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1.
CO2 dynamics and dissolutional processes in the karst vadose zone
Lovel Kukuljan, 2022, doctoral dissertation

Abstract: The dynamics and distribution of carbon dioxide (CO2) in karst systems are crucial for understanding fundamental karst processes, namely precipitation and dissolution, which drive karst development both at the surface and underground. The study of CO2 transport provides valuable insights into the role of karst systems in the global carbon cycle and the impact on present climate, but also into the growth of speleothems, which are one of the most reliable terrestrial archives for palaeoclimate reconstruction. Due to the complexity of karst systems, long-term monitoring and high-resolution analyses of cave air and water geochemistry are essential to better understand the controlling factors that affect these processes and their outcomes. In the framework of this dissertation, cave climate and water hydrochemistry monitoring was established in a side-passages of the renowned Postojna Cave in Slovenia during 2017–2021. In the Pisani Passage, high CO2 concentrations, large temporal variations and a heterogeneous distribution of CO2, as well as extreme dissolution features, have already been detected in previous studies. The aim of the present study was to investigate these observations in depth and to find the reasons for their occurrence. This led to creating of a conceptual model for CO2 transport in karst systems that would be valid not only in this case but in karst areas worldwide. The first focus of the study is dedicated to understanding the spatio-temporal dynamics of the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in the Pisani Passage, which is mainly transported by advection (i.e., cave ventilation). Continuous measurements of airflow velocity, air temperature and pCO2 showed (1) that airflow through the karst massif is driven by both the action of the chimney effect and external winds, and (2) that the relationship between the direction of airflow, the configuration of airflow pathways and the connection to the outside explains the observed variations in pCO2. Due to the particular configuration of the airflow pathways, the terminal chamber of Pisani Passage accumulates high levels of CO2 (>10,000 ppm) and forms high vertical gradients of up to 1000 ppm/m. The pCO2 is low and uniform during updraft when outside air flows into the cave chamber through open, unobstructed passages (i.e., high-flow, low-pCO2 pathways). When the airflow reverses direction to downdraft, the chamber is fed by low-flow, high-pCO2 pathways that enter the cave passage through a CO2-rich fracture network embedded in a vadose zone. The spatial distribution of inlets and outlets results in minimal mixing between the low and high pCO2 pathways, leading to high and persistent pCO2 gradients. In addition to the chimney effect driving the seasonal ventilation of the cave, the specific signs of a secondary wind-driven effect were also found; which is the second focus of this study. Wind flow over irregular topography leads to near-surface air pressure variations, and thus, pressure differences between cave entrances at different locations. Pressure differences depend on wind speed and direction and their relationship to surface topography and the location of cave entrances. Winds can act in the same or opposite direction as the chimney effect, either enhancing, diminishing or even reversing the direction of density-driven airflows. In the case of Postojna Cave, north and northeast winds enhance the downdraft and limit updraft, while the opposite is true for south winds, which enhance the updraft and limit downdraft. To investigate the importance of wind-driven flow, a computational fluid dynamics model was used to calculate the wind pressure field over Postojna Cave and the pressure differences between selected points for different configurations of wind speed and direction. These values were compared with those obtained from airflow measurements in the cave and from simple theoretical considerations. Despite the simplicity of the approach and the complexity of the ca
Keywords: cave climate, cave ventilation, carbon dioxide, dripwater geochemistry, speleothem corrosion, Postojna Cave, Slovenia
Published in RUNG: 22.06.2022; Views: 1685; Downloads: 66
.pdf Full text (8,45 MB)

2.
Groundwater distribution in the recharge area of Ljubljanica springs
Matej Blatnik, 2019, doctoral dissertation

Abstract: Porečje Ljubljanice je s svojo kraško hidrologijo že stoletja predmet proučevanja. V začetku 19. stoletja so bila dela v največji meri posvečena preprečevanju ali vsaj omilitvi poplav na Planinskem polju. Obsežne raziskave v 70. letih 20. stoletja so na območju porečja Ljubljanice razkrile okvirne poti toka podzemne vode. Bolj natančno proučevanje vodonosnika z ugotavljanjem dimenzij in razporeditve kanalov ter dinamike pretakanja pa do zdaj ni bilo izvedeno. Nove speleološke raziskave in razvoj samodejnih merilnikov ponujajo možnost postavitve kakovostne merilne mreže tudi na težje dostopnih mestih. Namen pričujočega dela je zato nadgraditi poznavanje dinamike podzemne vode na območju porečja Ljubljanice z uporabo naprednih tehnik merjenja in interpretacij. Območje proučevanja je omejeno na severni del porečja Ljubljanice, in sicer med Planinskim poljem na jugu in izviri Ljubljanice na severu. Na tem območju je bila vzpostavljena merilna mreža s samodejnimi meritvami višine, temperature in specifične električne prevodnosti vode. Meritve so potekale na štirih požiralnikih na Planinskem polju, na treh izvirih Ljubljanice in osmih jamah z dostopom do podzemne vode. Poleg tega so bile opravljene še številne ročne meritve, na Agenciji RS za okolje (ARSO) pa so bili pridobljeni hidrološki in meteorološki podatki iz uradnih postaj. Na novo pridobljeni podatki so bili obravnavani glede na dotedanje znanje o vodonosniku. Mnoge pretekle ugotovitve so bile potrjene, številne interpretacije pa so bile zgrajene na novo. Te so bile povečini navezane na obliko vodonosnika (razporeditve in dimenzije kanalov) in njihov vpliv na nihanje vodne gladine, kar je bilo v nadaljevanju preverjeno z izgradnjo poenostavljenih konceptualnih in numeričnih modelov. Slednji so bili zgrajeni v programu EPA SWMM (Storm Water Management Model). V 3,5 letnem obdobju meritev je bilo veliko dogodkov s povišanim vodostajem, med njimi prek 15 takih, ko je bilo Planinsko polje poplavljeno. Dogodki so se med seboj zelo razlikovali tako po intenzivnosti kot tudi po trajanju, kar je predstavljalo raznovrstno zbirko podatkov. Najdaljši poplavni dogodek je trajal okoli tri mesece, v tem času pa se je vodna gladina v proučevanem vodonosniku dvignila do 66 m. Raziskave so potrdile pretekle ugotovitve, da se tok vode v vodonosniku prepleta (cepi in ponovno združuje) in da voda prek severnih požiralnikov Planinskega polja povečini teče proti zahodnim izvirom Ljubljanice, voda z vzhodnih požiralnikov Planinskega polja pa povečini proti vzhodnim izvirom Ljubljanice. Ugotovitve so pokazale tudi to, da na vzhodne izvire Ljubljanice pomembno vpliva tudi neposreden tok s Cerkniškega polja, kar se odraža zlasti s temperaturnimi odstopanji. Analiza višin podzemne vode je omogočila nove interpretacije o obliki kraškega vodonosnika. Na skoraj vseh merilnih mestih se je pokazalo obdobno upočasnjeno dviganje in spuščanje vode, kar nakazuje na prisotnost prelivnih kanalov. Takšni kanali so bili v nekaterih jamah že predhodno poznani (npr. Šerkov rov v Gradišnici, Skalni rov v Logarčku, Levi rov v Lijaku v Najdeni jami), medtem ko so v nekaterih jamah le predvideni (Veliko brezno v Grudnovi dolini, Andrejevo brezno 1). Obsežna merilna mreža, večletno obdobje meritev, stalne in samodejne meritve, uporaba naprednih tehnik interpretacij in preverjanje z modeli so omogočili raznovrstne analize in številne ugotovitve. Postopek se je izkazal kot primeren in bi bil uporaben tudi v drugih podobnih vodonosnikih. Podobno kot pretekle raziskave pa tudi ta pušča številna odprta vprašanja in možnosti za nadaljnje raziskave. Smiselne bi bile nadaljnje in bolj podrobne raziskave vpliva geoloških struktur, raziskave freatičnih in globokih regionalnih tokov, proučevanje vodne bilance in kakovosti vode, in nenazadnje tudi v splošnem boljše razumevanje poplavljanja Planinskega polja.
Keywords: kraški vodonosnik, dinamika podzemne vode, poplavljanje, modeliranje, Planinsko polje, Ljubljanica
Published in RUNG: 16.01.2019; Views: 4828; Downloads: 227
.pdf Full text (21,14 MB)

3.
Speleogenetic factors and processes in the karst conduits of Zagorska Mrežnica Spring Cave (Croatia)
Petra Kovač Konrad, 2018, doctoral dissertation

Abstract: Zagorska Mrežnica spring cave is in the Desmerice village, 7.59 km SW from the town of Ogulin. The coordinates of the entrance are X: 399563 m, Y: 5006974 m, and Z: 314 m (HTRS96). The cave system is positioned in the contact zone of Jurassic limestone and the thrust front composed of Triassic Dolomite. The karst drainage system has elements of point recharge through a set of ponors in the hinterland karst poljes and diffuse infiltration through numerous dolines on Velika Kapela Mountain. The karst of Ogulinsko Zagorje area and its epiphreatic and phreatic cave systems have been intensively explored for the last eight years, resulting in the mapping of 1134 m of submerged passages of the Zagorska Mrežnica spring cave. Until 2014 it was the longest mapped submerged system in Croatia explored by cave diving techniques only. Altogether, over 3.5 km of submerged passages in seven caves of Ogulinsko Zagorje (Zagorska Mrežnica spring cave, Spring of Rupečica, Ponor of Rupečica, Cave system Pećine-Veliko vrelo, Spring of Bistrac, Cave Zagorska Peć and Pit Klisura) were explored during 500 hours of diving over a ten-year period. The goal of the research was to determine speleogenetic factors and processes in phreatic conditions. A new methodology for mapping of cave cross-sections, microrelief forms, and structural elements was developed, sediment and petrographic analysis were done, hydrological analysis before and after the building of the accumulation lake Sabljaci, 48 cross-sections of the cave passaged and a 3D model of the cave system was created, water chemistry as well as geomorphological analysis was carried out. In the end, a simplified (modified) vulnerability assessment was also done. The results of my research showed that the distribution of the cave passages is a result of complex tectonic activities that are reflected in the orientation of cave passages. The general orientation of the measured fissures, measured during cave diving, show a dominance of a NWW-SEE direction but also the pattern of cave passages shows a significant dominance of the NE-SW orientation indicating the existence of multiple secondary traverse faults originating from main NW-SE faults. The morphology of the cave passages shows a transition between epiphreatic (possibly vadose) and phreatic phases as well as the presence of paragenetic developments in the ceiling. This indicates the existence of several epiphreatic (possibly vadose) and phreatic speleogenetic phases. The initial shape of the cross-sections was identified by sub-horizontal beds and bedding planes. The mapping of microrelief forms showed that the mechanical erosion was a very intensive process shaping the morphology of the cave passages. The sediment mineralogy coincides with the lithology of the catchment area, and the sub- angular grains reveal relatively short transport distances. Further analysis of the catchment area’s geomorphology and its relevance for the speleogenesis of Zagorska Mrežnica cave show influence of relief structures that have a Dinaric orientation (NW-SE) with cave structures and passage orientations, great relative relief, steep slopes on Velika Kapela, and flat areas of karst poljes dictate the allogenic and autogenic hydrological regime of the cave. A 3D model of the cave system reveals a relationship between the cave system and the landscape, as well as a possible connection with the nearby Zagorska Peć cave. The modified karst vulnerability assessment shows that the catchment area of Zagorska Mrežnica spring cave has a high vulnerability ranking, mainly due to high doline density and the potential large diffuse capacity of infiltration of pollutants.
Keywords: Ogulin Zagorje, karst, spring, speleogenesis, Zagorska Mrežnica spring cave
Published in RUNG: 02.03.2018; Views: 4851; Downloads: 196
.pdf Full text (5,26 MB)

4.
Sources and transport of inorganic carbon in the unsaturated zone of Karst : dissertation
Simone Milanolo, 2014, doctoral dissertation

Keywords: kras, anorganski ogljik, ravnotežje, ogljikov dioksid, jame, disertacije
Published in RUNG: 22.01.2015; Views: 5365; Downloads: 274
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6.
Hydrogeological role of large conduits in karst drainage system
Janez Turk, 2010, doctoral dissertation

Keywords: kraški vodonosnik, podzemni vodni tokovi, hitrost, hidrogram, Postojnska jama, disertacije
Published in RUNG: 15.10.2013; Views: 5448; Downloads: 278
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