Search

Alberto Fortis (1741-1803) was an Italian naturalist who had a wide range of scientific interests, from linguistics and ethnology to geology, geography, and hydrology. This paper reviews the hydrological features Fortis recorded in two of his works, Saggio d'Osservazzioni sopra l'Isola di Cherso ed Osero (1771) and Viaggio in Dalmazia (1774). These works were the result of several of Fortis' travels in the region and were noted in the European scientific literature of the time. Fortis showed the European public the eastern Adriatic coast, a little-known part of Europe at the time, with its great variety of natural features. Despite the rare occurrence of surface water in the karst, Fortis' descriptions of the eastern Adriatic coast contain numerous interpretations of hydrological features. He often demonstrates a remarkable understanding of karst hydrology, even if some of his ideas and explanations are dubious from today's perspective. Although Fortis is not considered a karstologist in the strict sense, his works contain elements of what will later become karstology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The doline density and their spatial distribution analysis is one of the methods used for karst relief morphostructural analysis. We present the results of morphometric features, doline spatial distribution and their relationship on Miljevci karst plateau based on digital elevation model (DEM). Altogether, 286 dolines were mapped in the study area. The doline density analysis has been applied. The results show that the doline spatial distribution is clustered. Two larger areas with densities of 30 and 34 dolines/km² are determined. Their distribution along the river canyons could indicate the existence of a palaeodrainage network. The strongest link between the doline density and topography is with inclination and vertical relief dissection, whereas the number of dolines decreases with an increase of slope inclination and relative relief. Such distribution confirms the suitability of karstic plateaus without active drainage for doline formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Plitvice Lakes National Park is in the northwestern part of the Dinaric Karst in central Croatia. An important role of the soil in the karst is to purify the waters before they reach the phreatic zone. The soil is also a zone of accumulation, transformation, retardation and dilution of a potential pollutant. Knowing soil mineralogical composition is an important factor in understanding fate and transport of contaminants throughout lakes system. Samples of soil, peat and stream sediment were collected in the Prošće lake catchment and partly in the assumed zone of influence, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of samples was performed to determine dominant mineral species in samples. XRD analysis showed predominance of lowquartz, which was found in all samples, most often as dominant phase. Dolomite was found in half of the samples, almost always as a significant phase while calcite was dominant phase in one of the samples. In most of the samples, members of the feldspars and chlorites groups, as well as muscovite, were present as minor phases. The absorption bands in the range of 2800-3000 cm-1 due to the organic matter are visible in spectra of all samples. These minerals can enter lakes system by surface waters, primarily streams and overland flow during snow thawing and rain, and also in cases of shore erosion. Terrigenic input in lakes is small but cannot be neglected due to the longlasting preservation efforts of the Prošće Lake recharge area, and the Plitvice Lakes National Park in general, terrigenous intake still does not pose a threat to water quality and tufa production. Considering the analyzed samples and characteristics of detected soil constituents, soils and sediments in the Prošće Lake catchment have the ability to retain and purify water on its way to the lakes. On the other hand, in case of the possible contamination in the recharge area of the lakes system, the pollutants can enter the system adsorbed on the soil particles. Learning more about the soils surrounding lakes gives valuable insight into their possible influence on lakes water chemistry and adds one piece of the puzzle into understanding this kind of a natural phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speleothem-based research aimed at the reconstruction of the quaternary environment in Dinaric karst has been conducted in several Croatian caves. As the interpretation of the palaeoenvironmental signal archived in speleothems relies on identifying and understanding processes between atmosphere and cave precipitates, especially hydrological behaviour, cave monitoring is crucial. Despite relatively simple sampling and monitoring protocols, series of problems and complications has arisen, caused by different natural and technical reasons. Extreme weather events such as enormous precipitation, prolonged drought or snow drifts, each in their own way can cause sample loss. On the other hand, technical issues associated with equipment failures can lead to irretrievable data loss, and even biological threats, both man-induced and of natural origin, can occur. Although the later cannot be eliminated, as well as extreme weather, gained experience substantially helps to minimize negative effects. On the other hand, most of the technical issues are resolvable, and suggested solutions have been regularly implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents high resolution oxygen and carbon isotopic record of two U-Th dated stalagmites from the Eastern Adriatic caves. The stalagmites were collected from Mala špilja and Velika špilja caves situated on Mljet Island in the southern part of the Croatian Adriatic. Dripwater samples were collected from Medvjeđa špilja, Strašna peć, Špilja u Vrdolje, Kraljicina spilja, Velika špilja and Mala špilja caves. All caves formed in well-stratified Cretaceous limestones. The average value of deuterium excess of the dripwater is 9.3 ‰, indicating that the atmospheric conditions over the Atlantic Ocean have greater influence on the isotopic composition precipitation in the Adriatic region than the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The longest isotopic record of the speleothems is of stalagmite MSM-1 from Mala špilja Cave dated from 119.2 ±3.3 ka to 5.6±0.6 ka, although deposition was not continuous. During the Holocene the speleothem grew between 7 ka and 4 ka. That interval is characterized by several δ18Oc and δ13Cc fluctuations reflecting changes in the environment. Superimposed on these fluctuations, there is an increasing trend in the 7.0-6.5 ka interval, evident in elevated δ18O values, which primarily refers the trend to drier conditions in the eastern Adriatic, which were occasionally interrupted by wet intervals. Humid conditions are particularly pronounced by low δ18Oc and δ13Cc values of speleothem MSM-1 between 7.3 and 6 ka, as a reflection of increased precipitation and lower temperatures. The transition to today's Mediterranean climate (Cs) occurred between 6 ka and 5 ka, while the driest conditions are recorded at ~4.7 - 4.2 ka. Comparisons between the eastern Adriatic δ18Oc and δ13Cc records of the speleothem from Mala špilja Cave (MSM-1) and Velika špilja Cave (Mljet Island) with Soreq Cave (Israel) and Corchia Cave (Italy) together with other proxies such as lake sediments demonstrate that the speleothems from the Eastern Adriatic caves record the local and the regional climatic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock relief is an important trace of the formation and development of karst phenomena on various carbonate rock. The existing current state is usually in a rich and diverse stage of homogeneous or heterogeneous development. The various forms of rock relief represent different ways and conditions a karst phenomenon formed and the developmental levels under the same conditions and with the same factors. Research into the connections between different developmental models is therefore necessary. Over time, not only rock relief but also rock forms begin to merge with one another. We are looking at the initial period of the development of a thick rock strata due to rain. On gently sloping rock strata, which tend to disintegrate at the edges, especially when they are inclined downwards, characteristic rock relief forms on the flat surfaces of larger planes, initially due to rainwater and sheets of creeping water and later through three-dimensional dissection and primarily the direct action of rainwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an approach for solving the problem of exploitation of freshwater in the coastal karst aquifer during summer dry periods in the conditions of potential salt water intrusion. The approach is presented on the example of spring zone Novljanska Žrnovnica, situated in the northern part of Croatian Adriatic coastal region. The spring zone is used for water supply (about 250 l/s) of an important tourist area of Crikvenica and Novi Vinodolski. After unsuccessful attempts of physical separation of freshwater system from the sea influence, by construction of grout curtain, hydrogeological studies have focused on the possibility of groundwater capturing in the hinterland of discharge zone, outside of the zone of periodical salinity. The final research results with the exploitation well in the spring hinterland can serve as a model for research and exploitation of drinking water in natural conditions of unstable freshwater-saltwater interface in similar natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first approach to the relationships between societies and physical environments on Velebit Mountain shows narrow correlations between spatial distribution of dolines, soil formation, hydric resources, vegetation and land occupation. In 2002, sediment cores have been obtained from different dolines of Velebit Mountain to evaluate the potential of their sedimentary archives in order to reconstruct the landscape history. On the littoral slopes and on the top parts of the mountain, the dolines were difficult to dig due to the presence of rocks in depth. Nevertheless, the cores have been sampled and soil analyses have been made (physical and chemical analyses: colour, grain size, pH, CaCO3, C, N, P, K, Mg, CEC). No dating materials were found. The first results attest to rather homogeneous pedologic processes in each area studied (Kamenica, Stinica, Baške Oštarije and Bilensko Mirevo), but they also indicate colluvial contributions. These contributions differ from one doline to another according to their location and morphology. Dolines reveal themselves to be not very good traps, as the representative nature of their sedimentary archives could be very local. However, the best profile has been obtained at Bilensko Mirevo, which shows a change in the soil nutrient content from an impoverishment in its middle part toward an increase of the soil nutrients in recent parts. Those environmental changes could not be precisely dated, but could be correlated with the 17th to 20th century phase of strong human impact on the Velebit environment and with the rural depopulation observed since the second half of the 20th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]