UIS Commission on Karst Hydrogeology and Speleogenesis

Chairmen: Augusto Auler (Americas), Zhang Cheng (Asia/Oceania), Zoran Stevanovic (Europe/Africa)

KC Working Group: Dynamic Karst Database

Our member Andreas Hartmann is proposing to create a working group within the Karst Commission and has sent the following message:

A large number of members of the Karst Commission contributed to the World Karst Spring hydrograph database, which is in review in Nature Scientific Data. Since the journal does not allow changes of the data set after publication, it is impossible to add new observations of karst springs in the future. Hence, there is a risk that the database will be out of date within some years.

In order to elaborate options to maintain an up-to-date karst spring hydrograph database in the future, I propose to create a small working group within the Karst Commission. The group will discuss via Email and some Skype meetings possibilities to continuously provide the best and largest possible set of karst data to our community. These ideas include:

- Creating a web portal where data can be added continuously and automatically; Frequently publishing updated versions of the database; Merging the database with other global databases, which are frequently updated (for instance the global runoff data center GRDC); Providing more than just karst spring hydrograph data; All other topics are welcome

I will create an Email-List of Karst Commission members that are interested to join the working group to coordinate the online discussion with the aim to report to the Karst Commission at the next meeting. Please send me a short Email until Nov 30th if you want to join.

Andreas Hartmann e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

KARMA Project website launched

The KARMA (Karst Aquifer Resources availability and quality in the Mediterranean Area) project has now a very nice and comprehensive website (http://www.karma-project.org). The project involves many KC members.

KC member appointed director

Out Vietnamese Karst Commission Member Mrs. Dr. Vu Thi Minh Nguyet has been appointed General Deputy Director of the Institute of Geological Sciences (IGS, http://igsvn.vn) of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST). Nguyet is a former PhD student of our past Chair Nico Goldscheider.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF CAVES AND KARST Website launched

The website of the International Year of Caves and Karst (2021), an initiative of the International Union of Speleology, has now been launched. Check it out at: http://iycktest.uis-speleo.org. It contains a section on Karst Hydrology, besides some very nice photographs of springs.

Call for Groundwater Action

Our member Andreas Hartmann would like to call your attention to this important initiative, coordinated by Dr. Tom Gleeson:

Dear Colleagues,

I am excited about a new initiative called "Global Groundwater Sustainability: A call to action" that was first drafted at the recent https://connect.agu.org/aguchapmanconference/upcoming-chapmans/aquifers-sustainability Chapman conference in Valencia, Spain https://connect.agu.org/aguchapmanconference/upcoming-chapmans/aquifers-sustainability. Overall, we are a global group of scientists calling for action to ensure groundwater benefits society now and into the future, and hope that you would like to join us by signing.

You can see the statement, list of signatories and sign yourself on www.groundwaterstatement.org https://www.groundwaterstatement.org. We already have approximately 600 signatures from ~76 countries with representatives from the major international groundwater organizations (IAH, NGWA etc.) and leading academics and practitioners. We are preparing for press releases near the end of November so if you are interested please sign and distribute in a timely fashion. We humbly recognize that many of you, influential actors in the science and policy of groundwater sustainability, were not able to be present for the drafting of the above statement but we hope that you will support this initiative since we recognize the importance of needing to act as a group of groundwater scientists and practitioners including diverse voices from across the world.

If you would like to spread the word, please 1) share widely by email to your personal networks of scientists, practitioners and experts in groundwater and related fields; 2) share on social media using #groundwaterstatement and link to webpage; and 3) write about it on blogs or newsletters (see waterunderground post). If you have any questions, concerns or ideas on how to spread the word, please contact Tom Gleeson [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.] .

Apologies for cross-posting but hope you are interested in joining this important initiative.

Warmly,

Andreas Hartmann on behalf of the initiators

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

2020 Karst Commission Geotrip

The 2020 Geotrip will occur between May 11-15 in Yellowstone National Park, USA. The meeting point will be the town of Gardiner and the nearest airport is in Bozeman, Montana. As usual there will be no fees and the participants will take care of the accommodation, food and transport (through rented cars). The Geotrip has been scheduled to be linked with our official meeting in 2020, the UNESCO Karst. For more information please contact Augusto Auler at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UNESCO Karst 2020 – Conservation of Fragile Karst Resources: A Workshop on Sustainability and Community – Registration and abstract deadline soon

The registration, as well as the call for abstracts are open for this event. The workshop is being organized by KC member Chris Groves and Lee Anne Bledsoe together with a large group of supporters. It will take place between May 18-22, 2020, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA, a classical karst area with the world’s longest cave at Mammoth Cave National Park. A pre-conference field trip is being offered. The meeting will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the IAH Karst Commission and a special event is being planned. We encourage all our members and friends to attend. This workshop will be the official KC meeting for 2020. Abstract deadline is November 30. For more information, please check the website at: https://unescokarst2020.com

EUROKARST 2021

Arguably, the most traditional karst hydrogeology meeting, the Eurokarst 2021, the European Conference on Karst Hydrogeology and Carbonate Reservoirs, will take place in Malaga, Spain, in June 22-24, 2021. This meeting will host the 2021 official meeting of our commission.