UIS Commission on Karst Hydrogeology and Speleogenesis

Dear Colleague,

It is known that the theory of hierarchical flow systems has become a core theory of hydrogeology in the last few decades. It has revealed also that groundwater flow is a basic geologic agent in the lithosphere. In spite of these important results flow system theory has not become an integral part of karst hydrogeology as yet.

The mission of the newly created Regional Groundwater Flow Commission of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) is to foster internationally the research and practical application of regional groundwater flow. Thus the Commission intends to develop interfaces with other IAH Commissions and other organizations to achieve this mission.

In terms of these issues it is my honour to invite you to the "International Symposium on Hierarchical Flow Systems in Karst Regions" on behalf of the Regional Groundwater Flow Commission, the Karst Commission of IAH and the Karst Hydrogeology and Speleogenesis Commission of the International Union of Speleology (UIS). The symposium and the training course will be held at the Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, Hungary, 2-7 September 2013.

See the homepage of the event, and the event page in the Speleogenesis Calendar

The main objective of the Symposium is to promote the integration of the theory of hierarchical flow systems into karst hydrogeology. It is aimed to bring together hydrogeologists, geologists and speleologists working on carbonate aquifers in order to broaden their understanding and knowledge of flow-system approach in karst systems, and to understand specific, groundwater flow induced karst manifestations and the economic importance of deep carbonate systems. A training course, named REGFLOW - MANKARST, is organised before the Symposium in accordance with the goals of the scientific programme. The course is intended to improve the efficiency of the Symposium from theoretical and practical point of view.

The event will be organized in honour of Professor József Tóth, "the father of the flow system theory" and the first Chair of the Regional Groundwater Flow Commission, in celebration of his 80th birthday.

The training course and the symposium will take place in Budapest, in the capital of spas and caves, which hosts one of the most remarkable known active hypogenic karst systems of the world. The organizers are looking forward to sharing the excitement of exploring these exceptional places together with colleagues from all parts of the world.

On behalf of the Organizers, I'm pleased to invite you to the Symposium - see you in Budapest in 2013!

I wish you a very happy new year!

Judit Mádl-Szőnyi
Chair of the Symposium
Chair of Regional Groundwater Flow Commission of IAH


Judit Mádl-Szőnyi
Associate Professor, Hydrogeology
Dept. of Physical & Applied Geology
Eötvös Loránd University
Pázmány P. stny. 1/c
1117 Budapest, Hungary