed into distinct scientific fields such as speleology (study of caves), geomorphology (surface features), hydrology (aquifers and springs), geoengineering (mapping subsurface features), anthropology (cultural use of karst) and biospeleology (life in karst). In this article we introduce readers to the main concepts of these various fields. We will also highlight the economic importance of karst but also how its exploitation can have dire consequences for what is a fragile environment. Its fragility arises from the very nature of what makes karst unique. Rural and urban development can contaminate aquifers, destroy caves and surface karst features, and also threaten highly adapted species that live in the subterranean environment . Only through careful management can humans continue to thrive on karst landscapes.

AB - The term Karst relates to landscapes that have been shaped by the dissolution of carbonate rocks such as limestone and dolomite . Features that are commonly thought to characterize this distinct landscape include caves, springs, and sinkholes. However, such a description greatly oversimplifies this broad scientific discipline. Even before scientists started researching the limestone environments of the Dinaric Plateau of southern Europe, humans and Neanderthals understood the importance of karst using its resources for over 200,000 years. Caves were used for shelter and cultural proposes, limestone for building materials and springs for water supplies. Since its infancy in the late 1800s, karst research has blossomed into distinct scientific fields such as speleology (study of caves), geomorphology (surface features), hydrology (aquifers and springs), geoengineering (mapping subsurface features), anthropology (cultural use of karst) and biospeleology (life in karst). In this article we introduce readers to the main concepts of these various fields. We will also highlight the economic importance of karst but also how its exploitation can have dire consequences for what is a fragile environment. Its fragility arises from the very nature of what makes karst unique. Rural and urban development can contaminate aquifers, destroy caves and surface karst features, and also threaten highly adapted species that live in the subterranean environment . Only through careful management can humans continue to thrive on karst landscapes.

KW - Aquifer

KW - Biospeleology

KW - Cave/karst tourism

KW - Caves

KW - Dolines

KW - Endokarst

KW - Exokarst

KW - Human-karst disturbance

KW - Hydrograph analysis

KW - Karren

KW - Karst

KW - Speleogenesis

KW - Springs

KW - Water tracing

UR - https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/geo_facpub/2296

UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12437-6

U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12437-6

DO - 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.12437-6

M3 - Chapter

BT - Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

ER -

Caves and Karst

Abstract

Keywords

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