Karst Hydrology and Physical SpeleologyThe present publication on karst hydrology and physical speleology combines two subjects which have up to now been treated separately. The two fields of knowledge have gone their separate ways, less as a result of differences in subject matter than of varying approaches. The focal point in karst hydrology lies in the description of subter ranean water with its physical and chemical properties, whereas physical speleology de scribes subterranean cavities with their contents (air, water, and sediments), which gen erally have been created by water. Such cavities can be correctly interpreted only by means of a knowledge of karst hydrology, yet they in turn yield indications of the pro perties of karst water. Karst hydrology and physical speleology are thus two aspects of the subterranean karst phenomenon and should be viewed congruently. This book addresses geologists, hydrologists, geomorphologists, geographers, and karstologists, above all speleologists, as well as all friends of caves, especially the cavers among them. Its contents must therefore appeal to two groups: on one hand to the academically trained, whether university faculty, graduates, or students, who as a rule have the necessary basic knowledge to be able to understand the theoretical com ments; on the other hand to the laymen, who have fust-hand experience from their own observations in caves, but who often do not dispose over the scientific foundation necessary for an understanding of the phenomena. Therefore occasionally more attention will be given to problems of a simpler nature and to questions of technical terminology. |
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according aragonite atmosphere base level bedding plane Blautopf Bögli breakdown Ca2+ CaCO3 calcareous sinter calcite cave river cave systems ceiling Chap clay climate CO₂ corrosion created cross-section deposited depth dissolution dissolved dolines dolomite drainage dripstone equilibrium erosion evaporation flowstone formation forms frequently gradient groundwater gypsum H₂O high water high-water zone Hölloch humid hydrologically incasion interstices karren karst springs karst water table karst water-body karst-hydrologically active karstification layers Lehmann lime content limestone Mammoth Cave meters mixing corrosion moonmilk Muota Muotatal occur open joints outflow oversaturation passage phase phreatic conditions phreatic zone piezometric piezometric surface Plate polje precipitation pressure regions result rock scallops sea level sediments seeping shafts sinks sinter solution speleology speleothems stalactites stalagmite Switzerland tectonic temperature tion tufa underground cavities underground karst vadose zone valley vaterite velocity of flow walls water flows water level water-courses Zötl