Introductory editorial: advances in karst hydrogeology

Excerpt

Karst aquifers constitute 12 % of the global land surface and store water on which approximately 20–25 % of the world’s population depends, as it is stated in classical text books on karst. One-third of the surface area of Europe contains this type of aquifer, which supplies water to cities like London, Bristol, Paris, Montpellier, Vienna and Rome, to name just a few significant examples. In some countries, such as Slovenia and Austria, karst water contributes more than half of the drinking water supply and in many regions it is the only available source of fresh water. Moreover, karst aquifers are mostly upstream systems, acting as a water tower of fragile ecosystems that may be coastal and/or correspond to urban areas subject to development. Karst areas also support unique ecosystems that are very rich in biodiversity, but their functioning, development and level of fragility remain largely unknown. Several karst systems are included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, and are characterised as strategic resources at local, national and international levels. The potential of karst areas in terms of hydro-geo-biodiversity, for instance, is widely recognised. These considerations illustrate the importance of the water stored in this type of medium and, therefore, the need for research into karst hydrogeology. …