I. PROGRESS OF IGCP 299 IN 1990 The first inaugural meeting of IGCP 299 was held from Oct.7 to 11,1990 in Antalya, Turkey, in coincidence with the international symposium on hydrogeological processes in karst terrains, followed by a five-days field excursion in Western Taurus mountain and coastal area of SW Turkey. Yuan Daoxian gave a general introduction to IGCP 299 on the opening session of the symposium, and the organization matters of the project were discussed in two evening sessions. Moreover, it was also discussed in the 20th meeting of Karst Commission of IAH during the symposium. The symposium and excursion were well organized by the International Research and Application Center of Karst Water Resources (UKAM) of Hacettepe University in Ankara with cooperation of UNDP, UNDTCD, UNESCO, IAH and many other international organizations, and well attended (about 85 participants from 20 countries). I thank Prof. Gultekin Gunay, Dr. William Back, Dr. Ivan Johnson, and all the organizers for their generous helps to make the meeting successful. Meanwhile, after the No. 2 circular letter of August 15, 1990, a lot of letters, reports from national working groups, suggestions, comments, contributions, personal reports, and registration forms have reached the secretariat. 1. The result of first international correlation for the project. The field excursion in SW Turkey provided a very nice chance of international correlation on karst. This area is in a plate collision zone with typical Mediterranean climate. The karst features are characterized as follows: (1) The nappe structures which make the Jurassic and Cretaceous marble alternate with ophiolite or Tertiary Flysch both on the plane and vertical profile, cast strong influence on karst formation. The most spectacular features are many big karst springs or submarine springs flowing out from structural windows where carbonate rocks being exposed from ophiolite (photo 1), and a series of geothermal karst springs along major expansional grabens, usually with high carbonate hardness (50 ēGerman degree), which form splendid travertine cascades (cover photo) as a result of rapid outgassing of CO 2(PH rises from 6.1 to 8.1 in a short distance less than 100m). (2) The karst features complex of the region reflects a combination of karst features of both humid environment (photo 2,3) and arid environment (photo 4), which are usually distinct to each other in monsoon and hurricane region. This is considered to be the result of Mediterranean climate characterized by dry summer and wet winter, and yearly longer time of snow cover on the mountains region. Thus mechanical weathering is as important as chemical corrosion. Coastal karst of the region are, in contrast with Caribbean and Southeast Asia, featured by less biogenic process because of lower water temperature.(photo 5,6) (3) Karst hydrological characteristics of the Western Taurus region, as controlled by the karst feature complex, can be distinguished into two types. The karst hydrological system recharged by poljes on lower plateau are characterized by higher fluctuation in discharge, higher temperature(above 17°C),higher carbonate hardness (up to 22°C German degree), and extensive travertine deposit, whereas those mainly recharged from high mountains with long time of snow cover are characterized by stabler regime of discharge, lower temperature (less than 13°C), lower carbonate hardness (less than 10°German degree) and very few travertine deposit.(photo 1) (4) The rock desertification problems are more serious than monsoon area. This is not only because of human activities and the general reason of two layer space structure and thin soil in karst region, but also much wider snow cover in winter, which give rise to a timber line usually lower than 2000m.(photo 7) (5) There are many karst records in SW Turkey which are promising for paleoenvironment reconstruction, such as travertine hundred meters deep below sea level; speleothem found 33 meters below modern water table by diving; Tertiary conglomerate hundreds meter thick with majority of well-rounded limestone gravels. Moreover, as a country of long history, Turkey enjoys many karst-related archaeological sites which are very useful for tracing the paleoenvironment of the past 3000 years, such as the Sunken City in the sea, the ancient aqueduct with calcareous tufa encrustation(photo 8), and the limestone karren on the building stones of Roman theater. In addition, as in Iran and China, multiyear cycles of drought and wet (such as 10 or 20 years) of some karst springs corresponding to relevant meteorological cycles may also be found in Turkey, which will be very useful for studying global environmental change. It is believed that all the above mentioned points will benefit the future on-the-spot correlation of the project. Photo 5. Coastal cave near Kekova, SW Turkey ( painting by Wang Keda) Photo 1. Ulupinar karst spring, near Kalkan, SW Turkey (painting by Wang Keda) Photo 6. Solutional gully, formed by mixture corrosion process
around a lowering coastal karst spring, Photo 7. Vegetation line on limestone Mt. lower than 2000m
a.s.l., East side of Orenkoy, Turkey. 2. Organization works. According to reports received, national or regional working groups are established or forming, they are: Central and South America(Javier E Rodriguz Rubio), Czech(Pavel Basak), China(Yuan Daoxian), Cuba(Javier E. Rodriguez Rubio), France(B. Blavoux), Hungary(D. Balazs), Japan(H. Miura, Nobuyuki Hori, T. Arakawa), Poland(J. Glazek, J. Sulc), Yugoslavia(P. Milanovic, Neven Kresic), UK(M. M. Sweeting, M. Price, P. Smart), USSR(V.J. Kovalevsky, V. H. Dublyansky, K. A. Gorbunova). During the discussion in Antalya, some special topics of priority and persons in charge were suggested: (1) comparison on karst hydrogeological basins: Hydrogeology and hydrochemistry(Hess, Kovalevsky, Drew, Smart); (2) coastal karst: hydrogeology, sedimentology, diagenesis and geomorphology (Back); (3) karst engineering, with special reference to dam and tunnels(Milanovic); (4) morphometry and controls of polygonal karst, Cockpit karst and Tower karst(Williams); (5) reconstruction of paleoenvironment on the bases of karst information(Pavel Bosak); (6) impact of human activities on karst water(Hoetzl); (7)environmental archeology of karst areas with special reference to water management techniques. Of course, other topics under the general aim of the project are still opened for suggestion. 3. Registration form for typical karst site. There are some comments on the registration form sent out with the No.2 circular letter. The main point is that there are too many data required in the form, and so it is not applicable at this stage of work. During the meeting in Antalya, D. C. Ford and John Hess were asked to modify the form, but at the end of the meeting, they suggested that this form to be used tentatively, and modification could be made after a period of implementation. Participants are flexible to make change according to the practical situation of their typical karst site and the data available. The aim of the form, at this stage of work, is not to establish an overall database of the global karst, but rather to call for COMMON attention on the major points of geological, climatic, hydrological, geochemical, biogenic background and results (combination of karst features and environmental impacts) of karst process, so as to make international correlation on karst more feasible. Accordigly, if it is called as a karst database, it is a database of TYPICAL KARST SITES, and not an overall database of global karst. The selection of typical site is very essential. Now I have already received with many thanks a number of registration forms. Moreover, after the Antalya meeting, I am grateful to receive a modified form from David Gillieson which appears in this issue of newsletter for your reference. 4. The idea of karst feature complex. There are also comments on the idea of karst feature complex. Some of them call it as the "PHILOSOPHY" of the project, but being not clearly defined. Moreover,there are concerns that because the idea is based on the assumption that there are unique complexes of karst features associated with definite climate, the adoption of such idea may lead to force the practical data into one or more preconceived karst type. I consider these comments are understandable, and I agree that the idea of "karst feature complex" is preliminary, and its correlation with definite climatic environment as summarized on the table included in the first issue of IGCP 299 Newsletter has to be tested in the whole course of IGCP 299, nevertheless, it is based on practical data in China and few other karst regions abroad. Of course, we should avoid the dealing of "fitting a shoe by paring foot" . The tentative term "karst feature complex" refers to a combination of well matched karst features including macro karst forms and micro karst form, surface karst features and subsurface karst features, as well as corrosional features and karst depositional features. When I was preparing proposal for this IGCP project of karst, I had long considered how to make the international correlation on karst be possible. As various karst features are the results of karst processes under different environment, it is reasonable to take karst features as indicators of correlation. However, to do so, we should first overcome the confusion of ISOMORPHISM and avoid some unnecessary controversy which usually happen while dealing with INDIVIDUAL karst feature. I find the idea of karst feature complex is a good way out. For example, there are similar forms of isolated stone peaks being rised up abruptly from a plain, but resulted from different origins, such as the karst process in humid tropical region, the erosion process on quartzose sandstone, and even wind abrasion in desert. However, if we match it with other features such as dolines, karrens, terra rossa, and cave features, we can easily sort out what is the real tower karst formed under humid tropical environment. I consider, although the karst features of the world are voluminous and colourful, the international correlation on karst is possible by means of distinguishing them carefully into sets of karst feature complex. This trend of research way has long been adopted in other fields of geosciences, such as in the geochronology or paleoecology study, during the past decades, the use of index fossil has been replaced gradually by the idea of fauna or flora. This is actually a part of the reflection of system approach in modern karst study. I believe, if we can, through our joint efforts, establish a definite relationship between karst feature complex and environment (not only climatic, but also geological, hydrological, and biological environment), we can expect great progress in the world karst study in the years to come. This is not a easy task. It needs not only field correlation, but also laboratory modelling test. Moreover, the paleokarst features in correlation site should be distinguished with care. Obviously, it can only be achieved by multidisciplinary approach. 5.Correlation sites. According to the reports reached the secretariat, there have been 40 correlation sites registered as following:
It can be seen from the list above, that some well studied typical karst sites have not been included yet. Offers from such points will be very much appreciated. 6. Future Meetings It was agreed in the Antalya meeting, that the major meetings of the project in 1991 will be in China (July). The meeting in China with a program of "Karst in Monsoon and High Mountain Regions" will be held from July 8 to August 1, 1991. It will start with a symposium in Guilin, and be followed by field seminar from humid South China to semiarid North China and ended in Beijing, so it will have good connection with the 13rd conference of International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA, Aug. 2-9, 1991, Beijing). As the background of major karst in China are characterized by inner plate or platform in geology, and monsoon climate, so the seminar in China will no doubt be a good continuation of field correlation in Western Taurus, Turkey. Because of the distinction between chemical corrosion and mechanical weathering in monsoon area, as a result of sharp contrast between humid subtropical and arid temperate climate, the idea of karst feature complex may be better understood, and its relationship with environment could be better seen during the seminar in China. Moreover, a book entiled "Karst of China" written in English will come out before the seminar. It will give the detail about how the Chinese colleagues use the idea of karst feature complex to summarize different types of karst and the up-to-date results of karst research in China. I invite you all come to China this July to have more intimate discussion on the issues of common interest. The major meeting of this project in 1992 will be in North America, in connection with IGU conference in Washington D. C. (Aug. 4-8, 1992). In addition, there will be other meetings quite related to this project, and I would like to call for your attention. In September 15-27, 1991, "the International Conference on Environmental Changes in Karst Area" will be held in Padova, Italy. It is the major event of the International Geographical Union Study Group: Environmental Changes in Karst Area, in 1991. For more information, contact Prof. Ugo Sauro (Dipartimento di Geografia, via del Santo 26, I-35123 Padova, Italy). In July 6-8, 1992, "the International Symposium on Engineering Geology of Karst" will be held in Perm, USSR. For more information, contact the chairman of the organizing committee, Prof. I. A. Pechorkin (USSR 614000, Perm, K. Marks st. 30, apt 56). In May 23--June 2, 1993, Prof.Neven Kresic is preparing a symposium on "General and Applied Karst Hydrogeology in Belgrade, Yugoslavia". 7. Suggestions and informations Dr. P.L. Smart (Bristol University, UK) suggested a special topic to compile published uranium series analyses data to derive speleothem growth frequency curves for specific areas of the world with contrasting Quaternary climatic change in relation to global shifts in circulation. I consider this is a good suggestion, and I hope participants of IGCP 299 cooperate with Dr. Smart in this respect (Dept. of Geography, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK). Dr. Denes Balazs (Hungary) and Hungarian working group are preparing a karst atlas and big wall maps of karst of the world as a contribution to the project. This is an important fundamental research work. He has already contacted many karst workers of the world. I hope everybody will response and cooperate with him positively (2030 Erdliget Sard U. 45, Hungary). Dr. Pavel Bosak (secretary of Czech IGCP 299 National Working Group, and also chairman of the Commission on Paleokarst and Speleochronology of UIS) is preparing a book "Speleochronology and Its Application in Paleogeographic Analysis". It will be a contribution to IGCP 299. I hope participants of the project who are interested in the topic "Reconstruction of Paleo-environment on the Basis of Karst Information" contact him (Jivenska 1066/7, 14000 Praha 4, Czechoslovakia). The Japanese Working Group (secretary T. Arakawa) has done a lot of cooperative works on the topic of paleoenvironment reconstruction in karst with Brazil, Bulgaria, Thailand, the Philippines. They offer to organize a special seminar on this topic in Phuket, Thailand in 1993 or 1994. I consider this suggestion is noteworthy. Dr. V.S. Kovalevsky (USSR) put forward a suggestion of international correlation on karst water regime. He emphasized the importance of karst water regime in karst research, and gave the main contents of such global correlation which include seasonal and long-term regime, a number of hydrologic parameters, hydrochemical features, and etc. The full text of his suggestion appears in this issue of project's newsletter. Dr. H Zojer (Graz, Austria) plans to work in the field of karst water protection, particularly in the comprehensive application of tracing methods, including chemical ions, saturation indices, environmental isotopes, and artificial tracers. Dr. Y.Y. Shopov (Bulgaria) reported a very interesting result of employing Laser Luminescent Microzonal Analysis (LLMAZ) with flowstone from cave to reconstruct the history of solar activity and climatic change in the past 35000 years. He got cycles of the solar activity with periods of 1, 2, 11-12, 22, 55, 95, 180, 300, 400, 600, 900, 1200, 2300, and 3350 years. Moreover, he also estimated the paleotemperature deviation of the hotest month for the past 15000 years. I consider his finding is very promising for the topic of "Reconstruction of Paleoenvironment on the Basis of Karst Information" in IGCP 299. For further information, contact Dr. Shopov (Dept. of General Physics, Sofia University, Sofia 1126, A. Ivanov 5, Bulgaria). Dr. Kazuko Urushibara-Yoshino reported two examples of soil management of karst regions in Japan. In Buko Mountain, Chichibu, Central Japan, vegetation on steep walls in quarries of Paleozoic limestone was well recovered in ten years by planting trees in ditches filled with soil 50 cm thick, and planting vines like ivy. But in karst area of uplifted coral reefs at Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, following some inappropriate measures in land reclamation for sugar cane, such as replacement of residual red soil on limestone by soil formed from Tertiary mudstone, the use of harvesters, and the extraction of cave water for irrigation, a series of environmental problems happen, such as the saline water intrusion, the loss in coastal fishery caused by soil erosion, the hardening of soil. As a result, the increase in the yield of sugar cane is slow. In some serious drought years, it may even be less than before. As the soil problem is common and basic for ecological environmental system in almost all the karst regions of the world,I consider the experience and the lesson from Japan are noteworthy. For the detail, contact Dr. Kazuko Urushibara-Yoshino (Dept. of Natural Sciences, the Kamazawa University, Kamazawa 1-23-1, Setagayu-ku, Tokyo, 154 Japan). 8. Future publications HYDROGEOLOGY OF SELECTED KARST REGIONS OF THE WORLD. This is a joint work of members of Karst Commission of IAH (Editors: H. Paloc, W. Back), and will come out in 1991. As all the members of Karst Commission are the participants of the project, it is agreed in Antalya meeting that this book will be a contribution to IGCP 299. It will include at least 22 chapters in English: "The Hydrogeology of Dolomitic Formations in the Southern and Western Transvaal" (J.R.Vegter and M.B.J.Foster); "Karst and Karst Water in China" (Yuan Daoxian); Flow Regimes in Karstic Systems, Identified by Karstic Parameters: The Judean Anticlinorium, Central Israel" (Levy Kroitoru, Emanuel Mazor, and Aire Issar); "Karst Hydrogeology of Tasmania" (Kevin Kiernan); "Geomorphogeny and Karstification of the Eastern Part of the Northern Limestone Alps in Central Europe" (Josef G.Zotl); "Hydrodynamics of Karst Aquifers: Experimental Sites in the Mediterranean Karst, Southern France" (Claude Drogue); "Karstification and Ground Water Hydraulics of the Interior of Large Calcareous Massifs, the Case of Giona Mountain in Central Greece" (Paul G.Marinos); "Karst Hydrogeology in Central Italy" (Carlo F. Boni); "Check-List for Hydrogeological Assessmants in Karst Areas" (Carlo F. Boni); "Polish Karst Features" (J.Malinowski); "Karst Aquifer of the Cracow-Wielun Upland (Poland)" (J.Glazek, A.Pacholewski, and A.Rozkowski); "Hydrogeology of Karst in West Georgia" (G.J.Buachidze and T.Z.Kiknadze); "Application of Geological, Hydrochemical and Isotopic Methods for Hydrogeological Investigation of Selected Spanish Karst Regions" (J.J.Duran and J.Lopez-Martinez); "Hydrogeology of Karstic Terrains of Ireland" (David Drew); "Hydrogeological Contrasts Between British Carboniferous Limestone Aquifers" (John Gunn); "Hydrogeological Characteristics of Geosyncline Karst Aquifers on Example of Trebisnjica Catchment" (Petar Milanovic); "Yugoslavia Karst" (M.Komatina); "Evaporite Karst in the Permian Blaine Formation and Associated Strata in Western Oklahoma, U.S.A." (Kenneth S. Johnson); "Karst Regions of the Southeastern United States" (P.E.LaMoreaux and H.E.LeGrand); "Controls on Karst in Costa Rica" (Sergio Mora); "Localized Recharge and Seasonal Variations in Recharge and Leakance in a Covered Aquifer Karst System, Florida, USA" (Mark Stewart and John Parker); "Hydrogeology of Regional Carbonate Aquifers in Eastern Nevada" (John W.Hess), and 5 chapters in French: "Caracteristiques Hydrogeologiques Specifiques de la Region Karstique desGrand Causses" (H.Paloc); "Controles Geologiques des Systemes Aquiferes Karstiques (s.a.k.) de Type Mediterraneen: L'Example du S.A.K. de la Sources du Lez (Karsts Nord-Monpellierains-France)" (J.V.Avias); "Role du Contexte Geologiques et Climatique dans la Genese et le Fonctionnement du Karst du Vaucluse" (B.Blavoux, J.Mudry and J.M.Puig); "Conditions Hydrogeologiques de Quelques Aquiferes ŠKarstiques de la Crete (Grece)" (Borivoje F.Mijatovic); "Hydrogeologie du Bassin de la Source de L'Areuse" (A. Burger) and the up-to-date results of study on karst and karst hydrogeology in more than 16 countries. IGCP 299 NEWSLETTER 1991. It will come out early 1991. As in the first issue, it will include reports from national working groups, new results and findings related to the project, suggestion, comments and personal reports. Participants who want to contribute for this issue are asked to send manuscripts to the Secretariat as soon as possible. SPELEOCHRONOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN PALEOGEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS. It will be a contribution from the Commission on Paleokarst and Speleochronology of the Union of International Speleology (UIS). Participants who are willing to contribute for this book are asked to contact Dr. Pavel Bosak. KARST OF CHINA. This is a contribution from the Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences to IGCP 299. It is already in the press (Geological Publishing House), and will come out before August, 1991It is written in English and includes 9 chapters: Introduction; Geological, climatic, hydrological, and geochemical background for karst development in China; Major types of karst; Caves in China; Karst environmental problems; Karst water resources; Mineral deposit, oil and gas, geothermal resources in karst; Karst scenery resources; and conclusions. KARST ATLAS OF THE WORLD. Being prepared by Hungarian National Working Group, and will come out in 1992-1993. 9. Cooperation with other international organizations and IGCP projects Karst Commission of International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH). During the 20th Meeting of the Commission in Antalya, it was agreed that all the members of the commission are active participants of the project. Their names and addresses have appeared on the list of paticipants in this issue of Newsletter. International Geographic Union (IGU) Study Group: Environmental Changes in Karst Area. During the Group's meeting in Czechoslovakia and Hungary, Sept. 16-22, 1990, the IGCP 299 project was discussed, and some helpful suggestions and comments were given. Moreover, Dr. G. A. Brook (Dept. of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, USA) proposed to constitute a study group on "Paleoenvironments of Presently Arid Karst Area" under IGCP 252 "Past and Future Evolution of Desert". I consider his effort will benefit our project too. The chairmen of the major karst related International academic institutions were all present at IGCP 299 project's inaugural meeting in Antalya, and expressed willingness to cooperate in the project. They are: Dr. William Back (president of Karst Commission of IAH); Prof. Hubert Trimmel (president of International Union of Speleology); Prof. Ugo Sauro (chairman of IGU Study Group on Environmental Changes in Karst Areas). We have already established tie with IGCP 287: Correlation of Mesozoic/Tertiary Bauxites and Related Paleokarst Phenomena in the Tethyan Realm. Project leaders: A. Dangic, University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia;A.Mindszenty, University of Budapest, Hungary; L.Simone, University of Napoli, Italy. The No.3 (1990) NEWSLETTER of IGCP 287 was received, which include 28 abstracts being sent to its major meeting of 1990 in Delphi, Greece. The 1991 plenary meeting of IGCP 287 was held in Strasbourg, France (March 24-28) with a program on "Mesozoic and Early Tertiary Karst Bauxites of the Mediterranean Area and Related Regional Unconformities: Eustatic Versus Tectonic Control". 10. Suggestion From IGCP Board During its 19th session on Feb.4-8, 1991, the IGCP Board suggested, that "At a later stage, applied aspects of the project should be considered in an appropriate way (hydraulic aspects of karst evolution, storage capacity, karst water quality)". Photo 3. Karren near Kirkgoz karst spring, Antalya, Turkey (painting by Wang Keda)
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